Authority and filings
Identify the governing document, obtain the authority required to act, and use the procedure that fits the facts.
Probate and Trust Administration
A death leaves a family with legal work. We help put it in order.
The funeral may be over. The questions are not. BOOK LAW FIRM represents clients in Texas probate and trust-administration matters. The written engagement identifies whom the firm represents. We begin by identifying what controls, who can act, and which decision must be made next.
Start with authority
Three sources of authority. Do not mix them.
A will may name an executor, but the name on the page does not always give immediate authority over estate property. A Texas court process may be required before an executor can act.
A trustee's authority comes from the trust and applicable law. When there is no will, Texas law determines the heirs. Each route has different duties, notices, records, and transfer rules.
What the administration may require
Put the legal work in the right order.
The procedure depends on the governing documents, the property, the debts, the beneficiaries, and the court. A simple estate and a disputed estate should not be treated as the same matter.
Property map
Determine how each asset is owned, which rule controls it, and whether it belongs to an estate, a trust, or another transfer path.
Debts and notices
Address required notices, creditor claims, reserves, bills, and other obligations before property is distributed.
Taxes and records
Coordinate tax work with the appropriate professionals and keep a clear record of receipts, expenses, sales, and decisions.
Trustee decisions
Explain the trust's distribution standards, beneficiary duties, accounting needs, and the limits on family pressure.
Transfers and disputes
Resolve title and beneficiary questions, complete permitted distributions, and identify when separate litigation counsel should be considered.
Clear expectations
Different facts can change the entire matter.
An original will may be missing, family members may disagree, property may be outside Texas, a beneficiary may be a minor or have a disability, or tax and reimbursement questions may arise. The advice must match the actual problem. BOOK LAW FIRM may represent a fiduciary or, in an appropriate separate engagement, an heir or beneficiary. It does not represent everyone involved merely because they share an interest in the estate or trust.
The assigned team uses the firm matter record to identify what has happened, what remains open, and who is responsible for the next task.
Existing clients should send documents, questions, and matter-specific communications through MyCase. The Member Library is a separate educational resource and is not a substitute for advice about an active estate or trust.
Every recommendation depends on the facts, applicable law, implementation, and the work of any other professional advisers involved.
Get the next legal decision into focus.
Bring the will, trust, death certificate, known asset information, and any court papers you have. Website information is general and is not legal advice. Requesting an appointment does not create an attorney-client relationship. A matter is accepted only after review, including a conflicts review, and a written engagement agreement signed by the firm and the client.