When someone dies with a will, it may not always be self-evident that the will has to be admitted to probate. This is often the case in estates where all of the assets pass to a surviving spouse. The surviving spouse may assume that they automatically succeed to title to all assets. And they may...KEEP READING

A fiduciary is a person who holds a legal or ethical relationship of trust with another party. If a person is a fiduciary, they have what is called a fiduciary duty to that party. A fiduciary duty can exist in several special relationships or circumstances and the type of duty that exists between a fiduciary...KEEP READING

One of the most challenging fact patterns when it comes to estate planning is the blended family, such as a couple who get divorced and there are children from later marriages. This gets particularly difficult to plan for when minor children are involved. The combination of step-children and minor children can result in some odd...KEEP READING

Generally, all interested parties have to be included in the litigation. This is a fundamental rule in our system of justice. There are times when this is not required, however. There are instances where the rules say that interested parties do not have to be joined. This is often to avoid unnecessary delays or to...KEEP READING

Most litigation matters are decided based on evidentiary standards. The winner is the one that presents enough evidence based on the evidentiary standard that applies. This might seem to provide clear-cut rules, but it doesn’t. The standards are not clear and when one standard is to be applied over another is also not clear. The...KEEP READING

When someone goes through the process of probating an estate, this usually means that they will have to gather, manage, and distribute the deceased’s assets. This process can take quite some time in a Texas probate. In fact, in most cases, the probate administration is never closed. The probate stays open indefinitely. The In re...KEEP READING

Not everyone has significant assets when they die. Some of us die owning just a bank account, a no-so-expensive home, some personal effects, or a combination of these assets. While the value of these assets may be nominal, they still have value and, likely, there are heirs that would like to have the assets. This...KEEP READING

Introduction If you are the beneficiary of an inheritance but are currently incarcerated, you may be wondering if you can still receive your inheritance. The answer depends on the state in which you are incarcerated and the type of inheritance you are receiving. Read on to find out more about how to receive an inheritance...KEEP READING

If you doubt the validity of a will, there are a few things you can do. You can file a petition with the court to have the will probated, or you can file an objection to the probate. If you have grounds to believe that the will is invalid, the court will investigate your claims...KEEP READING

When someone dies, their estate must go through the probate process. This is true whether or not the deceased had a will. Probate is the legal process of settling an estate, and it can be complicated. In Texas, the court may require that an attorney handle the probate process, depending on the size and complexity...KEEP READING