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Texas Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: My brother passed without a will in Tx his house 270000 his pension $$ his ex hired a lawyer we can't afford one

Her lawyer buried us in paper work now lawyers want 5k /10k retainer we are on fix income we are not showing up in court my mom has Alzheimer's I have a Dr letter for her I don't want to go to court with out a lawyer can not afford one not fair bottom line can I be held in content of... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 12, 2024

If your brother had children, his estate will pass to those children or their descendants. If not, your brother's estate will pass to his parents, which would include your mom if she was also his mom.

Your brother's ex cannot inherit anything from your brother's estate...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: My son passed away and his vehicles were in mine and his name but his son says they’re rightfully his is that true
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 28, 2024

Property that is jointly titled does not automatically pass to the survivor unless specifically titled as "joint with right of survivorship." Otherwise, each owner on the title owns an undivided 50% interest in the property that passes to that owner's heirs as provided by law.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Can my brother hide and keep bank account inheritance from our dad?

No will or power of attorney, can my brother get into the account, and if he does once he gets a lawyer is there any way that he could keep it without letting me know? Will the courts get involved and handle this without me doing anything?

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Jun 20, 2024

You will need to file for probate of your father's estate. Once the probate has been filed, whoever is appointed as the personal representative of the estate will be required to provide an accounting of the estate assets. You will need to monitor the probate process to make sure it is being... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Can my brother hide any kind of inheritance from me from our recently passed father? No will or power of attorney

He told me there was nothing, and now I’m told there is some money at least in his bank account, It sounded like he was gonna have to get an attorney to access the account, he hasn’t told me anything and I haven’t asked….im wondering if I need to do something or if maybe an attorney and... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 19, 2024

If you do nothing, how will a court or attorney even know anything about it?

As an heir at law of your father, you have the right to file an application to probate your deceased father's estate. Even without a will, for a relatively simple and straightforward estate, probate is cheap,...
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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: How do I make sure my wife gets everything if I die? I want no claims for previous kids

I live in Texas

Beth Ann Serafini-Smith
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Beth Ann Serafini-Smith
answered on Jun 18, 2024

In order for your assets to go to a specific person, you need a valid Texas Will to handle your probate assets, or you need to name that person as the beneficiary on the assets/accounts for non-probate assets.

Failure to do do either of those may give others a right to those assets, or...
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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: How do I make sure my wife gets everything if I die? I want no claims for previous kids

I live in Texas

Ronald Lee Baranski Jr
Ronald Lee Baranski Jr
answered on Jun 18, 2024

The easiest way to make sure everything goes to your wife is to provide for her in a Will that complies with all formalities required in TX. Generally, you need two witnessed that are in your presence when you sign your Will declaring to them its your Will and you are requesting them to witness you... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: How do I make sure my wife gets everything if I die? I want no claims for previous kids

I live in Texas

Gratia "Grace" P. Schoemakers
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answered on Jun 19, 2024

Making a Will or a trust with your wife as only person to inherit would be a good start. Then like my colleague say, ensuring that your beneficiary designations are up to date, as well as any POD designations on accounts, and if applicable transfer on death designations on your home and... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: My mother died in Tx and her executrix, my sister, lives in Ca. I live in Tx. How do we change me to the executor?

Mother's only property is checking and savings account in California and a checking account in Texas. My sister and I are a co-owners of the California account and I'm the principal owner of the Texas account. Total value is under $70,000.

Ronald Lee Baranski Jr
Ronald Lee Baranski Jr
answered on Jun 18, 2024

I notice you refer to your sister as executrix. Is this based on the writing of the Will or did you go through probate? A Will has no legal effect until it has been deemed to comply with all the laws of the state, typically by going through probate. If your sister was appointed by a probate court... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: How can someone sign a warranty deed after divorce 2015/2016 and 2022 getting half of the sale from the house?

His second ex wife signed a warranty deed.

The house was in my ex husbands name only, but yet when the house was sold one piece of paper was signed as married couple even though he was divorced from his second wife

He signed the papers in may 2022 and June he was deceased... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 17, 2024

Your question is a bit confusing. There is no prohibition on someone signing a warranty deed after a divorce. After a divorce, either ex-spouse is free to sign a warranty deed conveying real property awarded to that ex-spouse in the divorce or conveying real property bought or inherited by that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Are handwritten and notarized wills valid and who would be the executor of an estate when a child of the deceased exists

Someone I know had a sibling with mental illness and addiction issues. His sister has a handwritten / crude “Will” that was notarized. He stayed with this sister regularly but was basically homeless. His adult child has come forward arguing that the money in his account belongs to her not his... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 6, 2024

If a valid Will names an executor, the person named as executor will most likely be appointed as executor if they are qualified and want to serve. A testator (the person who makes a Will) has no legal or other obligation to name a child as executor over a sibling. The child of the testator has no... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Texas on
Q: Probate in TX has an expiration of 4 years. Does that include entire process from start to finish legally?

