2019 probate academy - county.org
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Dr. Gerry W. BeyerGovernor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law1
2019 Probate Academy
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Chief Justice United States Supreme CourtWarren Burger
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President of the United StatesAbraham Lincoln
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“The King”Elvis Presley
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BeatlesJohn Lennon
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Anna-Nicole SmithPlaymate and Howard Marshall’s widow
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Michael Jackson“King of Pop”
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Prince
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1. Lack of property
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1. Lack of property
2. Misunderstanding of what will happen without planning
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1. Lack of property
2. Misunderstanding of what will happen without planning
3. Cost, time, and effort
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1. Lack of property
2. Misunderstanding of what will happen without planning
3. Cost, time, and effort
4. Admission of mortality
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1. Lack of property
2. Misunderstanding of what will happen without planning
3. Cost, time, and effort
4. Admission of mortality
5. Reluctance to divulge private facts
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1. Physical Strength and/or Finding
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2. Bury with Decedent
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3. Intestate Succession
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4. Wills
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5. Will Substitutes
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1. As to person – total intestacy
2. As to property – partial intestacy
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Common Law Split:
Crown = real property
Church = personal property
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Descent = succession to real property
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Distribution = succession to personal property
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Heir = person who receives property from an intestate decedent
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1. What law applies?
2. Are any potential heirs subject to special rules?
3. Who are the heirs and how much does each receive?
4. Other intestacy issues.
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1. Personal Property▪ Law of intestate’s domicile at the time of death.
2. Real Property▪ Law of situs of real property.
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1. Posthumous Heir (heir born after intestate’s death)
Must be in gestation (in the womb) at the time of the intestate’s death.
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2. Adopted heirs
If adopted while a minor:▪ Inherits from and through adoptive parents.▪ Inherits from and through biological parents.▪ When adopted person dies, adoptive family inherits (not biological family).
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2. Adopted heirs
If adopted while an adult:▪ Inherits from and through adoptive parents.▪ Does not inherit from and through biological parents.
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2. Adopted heirs Possibility of unanticipated result:▪ Mother and Father have Child in 1985.▪ Mother dies in 1990.▪ Father marries Step-Mother in 1995.▪ In 2005, Step-Mother adopts Child.▪ In 2018, Father dies intestate.▪ Is Child an heir?
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2. Adopted heirs
Must raise claim within four year statute of limitations.
Texas Supreme Court has held that discovery rule does not apply.
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3. Non-Marital Children
Mother = child inherits; no higher burden.
Father = child may inherit if satisfies higher burden.
Texas Supreme Court has held that discovery rule does not apply.
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4. ART Children
Children born as the result of alternative reproduction technologies.
As inheritance law unclear and may result in a no-inheritance relationship, have both individuals who want to be parents of the child adopt the child.
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5. Step-Children
Not heirs.
Unless, can “transform” them into children by adoption by estoppel.
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6. Half-Blooded Heir Collateral heirs who share only one parent in common. Modern rule = irrelevant Texas (Scottish) rule = each half-blood receives half as much as
each whole-blood
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6. Half-Blooded Heir
¼ ¼ ½
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7. Non-United States Citizen
Irrelevant.
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8. “Unworthy” Heirs A. Forfeiture▪ Abolished by Texas Constitution.
B. Civil Death▪ Does not exist in Texas.
C. Corruption of the Blood▪ Abolished by Texas Constitution.
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8. “Unworthy” Heirs D. Heir Kills Intestate▪ Texas does not have a slayer statute (except for life insurance).▪ Murdering heir precluded from inheriting by imposition of constructive
trust remedy.
E. Suicide▪ Irrelevant.
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8. “Unworthy” Heirs F. Bad Parent▪ Discretionary with court.▪ Intestate child must be under age 18.▪ Evil acts proved by clear and convincing evidence.▪ Evil conduct:▪ Abandon and fail to support for three years.▪ Knowingly abandoned pregnant mother.▪ Criminally responsible for death or serious injury to a child (not necessarily the intestate
child).
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9. Bad Spouse 1. Divorce pending at the time of intestate spouse’s death based
on his/her lack of mental capacity.
2. Divorce not pending at time of death but:▪ a. Decedent married < 3 years.▪ b. Application < 1 year after spouse’s death.▪ c. Ground = lack of mental capacity at time of marriage.▪ d. Decedent never recovered and recognized the marriage.
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If no, follow “individual” property scheme.
If yes, follow “community” and “separate” property schemes.
[Warning: If intestate died before 1/1/1993, rules are different.]
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1. Descendants
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1. Descendants 2. Parents
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1. Descendants 2. Parents 3. If one parent predeceased, ½ to surviving parent and ½
to siblings and their descendants. [If none, all to surviving parent.]
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1. Descendants 2. Parents 3. If one parent predeceased, ½ to surviving parent and ½
to siblings and their descendants. [If none, all to surviving parent.]
4. If both parents predeceased, all to siblings and their descendants.
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1. Descendants 2. Parents 3. If one parent predeceased, ½ to surviving parent and ½
to siblings and their descendants. [If none, all to surviving parent.]
4. If both parents predeceased, all to siblings and their descendants.
5. Grandparents and their descendants, etc., etc., etc. [“laughing heirs”]
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1. Descendants 2. Parents 3. If one parent predeceased, ½ to surviving
parent and ½ to siblings and their descendants. [If none, all to surviving parent.]
4. If both parents predeceased, all to siblings and their descendants.
5. Grandparents and their descendants, etc., etc., etc.
6. If no heirs, escheat to State of Texas.48
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1. No surviving descendants
SS inherits all of DS’s community [SS ends up owning all community property].
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2. At least one surviving descendant
Only marital descendants▪ SS inherits all of DS’s community property (SS ends up owning all
community property).
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2. At least one surviving descendant
At least one non-marital descendant▪ DS’s descendants inherit DS’s community (SS inherits none of the
community; SS still has his/her ½).
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1. At least one surviving descendant
Personal Property =
▪ Surviving Spouse = 1/3
▪ Descendants = 2/3
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1. At least one surviving descendant
Real Property =
▪ Surviving Spouse = Life estate in 1/3
▪ Descendants = 2/3 (outright) plus remainder of SS’s life estate.
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2. No surviving descendants
Personal Property =
▪ Surviving Spouse = 100%
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2. No surviving descendants
Real Property =
▪ Surviving Spouse = ½
▪ Parents, siblings, and their descendants = ½ using the individual property scheme.
▪ Note: If no parents or their descendants, then all to SS.
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When there are heirs from more than one generation, you must determine how the state allocates among the different generations.
Three approaches.
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1. Survival
Heir must survive intestate by 120 hours.
If not, heir is treated as if heir predeceased the intestate.
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2. Ownership as tenants in common▪ Awkward to own undivided interests in every item of inherited property.▪ Actions of 2017 Texas Legislature▪ Enactment of Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act▪ Procedure for a co-tenant heir to adversely possess property against other co-tenants.
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3. Advancement
If heir received a properly document (in writing) advancement, heir’s share in estate is reduced.
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4. Disclaimer
Heir must disclaim before accepting any benefits.▪ The prior “9 month from date of death” rule now applies only to
disclaimers for federal tax purposes.
Property then passes as if disclaiming heir predeceased the intestate.
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5. Equitable Conversion
Real property treated as personal property, or
Personal property treated as real property.
Example = between (1) signing of real property sales contract and (2) closing▪ Important if contract pending for separate real property at time of the
owner’s/intestate’s death.
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