Harris County Probate Courts The Ad Litem Manual for Heirship ...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4 1. The “Plain Jane” Case ........................................................................................................................ 4 2. The “Mystery” Case .......................................................................................................................... 4 B. Statutory Bases for Heirship Proceedings ............................................................................................. 4 1. Application. Tex. Prob. Code §49. .................................................................................................... 4 2. Citation. Tex. Prob. Code §50. .......................................................................................................... 4 3. Appointment of Attorney Ad Litem .................................................................................................. 5 4. Evidence in Heirship Proceedings ..................................................................................................... 5 5. Heirship Judgment. Tex. Prob. Code §54. ........................................................................................ 6 C. Scope of “Heirship Determinations” ..................................................................................................... 6 D. Duty and Standing of the Attorney Ad Litem ........................................................................................ 6 E. Pointers on Different Types of Cases .................................................................................................... 6 1. The “Plain Jane” Case ........................................................................................................................ 6 2. The “Mystery” Case .......................................................................................................................... 7 F. Due Diligence ........................................................................................................................................ 7 1. Before the Day of the Hearing .......................................................................................................... 7 2. Hearing Day – Before the Hearing .................................................................................................... 8 3. Hearing Day – In the Hearing ............................................................................................................ 8 G. Time Records and Fee Applications ...................................................................................................... 9 1. Fee Standards .................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Typical Fees ....................................................................................................................................... 9 3. Complex Cases .................................................................................................................................. 9 4. Time Records ..................................................................................................................................... 9 5. Application for Payment of Fees ..................................................................................................... 10 H. Dealing with the Clerk’s Office and the Court .................................................................................... 10 1. The Clerk’s Office ............................................................................................................................ 10 2. Court Staff ....................................................................................................................................... 10 3. Paperwork ....................................................................................................................................... 10 I. Distribution of the Estate: Specific Concerns ..................................................................................... 10 1. Listing and Proving Beneficial Interests .......................................................................................... 10 2. Imbedded Heirships ........................................................................................................................ 10 2
3. Half-Blood Heirs .............................................................................................................................. 11 4. Effect of Disclaimers........................................................................................................................ 11 5. The Slayer’s Rule ............................................................................................................................. 11 6. DNA Evidence .................................................................................................................................. 11 J. Miscellaneous Practice Pointers ......................................................................................................... 12 Appendix A – Answer of Attorney ad Litem in Heirship Proceeding .......................................................... 13 Appendix B – Application for Ad Litem Fees ............................................................................................... 14 Appendix C – Judgment Declaring Heirship ................................................................................................ 16 3
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Harris County Probate Courts The Ad Litem Manual for Heirship ...

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