Wills & Trusts SMU Annual Texas Survey 2016

This article discusses legislative and judicial developments relating to the Texas law of intestacy, wills, estate administration, trusts, and other estate planning matters during the Survey period of November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015. The reader is warned that not all newly enacted statutes and decided cases during the Survey period are presented, and not all aspects of each cited statute and case are analyzed.

You must read and study the full text of each statute and case before relying on it or using it as precedent. The discussion of most cases includes a moral, that is, the important lesson to be learned from the case. By recognizing situations that have resulted in time consuming and costly litigation in the past, the reader may be able to reduce the likelihood of the same situations arising with his or her clients.