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Estates: What Happens If No Will

In Texas, if a Decedent dies without a valid Will, all probate property passes under the laws of "intestate" succession.

 

DECEDENT SURVIVED BY SPOUSE AND CHILD OR CHILDREN:

 

A.  All surviving descendants of Decedent ARE also descendants of Surviving Spouse

 

           1.        Separate Real Property

 

              1/3 to Spouse For Life

             (Remainder to children)

                     2/3 equally divided

                       among children

 

           2.        Separate Personal Property

 

                          1/3 to

                         Spouse

                     2/3 equally divided

                       among children

 

           3.        Community Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

B.  Surviving descendants of Decedent ARE NOT also descendants of Surviving Spouse

 

           1.        Separate Real Property

 

              1/3 to Spouse For Life

             (Remainder to children)

                     2/3 equally divided

                       among children

 

           2.        Separate Personal Property

 

                          1/3 to

                         Spouse

                     2/3 equally divided

                       among children

 

           3.        Community Property

 

                     Decedent's ½ Community Property

                        Equally divided among children

Surviving Spouse's ½ Comm. Property - The surviving spouse retains his or her ½ community prop. interest

 

DECEDENT SURVIVED BY SPOUSE, NO DESCENDANTS, AND BOTH PARENTS:

 

           A.       Separate Real Property

 

                               ½ to Surviving Spouse

                1/4 to father

                1/4 to mother

 

B.        Separate Personal Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

C.       Community Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

DECEDENT SURVIVED BY SPOUSE, NO DESCENDANTS, AND ONE PARENT:

 

           A.       Separate Real Property

 

 

                               ½ to Surviving Spouse

                1/4 to

                surviving

                parent

                1/4 to

                brothers and

                sisters

 

           B.        Separate Personal Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

           C.       Community Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

DECEDENT SURVIVED BY SPOUSE, NO DESCENDANTS, AND NO PARENTS:

 

           A.       Separate Real Property

 

                               ½ to Surviving Spouse

                ½ to brothers and sisters

 

           B.        Separate Personal Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

 C.      Community Property

 

                                                                                       All to spouse

 

DECEDENT SURVIVED BY NO SPOUSE, BUT WITH SURVIVING CHILD OR CHILDREN:

 

All property is equally divided among the children.  Children of deceased children take their parents share.

 

DECEDENT SURVIVED BY NO SPOUSE AND NO CHILDREN:

 

           A.       Both of Decedent's parents alive

 

 

                                       ½ to Father

                ½ to Mother

 

           B.        Only one of Decedent's parents alive

 

                                ½ to surviving parent

                ½ equally divided among

                Decedent's brothers and sisters

 

           C.       Neither parent of Decedent survives

 

                                                                      All property is equally divided among

                                                                          Decedent's brothers and sisters

 

 

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