Monday, May 12, 2014

Intestate Distribution in Texas, Again

I've done this once before, but I almost like Judge Steve King's chart even better. Also, this is more aligned to how the probate judges want the respective shares of beneficiaries listed on an application.

So, if you die without a will in Texas, here is what happens (with references to the Texas Estates Code):

DIVISION OF PROPERTY UPON INTESTACY IN TEXAS

I. WITHOUT Surviving Spouse - Texas Estates Code §201.001 
           A. With Children or their descendants: Children & their descendants-------------- All
           B) Without Children or their descendants:
                1) Both Parents Survive: Father -------------------------------------------------------- 1/2
                                                                  Mother ------------------------------------------------------- 1/2
          or 2) One Parent Surviving: Surviving Parent ------------------------------------------- 1/2
                                                           Siblings and their descendants ------------------------------- 1/2
          or 3) One Parent Surviving alone ---------------------------------------------------------- All
          or 4) Siblings and their descendants alone ----------------------------------------------- All
          or 5) a) Paternal Kin: 1) Both Grandparents: Grandfather ----------------------------- 1/4
                                                                                                     Grandmother --------------------------- 1/4
                                            or 2) One Grandparent Surviving ------------------------------------- 1/4
                                                  & Descendants of deceased Grandparent ------------------------ 1/4
                                            or 3) One Grandparent Surviving alone ------------------------------ 1/2
                                            or 4) Descendants of deceased Grandparent alone ----------------- 1/2
                      & b) Maternal Kin: ------------------------------------------- other half in same order


II. WITH Surviving Spouse - Texas Estates Code §201.001 
            A. SEPARATE ESTATE (§ 201.002, Texas Estates Code)
                1) With Children or their descendants - §201.002(b)
                    a) Pers Prop: 1) Surviving spouse ------------------------------------------------------ 1/3
                                               2) Children and their descendants ------------------------------------- 2/3
                    b) Real Prop: 1) Surviving spouse has life interest in -------------------------------- 1/3
                                          (with remainder interest to children and their descendants)
                                              2) Children and their descendants have fee in ------------------------ 2/3
               2) Without Children or their descendants - §201.002(c):
                    a) Pers Prop: Surviving spouse --------------------------------------------------------- All
                    b) Real Prop: 1) Surviving spouse has fee in ----------------------------------------- 1/2
                                               2)  Both Parents Survive: Father -------------------------------------- 1/4
                                                                                                   Mother ------------------------------------- 1/4
                                         or 3) One Parent Surviving ------------------------------------------------ 1/4
                                              & Siblings and their descendants -------------------------------------- 1/4
                                         or 4) One Parent Surviving alone ----------------------------------------- 1/4
                                         or 5) Siblings and their descendants alone ------------------------------ 1/2
                                         or 6) Surviving spouse alone ---------------------------------------------- All

           B. COMMUNITY ESTATE (§ 201.003, Texas Estates Code)
              1) With Surviving Spouse and Children (or their descendants):
                 a) Surviving Spouse and Decedent were the parents of all the children
                             Surviving Spouse ------------------------------------------------------------------- All
                 b) Surviving Spouse and Decedent were not the parents of all the children:
                             Surviving Spouse (retains Surviving Spouse’s ½) ----------------------------- None
                             Children or their descendants (take Decedent’s ½) --------------------------- All
             2) With Surviving Spouse only ------------------------------------------------------------- All
             3) With Children or their descendants only ---------------------------------------------- All




All credit to Judge King and his excellent Ad Litem Manual, which can be found here.

1 comment:

  1. This formatting looks terrible on mobile, apologies for that.

    ReplyDelete