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Texas Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: What happens to the house when a spouse passes away without a will and their joint children and stepchildren involved?

Husband and Wife marry and have a son, they divorce and both remarry and each have children. Then they get back together and remarry.

Then the Wife dies without a Will. What happens to the home and other property involved

Melissa O'Neal
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answered on Sep 27, 2023

If the wife did not have a will and the property is community property, the spouse has a life estate interest in the home and owns half of it. His community property half. The other half is owned by the biological or adopted children of the wife in equal parts. The husband should not be able to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: Who could I talk to about a will my father passed and had said a property was left to me but then resulted it wasn't.

I'm afraid that my uncle and his girlfriend might have changed the will.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 22, 2023

If you think your father’s will was altered, you should hire a forensic document examiner to examine the original Will to determine if there is any evidence of alteration.

You might also ask the attorney who prepared the will if he kept a draft in electronic format and compare the draft...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Civil Rights and Probate for Texas on
Q: Us nysone allowed to kick me out of the house I e lived at fir 22 years after my. Nother passed away and left him the ho

I've lived there with my mother for 22 years and I'm disabled, but she left him the house? Can he make me leave?

Ronald Lee Baranski Jr
Ronald Lee Baranski Jr
answered on Sep 15, 2023

I can only focus on the Estate planning/probate portion of your question. If read it correctly you lived in this home with your mother for 22 years. I'm assuming your mother passed away and let me first say I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom 2 years ago and it's hard enough... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: How would an heir go about addressing a church pastor who took over a deceased loved one's property and assets?

The heir was informed of the death three days after and was not included in any planning of the services, etc. Upon inquiry at the funeral home was told that they thought she didn't have any family.

Melissa O'Neal
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answered on Sep 18, 2023

I also agree with setting a meeting with the pastor to determine what he knows and maybe take proof if you have any of your relationship. Also agree that you will want to meet with a probate attorney as soon as possible. If you are aware of a will provide any information you have. When you meet... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: How would an heir go about addressing a church pastor who took over a deceased loved one's property and assets?

The heir was informed of the death three days after and was not included in any planning of the services, etc. Upon inquiry at the funeral home was told that they thought she didn't have any family.

Isaac Shutt
Isaac Shutt
answered on Sep 14, 2023

I agree with the previous answer. If it's possible the pastor doesn't know about the heir, it could be that the pastor thought the pastor was actually doing the right thing.

Aside from that, you should definitely consult with a probate attorney ASAP. You probably want to file in...
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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: The lot next to my property was bought by a lady back in ninety three, and she passed away and her son and his brother

Don't have any interest in the property and want to gift it to me how do I transfer title without a deed or will

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Sep 7, 2023

To transfer ownership of the property without a deed or will, you'll typically need to go through a legal process. Since the previous owner passed away, it's essential to follow these steps. First, you may need to initiate probate court proceedings, especially if the previous owner passed... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: Can I file an Application for Probate Pro Se if my brother and I are co-executors and the only beneficiaries named?

Hello, my brother and I are co-executors and the only beneficiaries in our deceased parents will. They own a stock with Computershare that is now valued at $100k. My father passed first in February 2022 and my mother in this past Feb. She was in the process of getting us named as beneficiaries to... View More

Alisha Melvin
Alisha Melvin
answered on Sep 7, 2023

No you cannot probate pro se. That is not allowed as you are not an attorney or representing yourself but attempting to practice law when representing another or their estate. You will need to hire an attorney to probate the will and it does not appear to qualify as a muniment of title.

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: How do I file for conflict of interest in my probate case? No attorney need to move case to another county
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Sep 1, 2023

To file for a change of venue in your probate case due to a conflict of interest in Texas, you can take several steps. First, review the rules and procedures of the probate court where your case is currently filed. Then, draft a formal motion explaining the conflict of interest and your reasons for... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: How do I file for conflict of interest in my probate case? No attorney need to move case to another county
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 1, 2023

If there is no attorney, I don’t understand how there can be a “conflict of interest.” Who has the “conflict”?

In Texas, a probate case must be filed and prosecuted in the county where the decedent was living at the time of their death. If the probate case was filed in the wrong...
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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My mother's will was never probated as she left all to my living father and to the children should he precede her.

Does her will have to be probated?

Melissa O'Neal
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answered on Aug 31, 2023

While it is always best practice to probate a will, her will would need to have been probated within 4 years of her passing. If it has been more than 4 years it is too late to probate her will but it might still be useful for family settlements. If all property is community property and your... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My mother's will was never probated as she left all to my living father and to the children should he precede her.

Does her will have to be probated?

