Kevin Kennedy will provide the legal services necessary for the probate of a will, estate administration and resolution of will and estate disputes. Kevin has a wide range of experience from handling simple estates to large complex estates. He is also experienced in income and estate tax issues involved in estates.
Most wills prepared in Texas will be self-proved and provide for an independent executor. To probate a self-proved will is usually fairly simple. An application for probate of will is filed. After approximately ten days, a hearing can be held on the application. At the hearing, assuming the court finds the will to be in proper form, the court will enter an order admitting the will to probate and authorizing Letters Testamentary for the person appointed as executor. The executor then takes and files his or her oath as executor and can then obtain Letters Testamentary from the county clerk. Letters Testamentary serve as proof of a person’s appointment as independent executor and of their authority to take charge of the assets of the estate. An independent executor has a few more requirements to fulfill with the court, such as filing proof of publication of notice to creditors, filing proof of notice to all beneficiaries of the estate and filing an inventory of estate assets or an affidavit stating that all beneficiaries have been provided with a copy of the sworn inventory. Aside from those few things, an independent executor takes care of the estate and distributes the estate assets to beneficiaries without further court involvement.
