TEXAS ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
CASES AND MATERIALS
GERRY
W. BEYER
Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law
TABLE OF CONTEN'fS
olCol1lel1ls
olC'ases
ONE. INTRODUCTION TO ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
vii
xiii
1
A.
PROPER APPLICA.NT
I
B.
LOCATE WILL
1.
Decedent's Home or Office
2.
Sate Deposit Box
3.
Significant Indi viduals
4.
Clerk of the CourL.
2
2
C.
PREPARE APPLICATION
.3
D.
FILE IN APPROPRIATE COURT
3
E'
CITATION
3
F.
PROBATE OF WILL OR DETERIVHNATION OF
HEIRS
4
G.
lYPE OF ADMINISl'RA'fION
5
H.
APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE
I.
Legal Capacity and Desirable Characteristics
a. Honesty
b. Common Sense and Good Judgment
c. Financially Responsible
d. Investment Experience and Skill
e. Awareness of Legal Issues
f Fiduciary Personality
g. Longevity
h. Proximity
1.
Lack of Distractions
j. Prior Approval
k. Successors
2.
Individual or Corporation Personal Representative?
3.
Co-Execlltors
10
QUALIFICATION OF PERSONAL
REP RIi~SENTATIVE
1.
Oath of Omce
II
I1
I.
2
2
2
5
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
<)
Texas Estate Administration
Vlll
2.
BOIICl
11
.J.
ISSUANCE OF LETTERS
12
K.
COLLECT AND PROTECT DECEDENT'S
PROBATE ASSETS
13
L.MANAGE DECEDENT'SPROBA'IE ASSETS
M.
INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT
N.
PROTECt' CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM
CREDITOH.S
1.
Homestead
a. Creditor Protection
b. Occupancy Rights
2.
Exempt Personal Property
3.
Fanlily Allo\vance
4.
Waiver of Protections
13
13
14
14
14
14
15
15
16
O.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
16
P.
PAY CREDITORS
17
Q.
PROVIDE REPORTS AND ACCOUNTINGS
17
R.
DlSTRlBUTION AND CLOSING ESTATE
17
S.
THE PRO SE ISSUE
18
CHAPTER Two. PROCEDURAL MATTERS IN PROBATE
25
/\.
.JURISDICTION
25
B.
VENUE
38
C.
REVIEW OF PROBATE DECISIONS
I.
Certiorari
Appeal
2.
3.
BillofReview
D.
STATUTES OF LIMITATION
1.
To Probate a Will...
2.
For Issuance of Letters Testamentary or Administration
To Contest a Will...
3.
4.
Suspension of Other Limitation Periods
CHAPTER THREE. OPENING THE ADMINISTRAnON
A.
LOCATE \VILL
I.
Decedent's Home or Office
2.
Safe Deposit Box
.45
.45
45
54
55
55
70
71
74
75
75
75
75
Table of Contents
IX
3.
Significant Individuals
75
4.
Clerk of the Court...
76
PR()PER APPLICAN'r
76
CONTENTS OF APPLICATION
77
FILING
78
CiTATION
79
HF~ARING ON
82
82
92
99
99
I.
2.
3.
4.
APPLICATION
General Proof
For Probate of Will...
For Issuance of Letters Testamentary
For Issuance of Letters of Administration
COURT'S ACTION ON APPLICATION
1.
Admit Will to Probate··- Generally
i
l\cln1it \Vill to Probate as I'v'lunin1ent of Title
3.
Admit Will to Probate and Grant Letters Testamentary
4.
Grant Letters of Administration
5.
Deny Application
QUAUFICA'nON OF PERSONAL
Ri:<:PHESENTATIVE
1.
Oath
')
Bond
ISSUANCE OF LETTEHS
FOUR. NOTICES
100
100
100
104
104
105
lOS
105
105
106
113
NOTICE 1'0 CREDlTOHS
1.
Comptroller of Public Accounts
2.
(~reditors ~ (Ienerally
3.
Secured Creditors
4.
Unsecured Creditors
5.
Penalty tt:.)I' ,Failure to Provide .Notices
113
113
113
114
114
114
NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES
1.
Timing of Notice
2.
Beneficiaries Entitled to Notice
a. Status
b. Survival Presumed
c. Ascertainable Identity and Address
d. Trust.
e. Beneficiary with Guardian
f Minor Without Guardian
[l.
Charitv.................................
114
114
115
! 15
115
115
115
116
116
11 (,
x
Texas Estate Administration
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Beneficiaries Not Required to Be Noticed
a. Made an Appearance
b. Executed a Waiver.
