Probate is the court-supervised process that proves that a will is a valid public document that is the last known testament of the deceased.
Drafting a last will and testament is one of the most important things you can do in the probate process. Without one, Texas intestacy laws will govern the management and distribution of your estate. This could delay and reduce the inheritance your family receives once you have passed. It could also lead to in-fighting over …
Last month, we discussed the different ways Texas probates estates. We outlined the four methods our state uses to distribute assets to the beneficiaries of an estate. This month, we are examining the details of how to probate a will in Texas. There are 8 steps in the process of distributing estate assets to the …
There are many ways to distribute your assets after you pass. Some people use a trust, others use joint ownership or rely on direct payments from insurance or retirement policies. However, the most commonly used method of passing on property to beneficiaries is drafting a will. But before your beneficiaries can receive their inheritance, your …
Making the decision to remove a family member from your will is tough. Yet, life is messy, and this sort of thing happens. If you feel the need to disinherit a family member, then the chances are that your reasons for doing so are warranted. However, making changes to an estate planning document, such as …
When a loved one passes away family members are often left with handling the person’s property and passing it on to others. The loved one may have left a Will, designating heirs to his property, which needs to be probated. Family members in Round Rock or Cedar Park may wonder, what is probate and how …
Marriage makes life easier in many ways. If one partner in a marriage becomes incapacitated, then the other spouse can make important healthcare and financial decisions for that person. If one spouse passes away, then any community property passes to the remaining spouse. Unmarried couples often do not have many of these rights. As a result, …
There are a variety of types of courts in Texas that have jurisdiction over different kinds of cases. In this article we will generally discuss the Texas court system and explain how probate courts fit within that structure. Austin probate lawyer Farren Sheehan is experienced in court settings and can assist with probate and other …
The process of probate involves the compensation of any final expenses and the transferring of property and estate assets to beneficiaries after a person dies. Probate is a legal process, but it doesn’t mean that a probate judge has to be there along every step of the probate process, nor does it mean that you …
Texas Probate law states that a probate court may grant what is termed a “family allowance” to the immediate family members of the deceased. The purpose of the family allowance is to provide support for a deceased person’s family members for a period of one year after the death of the deceased person, whom is …
In order for a will to be admitted to probate in Texas, it must meet the requirements for a valid will and sufficient proof of these elements must be made to the probate court. Individuals in the Austin area seeking to have a will admitted to probate should contact an Austin probate lawyer to guide …