When someone dies owning property in Texas, their heirs often face a practical problem. The county deed records show a deed to their deceased relative from decades ago. However, nothing in those records traces the property forward to the current generation. Many families assume they can bridge this gap by preparing an affidavit of heirship...KEEP READING

A family member dies leaving a will but minimal debts. The heirs need to transfer title to real property and other assets but want to avoid the time and expense of a full probate administration. The estate has no creditor claims that require payment and no need for court supervision. The heirs wonder whether they...KEEP READING

Texas law provides various alternatives to a full probate administration, such as a small estate affidavit, an affidavit of heirship, and a family settlement agreement. While each of these options has its own unique set of requirements and limitations, a family settlement agreement can be a particularly useful tool when certain circumstances are met due...KEEP READING

Every year, thousands of Texas property owners execute transfer on death deeds with the best intentions. They sign the documents in front of notaries, have witnesses verify their signatures, and carefully store the deeds in safe places. These owners believe they’ve successfully arranged for their homes to pass directly to loved ones without the hassle...KEEP READING

Family disputes over inherited property often begin with incomplete information. Someone dies intestate. A surviving relative prepares an affidavit of heirship listing who inherited the property. That affidavit gets filed in the real property records. Years pass. The property changes hands. Then another heir surfaces—someone who was left off the original affidavit—and claims an ownership...KEEP READING