You may be able to probate a will in Texas without a lawyer only in limited situations, usually when you are truly representing only yourself and are not asking to serve as executor for the estate. If you are applying for Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, a determination of heirship, or authority to act for an estate, many Texas...
Continue ReadingA small estate affidavit in Texas is a simplified probate procedure that may let heirs collect estate property without a full administration when someone dies without a will and the estate meets strict legal requirements. It can be faster and less expensive than a full probate case, but it is only available in limited situations. The phrase “small estate”...
Continue ReadingIn 2025, Austin was named a top city for startups, with 12% of all local businesses being active for less than a year. While the energy in Silicon...
Continue ReadingWith Austin's median home price hitting $525,000 in early 2026, your property is likely your most valuable asset. Without a clear strategy, that home...
Continue ReadingWhat if a sudden medical crisis left you unable to speak, and the person you trust most was legally barred from making your healthcare decisions?...
Continue ReadingTo create a trust in Texas, you generally need to decide what kind of trust you need, identify the trustee and beneficiaries, create a written trust document, sign it properly, and transfer assets into the trust. The trust document is important, but funding the trust is what makes it useful. A trust that owns nothing may not avoid probate...
Continue ReadingIn Texas, a will usually needs to be probated if you want to use it to transfer property, appoint an executor, or prove who has the legal right to manage the estate. A will by itself does not automatically move assets after someone dies. The court generally has to admit the will to probate before it can be used...
Continue ReadingA QTIP trust, short for qualified terminable interest property trust, is an estate planning tool that can provide income for a surviving spouse while preserving control over who receives the remaining assets after that spouse dies. It is often used in second marriages, blended families, and larger estates where one spouse wants to care for the surviving spouse but...
Continue ReadingTravis County probate is the court process used in Austin and the surrounding Travis County area to handle a deceased person’s estate, including admitting wills to probate, appointing executors or administrators, determining heirs, and overseeing certain estate disputes. If your loved one lived in Travis County, probate will often be filed through the Travis County probate system. Not every...
Continue ReadingLetters Testamentary in Texas are court-issued documents that prove an executor has legal authority to act for a deceased person’s estate after a will has been admitted to probate. Banks, title companies, investment firms, and other institutions often ask for Letters Testamentary before they will let someone access accounts, sell property, transfer assets, or handle estate business. Being named...
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