Interlocutory appeals serve as a vital component of the legal system, providing a mechanism for parties to seek immediate review of important legal issues during an ongoing case. Unlike regular appeals that occur after a final judgment, interlocutory appeals address specific rulings or issues that could significantly impact the outcome of the case or have...KEEP READING

If you are involved in a lawsuit, you need to know how to properly serve the lawsuit papers on the person you are suing. There are nuanced rules for how and when this can be done. The probate rules add a layer of complexity as the Texas Estates Code includes various rules for serving citations...KEEP READING

All we have is time. And time is limited. Our legal system is built on this concept. When it comes to probate law, our probate laws focus on the concept of finality. They focus on wrapping up a decedent’s affairs to allow those who are living to move on. This is why Texas law provides...KEEP READING

The probate courts will often hold funds in their registry. The probate court has authority and control over these funds. Once the funds are in the registry and an independent administrator is appointed to administer the probate estate, who has control over these funds? The concept of the independent administrator is that they are tasked...KEEP READING

It is common for a parent to create a joint bank account with the intent that someone accesses the account to pay for their funeral or last expenses. Who owns this account once the parent dies? What about other bank accounts that are held jointly? Does the joint owner, surviving spouse or someone else inherits...KEEP READING

Yahoo! Finance ran an article entitled “How Long Does Probate Take.” The article sets out several circumstances that can slow down the probate process. The article is not Texas-specific, so many of the circumstances do not really apply for probates in Texas or are more nuanced than mentioned in the article. The article provides an...KEEP READING

It is common to see family members reach an informal agreement as to how to handle the estate when a family member dies. These informal agreements often lead to disputes and end up in probate litigation. This is especially true when it comes to real estate. Family members may put off dealing with real estate....KEEP READING

What do you do if you lost the original copy of a Will or you cannot find the original?  What if you can find a copy of the Will?  Can you probate a copy of the Will?  If you can probate a copy of the Will, how do you go about probating a copy of...KEEP READING

Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May each year. The day honors and remembers the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday originated after the American Civil War to commemorate Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. Today, Memorial Day...KEEP READING

When estates are left behind, particularly large ones, there is often a dispute. Such is the case with the estate of the late Michael Jackson. Even though he left this earth over a decade ago, the value of aspects of his estate is just now being decided by the courts. Michael Jackson was undoubtedly one...KEEP READING