Probate & Estate Litigation

Do you find yourself in a situation where a family member has died, with or without a will, or a trust, and you are unfamiliar with the probate process?

Probate Power of Attorney Will Contest Undue Influence Lack of Mental Capacity Determination of Heirship Administration

Handling Estates with Multiple Wills

Did your family member die with more than one Will? In such situations, beneficiaries and heirs of the estate may find themselves in chaos over proper administration and distribution of estate assets. You or a family member may also find yourself in a situation where you are named Executor, Administrator or Trustee of the decedent's estate and are unsure what your duties and responsibilities are to the estate, creditors, and the beneficiaries or heirs. On the other hand, a problem may also arise when the named Executor, Administrator or Trustee is not you, but someone else, who has breached fiduciary duties owed to the distributes regarding the administration of the estate.

Expert Probate and Estate Litigation Services

In such situations, conflicts may arise over the interpretation of the will or trust, the administration of the estate assets, the identity of the heirs, the estate inventory, payment to creditors, and final accounting and distribution of estate assets. If you are faced with these issues, the Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC is here to help you, to serve as your advocate through these contested matters and to assist you in the resolution of your case through settlement or trial. Probate is a court process that involves the appointment of an executor or administrator, identifying the decedent's beneficiaries or heirs, creating an inventory of the assets of the decedent, notifying creditors, and managing the estate debts before distribution to the lawful beneficiaries or heirs.

Hella Scheuerman frequently represents foreign nationals in probate and estate litigation involving property in Texas. Her origins from Central America and ability to clearly communicate in Spanish makes her an ideal choice of attorney when disputes arise involving foreign wills and related disputes. Each probate case has its own unique set of facts and circumstances.

We will provide you with the personal service you need to take you through probate. Depending on the facts of your case, the Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC will assist you with your probate matter, which may include: Depending on your case, this may involve any of the following:

Application to Probate Will
Probate of Foreign Wills
Muniment of Title
Declaration of Heirship
Independent Administration
Dependent Administration
Will and/or Trust Contest
Common Law Marriage Dispute
Estate Disputes

Hella smiling at client with book in front of them

Probate

Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s estate is administered, ensuring that their final wishes are respected, and their assets are distributed according to their will or Texas law.

Tyler smiling at client while she fills out forms

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that grants one person, known as the agent, the authority to act on behalf of another, known as the principal.

Will Contest

A will contest is a legal challenge to the validity of a will, often brought forward when family members or other interested parties believe that the will does not reflect the deceased’s true intentions.

Undue Influence

Undue influence occurs when someone exerts excessive pressure or manipulation over a vulnerable individual to alter their estate planning decisions, such as changing a will or trust.

Lack of Mental Capacity

Mental capacity plays a pivotal role in estate planning and probate matters.

Determination of Heirship

Determination of heirship is a critical legal process used to establish the rightful heirs to a deceased person’s estate when there is no valid will in place.

Administration

Probate administration is the legal process of settling a deceased individual’s estate, ensuring that assets are correctly distributed to beneficiaries and outstanding claims and valid debts are resolved, in accordance with the Texas Estates Code.