Contents of Notice
Service ofNotice
Proof of Compliance
a. Timing
b. Filing of Affidavit or Certificate
c. Contents of Aftidavit
Ramifications and Uncertainties
a. Increased Cost and Inconvenience
b. The Class Gin Problem
c. What Constitutes "Reasonable Diligence"?
d. No Exception for Nominal Gifts
e. No Exception for Gifts to Personal Representative
f Probate as Muniment of Title
CHAPTER FIVE. INVENTORY, APPRAISEMENT, AND LIST 0:1"
CLAIlVIS
116
116
116
117
117
117
117
117
118
118
118
118
119
119
119
119
121
A.
INVENTORY
124
B.
APPRAISEJVIENT
125
C.
LIST OF CLAIJ\iIS
126
D.
ACTION BY THE COURT
126
Eo
POST-APPROVAL DUTIES OF PERSONAL
REP RESENTATI VE
,. ,. ,.
,.
CHAPTER SIX. DEPENDENT ADMINISTRAnON
A.
,.
.
1.1
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPENDENT
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE - GENERALLY
1.
Collect Estate Property
2.
Manage Estate Property
3.
Act Under Court Control
13
137
13
138
SETTING APART HOMESTEAD, EXEMPT
PROPERTY, AND TilE FAMILY ALLOWANCE
1.
Homestead
2.
Exempt Property
3.
Family Allowance
13
13
13
14
C.
SELLING ESTATE PROPERTY
1
D.
RENTING ESTATE PROPERTY
1
B.
Table of Contents
Xl
CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE
1.
Notice to Creditors
2.
Presentation ofC]ailns
3.
Action of Personal Representative
Procedure When Claim is Allowed
4.
5.
Procedure When Claim is Rejected
Secured Claims
6.
Order of Payment ofClairns
7.
Other Matters
8.
150
150
150
15 I
152
152
ISS
156
162
COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF 'rnE
PERSONAL R~:PH~:SENTATIVI<:
166
SUCCESSOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES
I.
Resignation
2.
R.eI11o\"ul
3.
Appointment of Successor
4.
Powers and Duties of Successor..
187
187
187
188
188
ANNUA.L ACCOUN·rINGS
189
PARTITION AND DISTRIBUTION
189
FINAL SI~·r·rLEMENT. ACCOUNTING. AND
DISCHA.RG E
190
SEVEN. INDEPENDENT ADIVlINiSTRATION
193
CREATION OF INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION
I.
By Will...
2.
Upon Petition of All Distributees
193
193
197
POWI~RS /\NO DUTIES OF 'rHE INOEPENm:Nl'
ADIVIINISTRATOR
1.
Generally
Setting Apart ofHomestead and Exempt Property
3.
Family Allowance
4.
Notices to Creditors
5.
Claims Against the Estate
6.
SeJling Estate Property
7.
Accounting and Distribution
198
198
198
198
198
199
199
199
SUCCESSOR INDEPENDENT ADMINiSTRATORS
1.
Gener<Jlly
200
200
.,
Rell10\:al
,
, .. ,
CLOSING '[H.E INDEPENDENT AD:vUNlSTRATlON
I.
By Affidavit
..,
Upon Application by Distributee
2()O
209
210
215
xii
Texas Estate Administration
3.
Judicial Discharge
CHAPTER EIGHT. ABBREVIATED METHODS OF
ADJVIINISTRATION
215
217
A.
PROBATE OF WILL AS MUNIl\JtENT OF TITLIL
2I7
B.
THE $50,000 SMALL INTESTATE ESTATE
217
C.
THE FAMILY ALLOWANCE SMALL ESTATE.
217
D.
SUMMARY PROCEEDING FOR CERTAIN
INSOLVENT ESTATES
218
WITHDRAWING THE ESTATE FROM
ADlVIINISTRATION
218
F.
DETERMINATION OF HEIRSHIP
219
G.
AFFIDAVIT OF HEIRSHIP
223
H.
ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNITY PROPERTY
E.
1.
2.
3.
No Administration
Unqualified Community Administration
Qualified Community Administration
225
225
225
225
I.
EMERGENCY INTERVENTION PROCEIWINGS
226
J.
FAMILY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
226
CHAPTER NINE. FOREIGN \VILLS
237
A.
ANCILLARY PROBATE
237
B.
RECORDING FOREIGN WILL AS MUNIMENT OF
TITLE
238
ORIGINAL PROBATE OF FOREIGN WILL IN
TEXAS
240
OTHER lVIATTERS
240
C.
D.
l\PPENDIX SAiVIPLE \VILL I;·OItlvl
243
Index
267