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Questions Answered by Ross F. Tew
2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: Mother passed and there are no properties or vehicles... no will Only a checking account that I share with her and I’m

Benificary as well as a life policy and I’m the benificary... do I need to probate?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jan 31, 2018

I don't see any reason you would need probate to deal with the assets mentioned.

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: Does the son that was not in Will have rights if property was left to other son. Mom died in ‘05 in TN. Dad died ‘15 TX.

They have a house in TX with both Mom and Dad on deed. Mom died in TN w/o Will and Dad died in TX with Will. Dad did not probate Mom’s estate. Dad left the house in TX to one son and not the other one. Does the other son have the right to the house? Is there a statue of limitations in this? The... View More

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jan 23, 2018

There are several issues here that would require a consultation with an attorney. Is your father the father of all of your mother's children? Did she have any children prior to their marriage? Has your father's will been probated? Is there a legitimate dispute over the validity or... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Is adultery an issue with probate and estate distribution in Texas?
Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Dec 6, 2017

Did it result in the birth of a child who would inherit? Otherwise, no.

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1 Answer | Asked in Lemon Law and Landlord - Tenant for Texas on
Q: Can my landlord raise my rent because there was a Gas leak also stop any repairs.

This past Sept 2017 my gas was turned off and the meter taken off. The gas company told me a licensed plumber had to come check the pipes under the house/ground. I told my landlord he got mad that the gas company got involved. He said now he had to pay for a permit and hired a licensed plumber. The... View More

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Oct 29, 2017

My initial reaction is no, your landlord can't break the lease by raising your rent based on the types of repairs involved. Keep in mind that you need to have an attorney review your lease and any correspondence you have with your landlord before advising you one way or the other.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: Thing is, it is a copy of his will and that includes the notary. Does that matter?
Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Oct 29, 2017

You may or may not need to probate the will, and depending on how long it has been since the person passed and the availability of necessary witnesses, you may not be able to get the will into probate. You should take the copy of the will and the death certificate to an attorney and let he or she... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: I have a copy of my husbands will, notarized. Can his children fight me over it?

Cannot find the original will. But I know he left everything to me. What rights do his children have?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Oct 29, 2017

As Attorney Garrett correctly stated, a copy of a Will can be probated in Texas. There are potential proof considerations to account for, as well as notice to the heirs as if there were no will. Your step children are free to dispute your application to probate the copy of the will. It is... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: The property is in his name. My brother lives alone and he is the veteran with angiosarcoma cancer. He has no medical in

Insurance. Will the VA collect his property if he dies? Is there a way to prevent this from happening?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Aug 8, 2017

It sounds like you are describing a MERP claim, which can result from Medicaid benefits received, not from VA benefits. In Texas the Department of Aging and Disability Services contracts with HMS who administers the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP). There are Hardship Waivers you can apply... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Can i obtain legal aid to help me in trying to get my deceased grandmothers property in order?

My grandmother passed away in 2009 we need to know who the property belongs to since her biological daughter is deceased, as well as her adopted son. She was already divorced when she passed so that leaves a husband out. The problem is she had 3 grandchildren from her daughter and 4 from her... View More

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jul 21, 2017

If you're trying to keep the house, then you will need to find pro-bono help through the legal aid organizations in your area. If you are planning on selling the house there should be plenty of sales proceeds on hand to compensate your attorney for settling the estate. An Affidavit of... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Texas on
Q: We live in my husband's grandfather house for almost 10 years. His grandfather died and years ago left the house to his

son and daughter in gift deed. We are in process of getting the sons part of deed signed over to my husband who is his son. We have paid taxes and insurance on house for years. What is our chances of getting the house if she's fighting for money for her half?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 25, 2017

Can you afford to buy out her share of the house? Her remedy would likely be to force a partition sale, which takes much of the control away from you. I would get with a probate attorney in your area who can get the title issues resolved definitively and quickly. Then file suit against her... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Civil Litigation for Texas on
Q: will went to probate and ruled on by a judge, 10 years later his son is wanting to sue over mineral rights can he sue?

Step Dad changed will with a cross out and signature and left everything to Mom. Went to probate and Judge ruled that the will was valid and everything went to my Mom. Its been 10 years and his son called and said he was going to sue to get mineral rights because he is trying to set things up for... View More

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 24, 2017

No. You have 30, 90, or 180 days (depending on details that aren't worth going into here) to appeal a judgment in Texas. If your brother hasn't done anything about it in 10 years, I don't see what argument he could make at this point.

