Never Mind,…. You already have an estate plan.

Posted on March 24, 2014

by Margie Connolly

Margaret McCullough Connolly, Attorney at Law, Sugar Land, TX.

If you live in Texas and do not have a Will or written estate plan, the State of Texas has already provided for the distribution of your property following your death.  This is called the law of intestate succession, provisions included in the Texas Estates Code.  This law, combined with the community property laws of Texas, will determine who receives your property when you die.

This determination may or may not meet your expectations and desires about which of your possessions ends up being distributed to which of your heirs or relatives.  Texas’ plan also involves more delay in probating and distributing property, and potentially more expense. In other words, administration of an intestate estate costs more time and money than does administration of a testate estate (one with a Will.)

If you want to make sure your property passes to the people you intend it to go to, and if you want to make sure the person (executor) who is responsible for these distributions is the person you want it to be, it is advisable to consult with your attorney.

“Where there’s a Will there’s a way,…… Where there is no Will — Who knows?”