It may be convenient to have another party hold property with the intent that the property revert back to the owner when the holder dies. One way to accomplish this is to sell property to the other party and contract with that party to name the owner as the beneficiary of the property in his…
Category: Probate Law
Information to Locate for Probate
When someone dies, their heirs and other interested parties have to piece together the information needed to probate the estate. There are a number of documents and information to locate, including information about: The original documents, including wills and trusts, birth certificate and Social Security card (for the decedent and children), marriage licenses and divorce decrees,…
Can a Minor Child Open a Bank Account in Texas?
There are times when a minor or child needs to open a checking or savings account. This begs the question, can a child legally open a bank account? Texas law addresses this. Minority Laws in Texas Generally In Texas, an individual is a minor if they are younger than 18 years of age. The law…
Example of Why a Will Needs to be Updated After Divorce
The Haga v. Thomas, No. 01–12–00218–CV (Tex. App.–Houston (1st Dist.) 2013) case provides an example of why wills need to be updated after divorce. While Texas law provides a remedy for when a will names a former spouse as executor and beneficiary, as demonstrated in the court case, the remedy does not always apply. Facts and…
Top 8 Grounds for Contesting a Will in Texas
Texas wills are frequently challenged in court. This often happens when one or more heirs feels that there was some wrongdoing or error that caused them to receive less than their fair share. There are a number of grounds for challenging a will in Texas. Here are the top 8 grounds for challenging a Texas…