After a loved one passes away, family members often have to figure out what to do with their assets, debts, and other concerns. Many executors named in wills assume they can handle the probate process themselves. This is especially true when dealing with straightforward estates or when all family members agree on the distribution. The...KEEP READING

Our Texas probate laws provide for independent administrations. The term “independent administration” means a probate that has very little court supervision or involvement. The “independent executor” is left to themselves to know and follow the law. This is why many executors prefer to serve as dependent administrators. They prefer having the court make the difficult...KEEP READING

When family members disagree about which county should handle probate proceedings, the winner often isn’t the one with the best legal arguments. Instead, Texas law provides the advantage for whoever files first. This can be true even when the initial application has serious flaws or when the applicant fails to follow through on court requirements....KEEP READING