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Lifetime gifts of real estate generally pass outside of the probate process, as they pass prior to probate. However, these transfers are often not discovered until the death of the property owner. This is why these disputes are often part of the probate process. Probate disputes often involve disputes over property that was purportedly or…

In Texas, the outcome of a will contest case does not always determine who will receive an award of attorney’s fees. In fact, even the winning party may not be fully reimbursed for their legal expenses. This is because the law governing attorney’s fees in will contest cases is nuanced and can vary depending on…

There is an art to estate planning. The art comes from seeing how estates are administered and what types of probate disputes arise. While nearly any attorney can draft a will, it’s the probate attorney that sees the big picture. These lessons are learned from legal battles, many of which carry on for years–if not…

Even the most comprehensive plans can go awry. Estate planning involves making educated guesses about what might happen in the future. There are certain eventualities that are known, others that are expected, and then there are those that cannot be foreseen. One area where discrepancies can arise is between transfers made in wills and Lady…

The banks invariably require the owner of small businesses to sign a personal guarantee to secure a loan. But what happens to the personal guarantee when the owner dies and the business defaults on the loan? If the business defaults on the loan, the decedent’s estate can be on the hook to repay the loan.…

The executor or personal representative has a lot of say in a Texas probate case. Absent limitations in the will, the independent executor has a lot of power. They can do everything from deciding what property is sold and kept, what property is distributed and when, and what the value of the property is that…

Probate cases are handled by a number of different courts in Texas. This can include statutory probate courts, county courts, and even district courts. Regardless of the type of court, one thing holds constant: the court is busy. Most courts in Texas have high caseloads. This is true of statutory probate courts in the largest…

Probate cases can be challenging given the different parties involved. In some cases, family members who have lifetime differences and long-running disputes are forced to work together to wind up the decedent’s last affairs. These disputes often end up in probate court. This can result in disputes and overreaching. The recent Estate of Allen, 658…

What happens when there is a dispute between parties regarding the validity of a life insurance beneficiary designation? This scenario raises complex legal questions surrounding conflicting claims and the rightful entitlement to life insurance proceeds. The solution lies within the realm of “interpleader” lawsuits. These legal actions offer a remedy when parties notify the life…

This case study involves a widow who was seeking assistance to access her late husband’s bank accounts. Despite presenting an affidavit of death and a death certificate and being the successor on the account, she was told by the bank that she needed a letter testamentary to access the account. This situation was complicated by…