If you are left to handle a loved one’s estate after he or she dies, you will likely be looking to wrap everything up as efficiently as possible. The longer probate drags on, the more time and money it can end up costing everyone involved. As long-standing Houston estate planning…
If you live outside of Texas but own property inside of Texas, your estate plan will likely be subject to the ancillary probate process. Ancillary probate is the legal process through which a non-state resident gets his estate plan (only as the plan relates.to in-state property) approved by a state…
An affidavit of heirship is a legal document that formally lists the heirs to a decedent’s property. When does the affidavit of heirship come in handy? And what is the process for filing this kind of affidavit? On today’s blog, we talk through some benefits of the affidavit and provide…
At McCulloch & Miller, we specialize in probate and estate planning. As our clients know, most estates in Texas need to go through probate once the estate owner dies. For those clients with high-value estates, the probate process can be a bit lengthier and more complex. How should individuals with…
In an ideal situation, if you are left to handle a loved one’s affairs after they pass, you have your loved one’s detailed will or estate planning document at your disposal. Sometimes, however, individuals die without a will, and their heirs are left to navigate intestate probate in Texas. The…
In Texas, if a person dies without a will (or if a person leaves property out of their will, intentionally or mistakenly), there are laws that dictate how the state distributes the relevant property. Texas heirship law can seem complicated at first, but today’s blog aims to simplify the process…
The probate process can vary in complexity, depending on the size and nature of a decedent’s estate. While many executors think first and foremost about the assets in a decedent’s estate, it is equally important to consider the debts and taxes that might be involved. Without addressing these crucial elements,…
Some individuals in Texas qualify for what is called a “small estate affidavit,” which simplifies the probate process and serves as an efficient way to pass assets to heirs. When does the small estate affidavit make sense for Texans? What are the requirements? Today’s blog summarizes some of the basics…
When clients or potential clients ask us how long the probate process typically takes in Texas, we always say that “it depends.” This answer can be frustrating, but there is unfortunately no cookie cutter answer to this common question. As we have described in past blogs, probate is the process…
If one of your loved ones has recently passed, and that loved one died both with a will and without any debts, you might be able to probate your loved one’s estate through Muniment of Title. Muniment of Title is a tool that shortens the time that probate typically takes,…