Introduction Probate is a process by which an administrator (the executor) of an estate (the decedent’s property) distribute the estate’s assets to the decedent’s beneficiaries. In Texas, probate is handled by the Texas State Probate Office. There are at least five types of probate (more if you count the various permutations such as testate dependent,…
Tag: guardianship
What Can a Probate Court Do About Child Support?
Legal Terminology Ad Litem Means for the suit, a person appointed such a role is responsible for a ward’s affairs in a particular aspect of litigation. Texas Probate Code, Section 608 [Now Texas Estates Code] Allows a probate court to transfer a matter from a district, county, or statutory court to itself when the matter…
Texas Disclaimers in Guardianship Proceedings
There are four types of disclaimers. The first type is for when an individual who received a gift or bequest disclaims all rights to the gift, thereby giving up their interest in the property and allowing the property to pass as if he or she never received it. The second type is for when an…
Can a Guardian Sell Assets of a Deceased Ward?
Introduction A guardian is a person who has been appointed by the court to make decisions regarding the personal matters of an individual. A guardian may be appointed to take care of a minor or adult with disabilities or an elderly person. As a guardian you are legally responsible for managing your ward’s assets, including…
Legal Guardian Wins $8.3M in Texas Medical Malpractice Suit
A jury at the Tarrant County Probate Court 2 returned a verdict of $8.3 million in favor of a medical malpractice lawsuit earlier this month. Texas Harris Health Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth will have to pay at least a part of that amount to the family of Angela Davis, a former parole office who…
Guardianship Claim Bars Probate Claim?
Guardianship Claim Bars Probate Claim? Imagine that you are owed money by someone who becomes incapacitated and they have a guardian appointed. Your debt is not secured by any property, such as real estate. The guardian sends you a notice to submit your claim for payment. The debtor is of an advanced age or not…
Appointment of Temporary Guardian Not Immediately Appealable
In probate and guardianship cases, the parties can appeal most court orders immediately. But what about the appointment of a temporary guardian? If you do not agree with the appointment, can you immediately appeal the probate court’s decision? The court addresses this in In Re Guardianship of Laverne T. Cady, No. 04-19-00588-CV (Ct. App. —…
Guardianship Applications and Personal Service
If a party enters an appearance in a guardianship proceeding, do they still have to be personally served with a new application that is filed in the same case? Texas law requires service when a guardianship application is filed, but is this necessary when the party is already entered an appearance? The court addresses this…