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My mother passed away and left a will I was named the executor to estate adopted sister will not sign heirship paperwork

Is there a way to go around her will was never probated because I didn't know I had to probate the will I have also payed the property off and payed before mother died what can I do I need to sell part of my property

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 23, 2017

Talk to a probate attorney. He or she can advise you how to clear up title to the property. Once title is clear (either by probating the will as muniment of title or determining heirship) and your sister still refuses to agree to a sale of the property, you'll need an attorney to help you... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My mother and step dad had a will. He passed and all was left to my mom. She never got her will probated and it says

after she passes it goes to 2 grandchildren. If she never probated it and has now passed away can it be contested by their children?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 22, 2017

This is a fairly common situation. Take the will(s) and death certificate(s) to a probate attorney who can give you some direction. If either passed within the last four years you should be able to probate his or her will. If you are unable to get his will admitted to probate there may be issues... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: In the state of Texas is it required to probate if a Deed shows a certain value of the property to be sold or split?

I was told by a lawyer that he needed the Deed to decide if this Will needed to be legally probated and not just worked out among heirs by signing affidavit? or can't remember other word for it. Thanks

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 14, 2017

It probably has more to do with the type of deed and what impact the death may have had on title to the property. A deed is simple enough to procure from the County Clerk or online. I would provide the most recently recorded deed to your attorney and let him advise you further.

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My father-in-law wants to sell un-probated property to help cover medical costs but eldest child is blocking the sale.

He failed to probate it after his first wife died. Now that he needs to sell it his oldest is making demands on sales price that would place it above market value. Can she block the sale entirely or can he sell the property and pay everyone their share?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 12, 2017

Whether the property was separate or community property during their marriage, and what children they each had in and out of their marriage will dictate whether your father-in-law owns the property outright, whether he and her children share title to the property, or whether he has a marketable... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: If a holographic will is incomplete can it still be offered for probate?
Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on Jun 2, 2017

You should contact a probate attorney and have the document reviewed. Your attorney will be able to advise you of your chances of success moving forward probating the holographic will. If your attorney cannot probate the will, he or she can explain other options such as a small estate procedure,... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: An insurance company called me about policies my parents had. They asked me to fill out a Small Estate Affidavit.

I looked at it, and it says all "Distributees of the estate" have to "personally appear." My sister lives out of the country and doesn't travel. What can I do?

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on May 31, 2017

The personal appearance by a signer on a Small Estate Affidavit is not at a hearing, but in front of the notary who notarizes that signer's signature.

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: Could my brother and I remove my other brother from the affidavit of heirship and have him evicted from my Mom's home?
Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on May 24, 2017

Filing an untrue affidavit with the court, or recording a false document with the Clerk, can subject you civil and/or criminal punishment. A person either is or is not an heir, as inconvenient as that may be. Assuming the three of you are the only heirs and your mother was not married when she... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: my brother and ex wife hired a probate attorney concerning my fathers estate. this brother is executor.

does the attorney send assets to the executor to distribute. I have received documentation stating I am entitled to 50% of the assets.

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on May 23, 2017

The attorney represents your brother in his capacity as the executor of the estate. The attorney does not (or should not) represent your brother in his individual capacity as a beneficiary, and the attorney is not the personal representative of the estate.

As the Executor, your brother...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: Hello. Husband died unexpectedly. Wrote his will down but never filed it. What's the proper procedure for me now to do?
Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on May 23, 2017

Depending on whether debts are owed, you should either probate the will for title purposes only, which does not entail the appointment of an executor or administrator, or you need to probate the will and be appointed as the executor so you can settle creditor claims or partition estate assets among... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: What is the best thing to do when you're feeling left out and taken advantage of. Probate case in Texas

My half brother and and my late father's best friend, who was also named the executor of the will, have not kept me in the loop at all on what's going on with the Probate case, or other assets I was left half of in the will. I'm a non confrontational person, I've reached out,... View More

Ross F. Tew
Ross F. Tew
answered on May 24, 2017

To avoid the anxiety you are experiencing, and to know that your interests are protected, you can hire an attorney to enter an appearance on your behalf. He or she would then be notified by the executor's attorney every time something is filed in the case. If it is an independent... View More

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