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Aug 31, 2023

In Texas, the probate process is typically required to legally transfer assets and property according to a person's will after their passing. If your mother's will stipulated that her assets would pass to your living father and to the children if he were to precede her, it's... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Texas on
Q: Is it common for a creditor to repossess an item and then additionally withdraw all of the funds from the estate?

My grandpa from Texas passed a year ago. I am the sole beneficiary, but my great aunt was listed as the executor. I am in California and she is in Michigan. I wanted to put myself as executor. A friend of my grandpa’s in Texas misunderstood this and put herself as executor.

My grandpa had... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Aug 28, 2023

When an item of tangible personal property (such as an RV) that secures a loan is repossessed because the loan is in default, the lender typically auctions the repossessed item and applies the proceeds to the balance due on the loan. Typically the proceeds are not sufficient to pay the balance... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Small Claims, Landlord - Tenant and Probate for Texas on
Q: Not sure what type of law my case falls into.

my uncle served me with an eviction notice to move out my grandmothers house who passed away 3 years ago. Im not sure what documents he has because he is a half uncle that has never had any ties to my grandparents nor the house. my mom and aunt were the only two that my grandmother passed the house... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 25, 2023

The eviction involves landlord-tenant law. The matter of ownership involves probate law. Good luck

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2 Answers | Asked in Small Claims, Landlord - Tenant and Probate for Texas on
Q: Not sure what type of law my case falls into.

my uncle served me with an eviction notice to move out my grandmothers house who passed away 3 years ago. Im not sure what documents he has because he is a half uncle that has never had any ties to my grandparents nor the house. my mom and aunt were the only two that my grandmother passed the house... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 21, 2023

It squarely falls within eviction law from your perspective. You definitely need your mom and aunt to appear in court to show they inherited the house from your grandparents and to state you have permission to live there. Your grandmother’s probate record ought to clearly establish who... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My uncle died in 1989, is small affidavit sufficient enough for me to obtain his assets? He had no kids, was never

Married, and his parents and sister are all passed. He didn't have a will neither.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 16, 2023

In most instances, an affidavit of heirship can be used to address any remaining assets that might be registered or recorded in your uncle's name. Under the circumstances you describe, it would be very unusual for any such assets to have remained in your uncle's name since 1989.

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: I have a question. My mother died and outright owned a 3.15 acre piece of land that had a house on it. She had no will.

Not married. I have three siblings. I was just released from prison after 12 yrs . The last month of my incarceration, my three siblings signed over ownership to my step father who has no legal right whatsoever to the land with a warranty deed. They tell me that they chose a part of the land that... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 10, 2023

It depends. When your mother died, the 3.15 acre parcel passed to you and your siblings as tenants in common. All four of you owned the entire undivided tract. Any tenant in common can petition a court to partition the land either by sale or in kind. You should have received notice of any such... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: So my father has passed away and has land in his name only but also has the home on the land in his and his lates wifes.

There is no will. His late wife has 2 children and my dad had 2 how do we go about settling property percentages, are there percentage laws for this.

Isaac Shutt
Isaac Shutt
answered on Aug 8, 2023

Since there's no will, the "heirs at law" inherit. The law calls it intestate succession.

In case you're curious, here's a link to the actual law:

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ES/htm/ES.201.htm

If the wife died before your dad, then all...
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2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Can my deceased daughter's boyfriend keep her ashes and urn and refuse to give them to her father or myself??

My daughter was living with this man and had a child. Since shortly after her death, we have been denied the ability to see or visit with the child. Furthermore, the boyfriend has closed all her accounts, transferred the title of her car, and is withholding her other property (specifically the... View More

Elisa  Reiter
Elisa Reiter
answered on Aug 11, 2023

These are delicate situations. You may find the following sections of the Texas Estates Code helpful:

Disposition of Remains: According to Texas law, a person may provide written directions for the disposition of their remains. This means that if your deceased daughter had expressed her...
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2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Can my deceased daughter's boyfriend keep her ashes and urn and refuse to give them to her father or myself??

My daughter was living with this man and had a child. Since shortly after her death, we have been denied the ability to see or visit with the child. Furthermore, the boyfriend has closed all her accounts, transferred the title of her car, and is withholding her other property (specifically the... View More

Tammy L. Wincott
Tammy L. Wincott
answered on Aug 7, 2023

I am sorry for the loss of your daughter. The answer depends on if she executed a disposition of remains document or any other transfer on death document related to her bank accounts and vehicle.

You don't mention the age of her other children and whether you have custody. Texas does...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Native American Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: is there a probate lawyer lisenced in texas pro bono

joint owner (seller) me need help from threat of force of sale suit from(other owner) they say or force of me giving up my interest in estate

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 6, 2023

A Texas attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. Here is a link to a page on this Justia site

Texas Probate Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services

https://www.justia.com/lawyers/probate/texas/legal-aid-and-pro-bono-services

You include Native...
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