PROBATE
Navigating the probate process after a loved one’s death can be stressful.
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is emotional, but dealing with their assets following their death can add another level of stress to an already difficult situation. When someone dies, a person’s estate is considered to be everything they owned at the time of their passing, including:
- Real estate
- Cash
- Personal property (vehicles, jewelry, art, etc.)
- Retirement accounts
- Life insurance policies
- Investment securities (stocks and bonds)
Texas probate law requires that all estate assets are gathered and that the deceased person’s remaining debts are paid out of those assets. After all debts have been paid, the estate’s assets can be distributed according to a will. The probate court accepts the entry of the will, oversees the notice requirements to named heirs and individuals taking under the will. The will names an executor of the deceased individual’s estate and the executor works directly with the court and probate attorney. If there is no will, the individual is said to have died “intestate,” and assets are then distributed according to Texas intestate succession laws.
The more the process of estate planning is established in advance, and when in good health, the easier probate should be for loved ones and family left behind.
Our team helps clients probate a will, settle an estate, and make the process as painless as possible for everyone involved.
The more the process of estate planning is established in advance, and when in good health, the easier probate should be for loved ones and family left behind.
Our team helps clients probate a will, settle an estate, and make the process as painless as possible for everyone involved.
