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Inherited Retirement Accounts: The Basics

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think too much about what would happen to your retirement account if you died. But it’s actually a pretty important question, especially if you live in Texas. In Texas, inherited retirement accounts are subject to some pretty strict rules. For example, if you die before you’ve reached […]

Does a Probate Court’s Order Have to Be Final to Be Appealable?

In a recent case, St. John v. Hearne, a Texas probate court granted a bill of review but did not dispose of contested issues. The Court of Appeals noted that granting a bill of review does not terminate the proceedings and is not equivalent to final judgment for purposes of appeal. Legal Terminology Interlocutory Appeal […]

5 Kinds of Texas Probate

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, […]

To Whom Do Executors Owe a Fiduciary Duty?

Negligence and Fiduciary Duty A fiduciary is a person who holds a legal or ethical relationship of trust with another party. If a person is a fiduciary, they have what is called a fiduciary duty to that party. A fiduciary duty can exist in several special relationships or circumstances and the type of duty that […]

Who Will Serve as Personal Representative of Your Estate?

Who will serve as personal representative after you’ve passed on? Many people think about this while planning their estate, but it’s important to know who is eligible to serve and who will serve by default if you don’t name a personal representative properly. Selecting The Personal Representative (Executor vs Administrator) Specialized knowledge, training or experience […]

Kreig LLC has two of the Best Lawyers® in America

Kreig LLC is proud to have Erin Breaux recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2023 in America, and Kristina Munoz recognized in the third edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. Congratulations Erin and Kristina! The post Kreig LLC has two of the Best Lawyers® in America appeared first on Kreig LLC.

Can Reasonable Diligence Trump a Probate Statute of Limitations in Texas?

Default for failing to file? Default at Law A default is the failure to do something required by law or the failure to comply with a contractual obligation. When it comes to filing a will for probate, there is a timeline that the filer must comply with in order to avoid being found in default. […]

What Is Considered a Will Contest in Probate Court?

Legal Terminology Impleaded: To bring in a third party to a lawsuit who might be liable to either the plaintiff or the defendant. Probate Case Klein v. Dimock, 705 S.W.2d 405 (Tex. App. – Fort Worth 1986, writ ref’d n.r.e.) Facts & Procedural History L.A. Klein (Testator) and his wife, Mary Louise, executed a joint […]