Estate Administration

As we know, a will is an essential element of estate planning. When a person creates a will, he or she usually assumes that their estate planning needs are completed. Peace of mind along with a smooth transition is on the way, or so you think. However, just because...

If you've been appointed as the executor of someone's estate, then you've likely already been advised by the testator, their attorney or a judge just how long it can take to adjudicate a case. The probate process can take anywhere from weeks to years to see it through...

When someone passes away, for legal purposes, all their property is considered to be their estate. The estate is made up of assets such as: homes and other real property; checking and saving accounts; stocks and other investments; retirement accounts; vehicles;...

A will is meant to give instructions on how to distribute an estate, but someone must be in charge of carrying out those instructions. This is a big part of the process known as estate administration. The individual responsible for doing administering the estate is...

It is inevitable that everyone in Texas will pass away. It is one of the unfortunate facts of life and one of life's only guarantees. When people do pass away they cannot bring anything with them and all the possessions and assets that they accumulated over their life...

Many people who become executors are unpleasantly surprised to learn that creditors can continue to seek repayment after a person's death. It is not quite as bad as it might, however. Some debts will simply go unpaid after the debtor dies. Any outstanding debts that...

Most Texans die without leaving a valid will that instructs the probate court how to distribute their assets. In such cases, the decedent's property must be distributed according to rules that have been adopted in the state's statutes. These rules are known as the...

Texas estates come in all shapes and sizes. Some are large, involving thousands perhaps millions of dollars in assets, some are small, comprising only a few thousand dollars in assets. Some estates consist entirely of cash and stocks and bonds, while others include...

Under Texas law, people can become administrator of an estate through several ways. Perhaps the most familiar is a situation in which an executor is appointed in the text of the will. In other cases, the court must appoint an administrator. In most of these...