When it comes to estate planning, there are a lot of forms that need to be filled out. And if you’re not an attorney, you may be wondering if filling in these forms is the practice of law in Texas. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the issue of filling in…
Tag: Blog
What Is the Anti-Lapse Statute?
If you live in Texas, you may have heard of the anti-lapse statute. This law is designed to protect the property rights of beneficiaries who are named in a will. Under the statute, if a beneficiary dies before the will-maker, their interest in the estate will not lapse. Instead, their interest will go to their…
Probating a Will in El Paso, Texas
Introduction After a loved one passes away, you may be wondering what needs to be done in order to settle their estate. If they left behind a will, the process of probating it in El Paso, Texas is relatively simple. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps you’ll need to take in order…
Is Divided Land Used as One Tract Considered One Unit?
Introduction So, your property was condemned by the city’s eminent domain power. Now what? If this happened to you in Texas, you might be wondering if the land that is being taken is considered as one tract or not. Luckily, there’s an answer to this question. It turns out, if your land is divided into…
Can You Make a Texas Affidavit Based on Belief Alone?
In Texas, it is not possible to make an affidavit based on belief alone. You must have knowledge of a fact in order for the affidavit to be valid under Texas law. To understand this better, let’s look at the 1996 case, Williams v. Bagley. Legal Terminology Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 682: No…
Personal Injury Claims Against a Probated Estate
Huitron v. Kaye, 2022 UT 36 (Utah 2022) The Utah Supreme Court reversed the lower court, which had denied the defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment. The Supreme Court ruled that since the plaintiff did not file his personal injury lawsuit in time, he was limited to pursuing what money was held by the estate.…
Do Insane Delusions Amount to Lack of Testamentary Capacity?
Testamentary capacity is the legal term that refers to someone’s mental ability to make a will. Testamentary capacity can be diminished or lost if a person has certain delusions, but a delusion in and of itself might not establish a lack of testamentary capacity. This case answers the question: When does a court find that…
When Is a Will Invalid under Texas Probate Law?
Invalid Wills The Texas Estates Code defines a will as a testamentary instrument that either (1) appoints an executor or guardian, (2) directs how property may not be disposed of, or (3) revokes another will. Note that the document does not have to meet all three requirements to be a valid will. State law provides…
What Do You Do with the Body After a Loved One Dies?
Before you even consider the probate of an estate, there are several preliminary matters that have to be attended to immediately after a loved on dies. These are the pressing matters that have to be attended to or considered immediately after death. Determination of Death The first step after someone dies involves contacting the authorities…