My Brother's (ages 18 & 26) Father died in May 2021. The home is paid off, but everything is in their deceased Father's name. Vehicles, Property,Bills etc... my brother was told he needs to get Probate taken care of in order to have everything transfered in his name. What are the... View More

John Cucci Jr.
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answered on Jun 5, 2024

There are some issues that need to be addressed. There is a 3 year time limit on filing for a Probate or Administration for an Estate in TX.

Since there was NO WILL, there MUST be an Administration filed to establish an Estate and to administer the same. An Administration is filed when...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: Ok my grandmother passed away in 2015 and there was a joint wheel that was put in place in 1973 can my aunt over power i

There was a will put in place in 1973 my grandmother passed away in 2015 the probate was never challenged and my father passed away in 2019 my grandmother only had two children did my aunt having power of attorney give her the ability to override the wheel?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 3, 2024

A power of attorney ends when the principle who signed the power of attorney dies. A will does not go into effect until it is probated and a will can only be probated after the individual who signed it dies. So the attorney-in-fact named in a power of attorney cannot override a will.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: I've recently found tax liens in my name and have never been notified of property I own. How do I find it?

I do not know who my biological father is and supposedly been left and inheritance of property and home or commercial property and business. I owe taxes for these and have no clue where they are or what exactly are the tax lien is against. Regardless the taxes are owed and in my name. How to find... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on May 20, 2024

If they are property tax liens, the liens themselves will identify where the property is located. At very least, they will identify the taxing authorities to which the taxes are owed, for example the name of the county, name of the city, and/or name of the school district. You can then search... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Probate for Texas on
Q: Writ of possession/probate

How does writ of possession pertain to probate no landlord tenant

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 3, 2024

A writ of possession is a court order granting the right to take possession of a property. In the context of probate, it typically comes into play when dealing with the estate of a deceased person. If an executor or administrator needs to take control of property that is part of the estate, but... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Probate for Texas on
Q: Writ of possession/probate

How does writ of possession pertain to probate no landlord tenant

John Cucci Jr.
John Cucci Jr. pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on May 15, 2024

A Writ of Possession is where the Court instructs the Sheriff to give possession of a property or apartment to someone, who has a newly granted legal right to possession of the property. Example, is when an heir (son of deceased), has received an Order or decision of a Probate Court, naming him as... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: If a home and property are purchased after a couple is married and the husband passes away does the son of the husband

Have any rights to money from selling the home and property if the son disowned the family and even went so far as to change his last name and had nothing to do with the family in the state of Texas

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on May 15, 2024

If the son is not the child of both the husband and wife, and the husband has died without a Will, the husband's one-half interest in the community property home passes to the son and any other surviving children or descendants of the husband per stirpes. Texas Estate Code sec. 201.003(c).... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Family Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: My brothers incarcerated he gave someone power of attorney he gave me the revocation of power of attorney for that perso

For that person how do I go about making sure that she knows she's no longer power of attorney over his stuff do I take her a copy or certified mail her a copy do I file in the court I'm not sure what to do can you help me there?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 3, 2024

To ensure that the person who had power of attorney for your brother is aware of the revocation, you should take a few steps. First, deliver a copy of the revocation of power of attorney to her. This can be done in person, but sending it via certified mail with a return receipt is advisable to have... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Texas probate no will.who is next of kin.common law spouse or a blood great niece
James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on May 10, 2024

Assuming the requirements of common law marriage have been met, the spouse will be the heir of the estate of the deceased. If the common law marriage was not registered with the county clerk, the surviving spouse will have to prove by evidence that the couple:

“agreed to be married”;...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Probate for Texas on
Q: Can I be legally evicted out of my parents home by a company that’s trying to buy the property? My parents are deceased.

My step dad brother is trying to sell the property. He has open a probate case and has been assigned Temporary Administrator

Alisha Melvin
Alisha Melvin
answered on Apr 29, 2024

The temporary administrator can handle the eviction if the court granted that authority in their order. There are many other questions that remain to answer this properly. Do you have an ownership interest in the property? If you are an heir with an ownership interest the administrator may need... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My mother passed away recently and had a will. She was in a nursing home when she passed, so she had a very small estate

She had no real property, no vehicles, a small life insurance policy, and small bank account. If the will has to be probated, do I need an attorney or can I as the executor handle this? Does the will need to be probated?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Apr 25, 2024

To probate your mother's will, you need an attorney. You may be able to probate the will as a muniment of title under the circumstances. Probating a will in Texas is a relatively simple straightforward process for an attorney familiar with probate law. Unless someone contests the will, it... View More

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