When a loved one passes away, family members, heirs and beneficiaries are left with the responsibility of taking care of his or her estate. Settling and eventually closing a Texas estate on behalf of the deceased can be a complex process, and part of that may involve...
Probate
Planning to avoid the probate process
When it is time to settle the estate of a loved one, a Texas family is left with the responsibility of overseeing the process of paying off remaining debts, distributing assets and handling other matters. In some cases, they must also navigate probate. This is the...
Estate planning with the goal of avoiding probate
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling and closing an estate, including paying remaining debts and distributing assets to heirs. However, the probate process can take months or even years to complete, and many make avoiding probate one of their primary...
When probate includes a loved one’s debt
If a will has designated you executor or a Texas probate judge has appointed you administrator of a loved one’s estate, you may be feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Not only must you gather and protect the assets in the estate, but you must also deal with...
When probate includes a loved one’s debt
If a will has designated you executor or a Texas probate judge has appointed you administrator of a loved one’s estate, you may be feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Not only must you gather and protect the assets in the estate, but you must also deal with...
Why is probate taking so long?
After an elderly parent dies, there are many things to take care of. You may have funeral plans to make, extended family and friends to contact, and last-minute details to attend to. Of course, your primary concern is to take comfort in those who shared your love for...
What’s so bad about probate?
The most common advice you may hear about probate is to do everything you can to avoid it. So what is this terrible process that so many dread after a loved one dies? Probate is the legal process of closing the estate of someone who has died and transferring ownership...
Why is there no ‘reading of the will’ anymore?
In some movies or TV shows, a common scene involves family members gathering in a room where a lawyer reads the contents of a last will and testament. There are dramatic moments as heirs learn of their fortunes, disinheritance or tests they must pass to obtain their...
When can I clean out the house after a loved one dies?
Stepping into a parent’s home after he or she has died can be an emotional experience. Adult children in Texas may suddenly see the rooms and their contents in a new light and begin to feel sentimental, or they may see the chore that lies ahead of them of cleaning out...
Probate doesn’t have to be a mystery
The probate process is a series of legal tasks that occur to close an estate after someone has died. The specific steps and requirements of probate vary from state to state, but some general requirements exist uniformly. Probate has several purposes, only one of which...