Legal Terminology Self-proved will laws A will that can be validated without the use of a probate court. Such a will usually requires the presence of witnesses who attest to the will’s validity. Presumption of Continuity When no circumstances exist that suggest a will lacks validity or has been revoked, the burden shifts from a...KEEP READING
Legal Terminology Ad Litem Means for the suit, a person appointed such a role is responsible for a ward’s affairs in a particular aspect of litigation. Texas Probate Code, Section 608 [Now Texas Estates Code] Allows a probate court to transfer a matter from a district, county, or statutory court to itself when the matter...KEEP READING
Legal Terminology Muniment of Title/Deed: Means there is no need for administration of the estate. This allows for a will to be probated quickly and cost-efficiently. Administration of an Estate: Allows for the management of the liabilities and assets of a deceased person. Probate Case In re Estate of Kurtz, 54 S.W.3d 353 (Tex. App....KEEP READING
In the Boone v. McGalley case, challenges to an applicant’s standing in probate court require a separate hearing prior to continuing with further action. Probate trial courts, without the collective designation of standing, are not able to rule on challenges and must defer to a higher court. Probate Law Terminology In Limine: means that an...KEEP READING
Kreig LLC proudly announces the addition of Texas attorneys Siobhan Weathers and Jessica Lappin to handle probate, estate planning, and guardianship matters The probate law firm of Kreig LLC welcomes our two newest attorneys as we continue expanding across the State of Texas. Kreig LLC currently has offices in Houston, San Antonio/Fort Worth, San Antonio,...KEEP READING
In a person’s will, they may leave either personal or real property to an entity rather than to an individual. They could leave land to a city, business, organization, county, or the like. What happens when there is a suit against a county rather than an individual? What is the controlling law and how is...KEEP READING
Can someone bring a lawsuit regarding personal injury, death, or property damage in a probate court? Let’s look at the case of Gonzalez v. Reliant Energy Co. to find out. Legal Terminology Anti-suit Injunction A remedy issued by a court in one jurisdiction that prohibits a litigant from initiating or continuing litigation in another jurisdiction....KEEP READING
When someone dies with a will in Texas, the court will follow the instructions in the will to distribute the deceased person’s assets. However, if there are any questions about the will or if anyone challenges it, the court may get involved to make sure that the assets are distributed according to Texas probate law....KEEP READING
Can You Be Released from Liability in an Independent Administration? If you’ve been named as the independent administrator of a Texas probate estate, you may be wondering if you can be released from liability. The answer depends on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the estate, and whether or not there...KEEP READING
Introduction If you are an executor or administrator of an estate in Texas, you may be wondering what to do about debt collectors. After all, the last thing you want is for the estate to be hounded by creditors. Read on to find out more about how to deal with debt collectors in independent probate...KEEP READING