An experienced probate lawyer in Houston, Texas can help you if you’re dealing with a Texas probate case. You may not be able to safeguard your estate to the fullest extent possible if you do not have an experienced estate planning attorney by your side. Our estate planning law firm in Texas, Chargois Harper Attorneys and Counselors at Law, have more than 30 years of expertise in effectively dealing with and resolving probate administration and difficulties.

• Probate procedure in Texas
• Discrepancies in the Texas probate system
• Call our Houston Probate Lawyers Now!

Houston’s probate attorneys can assist you with the administration of a probate estate or with estate planning to avoid probate. You don’t have to handle the estate of your deceased loved ones on your own. The sooner you call, the sooner you may meet with a competent probate lawyer.

The probate procedure in Texas might be complicated, but our Houston, TX probate lawyers are here to guide you through it. Chargois Harper’s Texas probate lawyers can help you and your family through the often-complicated process of administering an estate. Learn more about how our legal team can defend your family by contacting us or sending us a message.

It’s easy to start the probate procedure, but it might be difficult to manage all of the associated processes. Probate is the legal procedure through which the probate court oversees the distribution of estate assets in accordance with the deceased’s final will and testament. Probate regulations dictate how the estate’s personal property and other assets will be distributed if there are no wills.

When a loved one passes away, the topic of real estate is one that has to be addressed immediately. It is the Texas estates and probate law that will decide how the decedent’s intentions are carried out if legal documentation is present in the case of a court procedure. After any outstanding obligations have been paid to the creditor, this distribution takes place.

After a death, the executor of a will must submit it to the court for verification. The executor must attend court hearings, contact creditors, notify all estate beneficiaries of their rights, obtain appraisals for property or assets, pay estate taxes owed, and distribute the estate’s assets and property to its beneficiaries. Probate court commemorates the loss of a loved one and oversees the distribution of the estate during this time period.

You should keep in mind that not every estate is subject to probate. A modest bank account, for example, may be closed without the need for a court order. This isn’t always the case, of course. An experienced Houston probate lawyer can help you determine whether or not you need to go through the probate process.

Call our office to speak with Houston probate lawyers that are qualified and experienced in handling cases like yours.

When there is a will, the probate procedure includes submitting the will to probate and distributing assets in accordance with the document’s instructions. If there is no will, according to Texas intestacy statutes, the dead person’s heirs will inherit.

Executors and administrators are chosen either by the testator’s wishes in the event of a will, or by Texas law in the event of a lack thereof, and are tasked with completing the probate process to ensure that the estate is dispersed fairly.

It is a point of honor for us at our law firm to provide each of our clients with individualized attention in order to expedite the probate procedure as much as possible. We can help you whether you’ve been designated executor or if there isn’t a will at all. To assist you, we have a wealth of knowledge from our years of expertise.

If you need a hand probating an estate, we can work with you on the following situations:

• The will does not specify who will serve as the executor.
• It seems that the executor has yet to begin the procedure.

Many people in Texas ask probate lawyers about wills and probate. In a broader sense, estate administration refers to the court process of distributing a deceased person’s assets to his or her remaining family members. This, on the other hand, is a lot trickier than it seems.

A lot of individuals don’t give much thought to how probate works. To make the process of administering an estate after death easier, our Texas estate planning lawyers can help you draft an estate plan. Throughout the probate procedure, we will assist you and your family by guiding you through the legal process and reducing your worry and inconvenience.

If you’d want to avoid the burden of probate procedures, contact Chargois Harper Attorney and Counselor at Law. 

With Chargois Harper Attorneys and Counselors at Law, whether you are the executor or administrator of a deceased person’s estate (or if you are a future beneficiary), your interests will be protected. In most circumstances, we can assist in finding fast and effective solutions to problems. As soon as a disagreement occurs, Chargois Harper Attorneys and Counselors at Law works tirelessly to save our clients both time and money. We are, nevertheless, ready to represent our clients in whatever way necessary if disagreements cannot be addressed.

It is possible to encounter a variety of difficulties when a will is submitted for probate. To give you an idea of what I mean, consider the following:

• If the deceased was not of sound mind when he or she signed the will, or if the decedent was coerced into signing a Will that included terms that the decedent did not intend, it is not a valid will under Texas law.
• It’s possible that problems may crop up even after the will has been granted probate.

