Will and Trust Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth

Will Contests & Estate Administration

A will is one of the most important documents a person will sign in their entire life. A person’s right to execute a will cannot be abridged. But, when a will does not express a testator’s true intentions, it can be contested. The primary bases for contesting a will are lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, or forgery. A will has no effect until after the testator dies and it is admitted to probate. Do not assume that just because a will was signed, it is valid. There are technical requirements that must be met for a will to be valid. handwritten wills may also be valid. We can defend your loved ones’ testamentary desires by contesting bogus wills or defending valid ones.

If a person dies with a will, he or she is considered to have died testate. Contrarily, if a person dies without a will, he or she is considered to have died intestate. If testate, after a will is admitted to probate, usually, an independent executor is appointed. The independent executor will receive letters testamentary evidencing his, her or its court authority to act on behalf of the estate. The independent executor usually serves without court-supervision and without bond and is duty-bound to follow the law and the terms of the will. The only check on the independent executor is their honesty, integrity, and commitment to abide by their fiduciary duties.

If intestate, a court may appoint an administrator (as opposed to an executor) to perform all the duties of an executor, but with court supervision. The latter means the administrator, who receives letters of administration, must seek and obtain court approval. When a person in Texas dies intestate, no will exists to dictate how that person’s property shall pass, post-death. The state of Texas writes a will for them, by statute and the court must determine the heirs of the decedent. A judgment declaring heirship will pass title to the decedent’s property to his lawful heirs. After all, heirs are determined, the court may appoint an independent administrator to administer the estate without bond or court-supervision. We can provide good and valuable advice to those serving as an executor or administrator to make sure all duties are properly performed.

Trust Contests & Trust Administration

We help stop such abuse of trust to safeguard valuable possessions in the trust through legal action. If you feel that your trust or a loved one’s trust is being mismanaged or that your trustee has abused the position, or if you have been accused as trustee of mismanaging a trust or embezzling from a trust, Spencer & Johnson, PLLC can advise you and defend you from such allegations.

Defending a Will

We stand up for our clients, and will always show up in suits. We do what we can to give us the edge! When a will you have offered for probate has been contested, we would be proud to represent you in defending its validity either by presenting evidence that it was executed properly with the decedent having his or her capacity or that there was no undue influence. We are ready to go to work for and fight to uphold the will that you believe to be the true last will of a decedent.