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A common-law spouse can inherit in Texas only if the informal marriage is legally proven under Texas Family Code § 2.401. Once proven, the surviving partner inherits under the same Texas Estates Code Chapter 201 rules that apply to a ceremonial spouse, including a possible one-third share of separate personal property and a life estate
Common Law Spouse Inheritance Texas Guide Read More »
A parent in Houston has just learned that an adult child no longer has a place in the family's future. Maybe the relationship ended after years of conflict. Maybe a divorce changed the family structure. Maybe a caregiver or relative is now making decisions that feel unsafe. The parent wants to know how to remove
How to Remove Someone from a Will Texas Guide Read More »
A sibling calls from Houston with a question that sounds simple: “Two executors disagree in Texas. Can one of us keep the estate moving?” The disagreement may involve selling a home, paying debts, valuing personal property, or deciding when beneficiaries should receive distributions. In a grieving family, even a reasonable difference of opinion can quickly
Two Executors Disagree Texas Guide to Resolve Deadlocks Read More »
Texas doesn't give an executor one single blanket deadline to fully close an estate. Most independent administrations wrap up in roughly 6 to 12 months, while dependent administrations can run 18 months to 3+ years. That answer surprises many families because the question, “How long does an executor have to settle an estate in Texas?”
How Long Does an Executor Have to Settle an Estate Texas Read More »
In Texas, an executor can often sell estate property without unanimous beneficiary approval if the will grants a power of sale or the estate is under independent administration, but the exact authority depends on the probate type. A dependent administration generally requires court approval before estate real property is sold. A grieving family may face
Can an Executor Sell Property Without All Beneficiaries Approving Texas Read More »
Maria lives in Houston and expected some family stress after her father died. She didn't expect her brother, the named executor, to stop returning calls altogether. Weeks became months. Maria didn't know which probate court handled the estate, whether the will had been admitted, what assets were being collected, or whether her inheritance was still
Executor Not Communicating with Beneficiaries Texas Read More »
A family member dies, and you're left with one urgent question: Did they leave me anything in their will? Maybe an executor has been mentioned, but nobody has shown you a document. Maybe relatives say the estate is “being handled,” while you're trying to determine whether you're an heir, a beneficiary, or neither. In Texas,
How to Find Out if You Are in a Will Texas Read More »
After a loved one dies, families often begin with a simple question: Where is the will, and how can we get a copy? Someone may remember seeing a signed document in a desk drawer, while another relative believes the drafting attorney or county clerk has it. Grief makes that uncertainty harder, especially when property, bank
How to Get a Copy of a Will Texas Guide for Families Read More »
A manila envelope sits on the kitchen table beside a death certificate. Your family has found what appears to be the original will, but no one knows whether to take it to the county clerk, a probate court, or another state office. If you're asking, “Where are wills filed in Texas?”, the short answer is
Where Are Wills Filed in Texas: A Complete Guide Read More »
Have you been told that Texas children are legally guaranteed an inheritance just because they're children? That assumption makes the phrase forced heirship Texas especially confusing. Texas families often use it to describe any inheritance rule that limits a surviving spouse's control, but Texas no longer follows a modern forced-heirship system that reserves property for
Forced Heirship Texas: What the Law Actually Says Read More »