• Estate executor or administrator (the personal representative of the estate) breaches their fiduciary obligation by failing to properly handle estate assets.
• Incorrect estate distributions are made by the personal representative.
• Inappropriate use of assets by the executor’s personal representative

• Estate administration

Making tough choices concerning one’s own private affairs is an important part of estate planning. It necessitates tailor-made solutions that make sense for your assets and your goals. If you work for a large firm, you’re more than likely going to be passed off to a paralegal or junior associate.

At Chargois Harper Attorneys and Counselors at Law, you have access to board-certified attorneys on a regular basis. Our probate attorneys are actively involved in every client’s estate planning or probate process, assisted by skilled support personnel.

• Powers of Attorney

You may grant someone else the legal authority to act on your behalf by signing a Power of Attorney paperwork. The agent is the individual who has been given the authority to act on behalf of the grantor. The principal is the individual who signs a power of attorney designating another as their agent. A person does not need to be a lawyer in order to serve as an agent for another person.

• Guardianship

Finding a guardian for an incapacitated relative may be a lengthy and emotionally demanding procedure. Our attorneys understand how stressful this time may be for clients, so they work hard to provide the support and guidance needed.

• Contested Estates

In the event of a “will contest,” a disagreement over the validity of a will, you should retain the services of a reliable lawyer to defend your interests. An attorney who is familiar with the law and procedure, and has successfully represented others in similar circumstances, should be your choice if you are contesting the will.

Clients of Chargois Harper Attorneys and Counselors at Law have had their will challenge problems effectively handled by our experienced estate attorneys.

• Intestate Succession

If a person dies without leaving a will, the state of Texas’ intestate succession rules specify how the estate’s assets should be distributed. Intestacy rules, on the other hand, only apply to assets that would have been divided according to a will. In intestate succession processes, matters like trusts, life insurance payments, or co-owned assets are not included.

In Texas, determining who receives what following the death of a loved one without a will is a difficult task. Relatives who are left behind might be divided down into many categories when it comes to the distribution of assets.

If you’ve lost a loved one, you shouldn’t have to deal with the difficulties of navigating Texas’ convoluted intestacy rules. It is our job to ensure that all of the beneficiaries of your deceased loved one’s estate get their fair portion. Call or email us now to begin the process of making your instructions are honored.

• What happens if someone objects to the Will?

It is a “Will Contest” that has commenced if an objection is filed or another will is produced. Many people participate in will competitions, but very few really win. Even so, they may be expensive and time-consuming to implement.

• Does probate administer all property of the deceased?

It is through the legal procedure of probate that a deceased person’s assets are distributed. Debts and taxes are also taken care of, as well as any costs incurred during a funeral. All of a deceased person’s assets are transferred to their estate during the probate procedure.

• Do I get paid for serving as an Executor?

That is correct. To compensate executors, the probate estate is divided by a proportion to deduct specific bequests (items of real or personal property left to a named beneficiary). All property held in the name of the deceased is considered part of the decedent’s probate estate.

• How long does probate take?

Typically, the probate procedure takes about a year from the date of death until the distribution of the estate. Even simple estates need at least six months to complete probate, while some take less time.

When a loved one dies, it may be difficult to deal with the situation on its own. To ensure that the procedure of dealing with legal issues is streamlined, you’ll need an attorney from a reputable law firm. Probate documents and the judicial system may be difficult and time-consuming to grasp. With the help of an estate planning law firm, you may avoid probate complications.

Additionally, if you’re presently working on your estate plan, it’s essential to know about the above. Many individuals aren’t aware that a will isn’t the sole option for distributing one’s possessions after one’s death. In general, setting up trusts helps safeguard your assets and keeps them out of probate.

Estate administration, testamentary letters, intestacy, and probate may be answered by a knowledgeable Houston probate attorney. Our estate planning attorneys in Houston, Texas, can clearly and fully explain to you the laws and legislation governing Texas’s estate planning process to you.

Chargois Harper Attorneys and Counselors at Law can assist you with estate planning, family law matters such as divorce and child custody, and real estate difficulties. Call us now to schedule a consultation.