Fighting a Will Without a Lawyer: How Missed Deadlines Ended One Daughter's Case
A daughter challenged her mother's will on her own. She lost, not because a court decided she was wrong, but because of deadlines and court rules she didn't know.
From the archive
Articles
329 articles on Texas inheritance law, written over the last decade. Grouped by subject, because that's how people look for things.
New here? Start with Texas inheritance laws, a plain-English overview that links to the articles below.
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Contesting a will
When a will doesn't reflect what the person wanted — capacity, undue influence, forgery, and how a will gets set aside.
No will, and who inherits
What happens when someone dies without a will, how Texas decides who inherits, and how you prove you're an heir.
Executors and trustees
The duties they owe you, what counts as a breach, accountings, and removal.
DNA and newly found heirs
Biological children and siblings discovered years later, and how Texas handles their claims.
Deadlines and time limits
The clocks that end cases — which one starts when, and the narrow exceptions.
Property and what's in the estate
What forms part of an estate, what passes outside it, and the transfers that get disputed.
How probate works
The process itself — what gets filed, what the court does, and what to expect.
Cost and fees
What these cases cost, how contingency fees work, and when litigation makes sense.
Plain-English definitions
What the words mean. Testator, intestate, per stirpes, escheat — the vocabulary that turns up in probate paperwork, explained without more jargon.
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Recently added
Common-Law Marriage After Death: How His Mother's Ring Proved a Marriage
His girlfriend said they had agreed to be married. His sons said the Dead Man's Rule kept her from saying so. A family ring made the difference.
Forged Will in Texas: The "Burn This" Box That Exposed a Fake Will
A widow handed her sister a box and told her to burn it. Inside were practice signatures that proved the will was forged. What the case teaches about deadlines and proof.
Avoiding Texas Estate Settlement Disputes in Wrongful Death
Discover how Texas estate settlement disputes turned a family's tragedy into a court battle in Reynolds v. Davis. Learn what went wrong and how to avoid it.
Texas Inheritance Alert: When Self-Proved Wills Fail in Court
Discover the surprising limitations of self-proved wills in Texas. Learn from a real court case why your estate plan might not be as secure as you think.
Inheritance Rights for Out-of-Wedlock Children
Can a 1966 law stop a biological child from inheriting? Learn how the Zeller v. Allen case impacts inheritance rights for out-of-wedlock children in Texas.
Texas Inheritance Dispute Mistake: Why a Former Judge's Testimony Killed the Case
Learn how a Texas inheritance dispute mistake involving a former judge's expert testimony led to a reversed verdict and costly new trial. Avoid this error.
Is Your Gift Really Yours? Proving a Texas Gift
Learn the vital steps for Proving a Texas Gift of property. Understand why a $10 consideration in a deed can lead to a legal battle and how to protect your separate property.
Avoid a Texas Mineral Inheritance War—Read This First
A single will phrase sparked a Texas mineral rights will fight. Learn the mistake and how to keep your family’s oil checks out of court.
He Died Days After His Wife—Why a Texas Court Said He Died First
A Texas woman's handwritten will left her family in a legal battle. Discover how the 120-hour survival rule completely changed who inherited her properties.
$30M Will Denied; Decedent Incapacitated because of Alzheimer's
Daughter's "let them prove incompetence" email backfires in $30M Texas will contest; doctor declared father incapacitated due to Alzheimer's.
Can You Represent an Estate Without a Lawyer?
Discover how the Texas Supreme Court ruled that sole heirs can represent their estates without a lawyer, changing inheritance disputes forever.
Reading because it happened to you?
These articles explain how things work in general. If you're trying to work out where you stand in an actual dispute, six questions will get you further than an afternoon of reading.