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Q: Can my partner's mother contest my power of attorney and claim shared assets?
If my unmarried partner and I have everything jointly titled, such as a house and vehicles, and each of us has a living will, can her mother legally contest my power of attorney if my partner becomes severely ill or passes away? Additionally, can her mother claim half of our shared assets as her... View More 
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Sharita Blacknall
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
Your partner’s mother does not have the right to cancel a valid power of attorney simply because she disagrees with it. She could ask a court to review it if she claims your partner did not understand what she signed, was pressured, or that you are misusing the authority. A living will only gives... View More
Q: Can a successor file executor change paperwork without an attorney in Texas?
The current executor of an estate in Texas is experiencing declining health and has agreed to resign. There is a single real estate property involved, and no will or trust was filed. Does filing the petition for a change of executor require an attorney, or can a new successor file all the notarized... View More
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Sharita Blacknall
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
If no will was admitted to probate, the person handling the estate is technically an administrator rather than an executor.
The representative cannot be replaced by filing notarized paperwork. The current administrator must ask the probate court to accept the resignation and provide a final... View More
Q: Can executor sell land with heirs' agreement in Texas?
In Texas, does the executor of a will have the authority to sell land during probate if all heirs agree to the sale, even though the will does not specifically mention the sale of this property?
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Sharita Blacknall
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
Possibly. The answer depends on whether the executor is serving independently or under court supervision.
An independent executor may generally sell estate land without a court order when the sale is needed for a proper estate purpose, unless the will limits that authority. In a... View More
Q: How to locate trust assets and verify ownership on mortgage records?
I believe my father, who shares my name with a different suffix (he’s Senior, I’m Junior), has been withholding a large estate meant for me, left by my grandfather. I've seen notifications about a generational skipping tax act numerous times through credit and tax platforms, indicating... View More
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Sharita Blacknall
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
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answered on Jul 23, 2026
The notices you saw do not prove that a trust exists. Private trusts are generally not filed in a public registry, so you may not be able to find the trust document through a public-record search.
Start by checking your grandfather’s probate file for a will or other document mentioning a... View More
Q: How to locate trust assets and verify ownership on mortgage records?
I believe my father, who shares my name with a different suffix (he’s Senior, I’m Junior), has been withholding a large estate meant for me, left by my grandfather. I've seen notifications about a generational skipping tax act numerous times through credit and tax platforms, indicating... View More
Carey Worrell
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answered on Jul 24, 2026
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answered on Jul 24, 2026
I'm sorry you're dealing with this — trust and title questions get confusing fast.
Public deed records only show who holds title to real property; they won't show you the terms of a trust or confirm whether one exists in your name. If your grandfather created a trust, the... View More
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