Many people don’t know that you can cash a check made out to a deceased person in Texas prior to probate. The state has what’s called a “pay-on-death” provision, which allows for the cashing of checks made out to deceased persons. While this may seem like a simple process, there are actually a few things...KEEP READING

If a person dies without any heirs, their estate is called intestate. This means that the state will decide what happens to the estate. The laws surrounding intestate estates can be complex and vary from state to state. In Texas, if a person dies without any heirs on either the paternal or maternal side, their...KEEP READING

When a person dies, their property must go through a process called probate. Probate is the legal process of distributing a deceased person’s property. The court will appoint an executor to oversee the probate process and distribute the deceased person’s assets according to their will or, if they didn’t have a will, according to Texas...KEEP READING

Introduction: Probate Process under Texas Law When a person dies, their assets must go through the probate process before they can be distributed to their beneficiaries. The probate process is the legal process of settling a person’s estate after their death. If the deceased person had a will, the probate court will use that document...KEEP READING

Introduction When it comes to proving that a decedent lived in a specific county in Texas, there are a few things you’ll need to do. First, you’ll need to gather any and all documentation that would show where the decedent resided at the time of their death. This could include things like a lease agreement,...KEEP READING

Introduction If you’re considering adopting a child in Texas, you may be wondering if that child will be considered a descendant of your will. The answer to that question depends on a few different factors. In this blog post, we’ll explore the definition of a “descendant” in Texas and how it applies to adopted children....KEEP READING

Introduction When it comes to giving gifts, we usually think of happy occasions like birthdays and Christmas. But what about when someone is nearing the end of their life? In Texas, there is a provision for what’s known as a Causa Mortis gift. This allows a person to give away property or possessions that they...KEEP READING

In Texas, probate court is the venue in which family members, friends, and business associates can contest a will. The Texas Estates Code sets out rules for how the court should handle these disputes. You might be wondering, if evidence of past misconduct toward an estate can be admitted as evidence to prove undue influence....KEEP READING

Introduction: Making a Valid Last Will and Testament For your will to be valid in Texas, you must have testamentary capacity. Testamentary capacity means that you understand the nature and extent of your property and that you’re aware of the natural objects of your affection. You must also be able to understand that you’re making...KEEP READING

If you die without a will in Corpus Christi, Texas, your estate may go to your spouse, children, parents, or other relatives as dictated by state law. However, this is not always the case. If you have any assets or debts that you want to leave to someone other than your spouse, then you will...KEEP READING