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If a person dies without a will, and the deed to the property does not expressly include joint tenancy with survivorship language (most Texas deeds do not), then issues may arise as to which persons have title to that property and in what percentages. Such property is often referred to as "heirship property." It is essentially unsellable as it is, and a title company will not issue title insurance until heirship issues are addressed and resolved. This must be done by either a probate proceeding in county court (resulting in appointment of a personal representative of the estate and ultimately a judgment determining heirship) or by an "affidavit of heirship" followed by a "curative deed" or "consolidation deed" (our terms) signed by the surviving heirs.

This is the typical title company requirement where heirship property is involved:

The purpose of the Affidavit of Heirship in an intestacy case (no will) is to describe family history and state who the likely heirs are pursuant to the Probate Code. The affidavit must be signed under oath by a person familiar with these facts (usually a family member but not always) and attested to by witnesses (three witnesses, customarily) who have no personal or financial stake in the outcome. It is then filed in the real property records of the county where the property is located.

When a person dies without a will, that person died intestate. There are rules in the Probate Code that apply in such cases, and these are referred to as the rules of intestate succession. Essentially, if a person dies intestate, then the State of Texas has made a will for that person and the relevant statute governs the passage of property.

If the decedent is unmarried, then Texas Probate Code Sec. 38 applies, providing that the property goes in equal shares to the children if there are any. If not, then the property goes in equal shares to the parents. If the decedent was married, then community property is involved, and Sec. 45 applies. Note that this was revised in 1993 and applies only to deaths occurring after that date. The text can be complicated to understand and apply:

A well-drafted affidavit of heirship will refer to specific sections of the Probate Code and reach a conclusion as to who the heirs are.

Curing title (i.e., resolving heirship issues) outside of court is usually a two-step process. First, the affidavit of heirship must be prepared and signed by someone with first-hand, personal knowledge of family history – marriages, births, and deaths. Probate Code Sec. 52A offers a suggested form for this affidavit, although this form is only a guideline. Crafting the affidavit is both art and science. The attorney must take care that its contents will be admissible in future litigation should the affidavit ever be challenged in court. Note: internet legal form services should never be used for this or any other serious legal purpose.

Probate Code Sec. 52 provides that it will be presumed to be true "if the affidavit or instrument has been of record for five years or more in the deed records of any county in this state in which such real or personal property is located. . . ."

The purpose of the affidavit is to reach conclusions as to the identity of the rightful heirs and the amount of their respective interests. Other sections of the Probate Code may need to be consulted in order to reach this determination.

The second step in the process, after preparation of the heirship affidavit, is usually a curative deed or consolidation deed that focuses title into a single heir who may then keep the property or sell it. Alternatively, all heirs may sign conveying the property to a third-party buyer.

The deed is usually a special warranty deed or deed without warranties, but not a quitclaim deed, which is to be avoided because title companies will not insure it. All heirs named in the affidavit (or their legal guardians) must sign. Both documents are filed in the real property records in the county in which the property is located – the affidavit first, and then the deed, back-to-back.

In many cases, the heirs may be spread over the country and may have long since lost touch. Some heirs may not sign unless they are paid to do so – and financial issues between family members can get ugly. Clients are often disappointed when they discover how difficult and expensive the process can be. Here is a true story:

"My mother died six months ago, and I need to get a deed to her ranch," says the client. "How much do you charge for preparing a deed?"

An attorney needs to know a great deal more information before he can answer, starting with asking, "Did she die with a will?" The client admits that there was no will, then goes on to ask, "But I can still get my deed can´t I?" Further questions from the attorney reveal more information about the family. The mother was a widow. The father died two years earlier – also without a will. In addition, it turns out that the client has several siblings, one of whom was from the father´s prior marriage. Another has dropped out of sight and has not been heard from in years. There are rumors he is homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Another sibling recently passed away, leaving two small children. Also, the youngest sibling was living with Mom and taking care of her at the time of Mom´s death, and she continues to occupy the property, now claiming it as her homestead. She contends that Mom promised that the house would be hers in exchange for care during her final illness.

The attorney is forced to give the client bad news. The client is not going to get his deed, at least not until heirship issues are straightened out, beginning with the father and who was entitled to inherit from him, and then moving on to the mother and her heirs.

The client is suspicious. He says, "Look, your secretary told me that the fee for a deed is $225. It sounds like you´re just trying to charge me more money. I´m the oldest, and I was always told the property would be mine one day. I want my deed now!" Unfortunately, that is just not possible given the facts of this case. The attorney is not a miracle worker. Because of the complexities of the case and the necessity of attempting to contact, negotiate with, and perhaps buy out other surviving heirs who also might want the property, legal fees and expenses could reach into the thousands of dollars – with no guarantee of success. Other attorneys could become involved. The case might have to be decided in court and take years to resolve.

Although circumstances such as the one described in the previous section do occur, most cases are more straightforward. The attorney needs basic information from the client in order to proceed, including:

Heirs occasionally attempt to resolve heirship and title issues on their own, without an attorney (often using junk forms from the internet), and are left with an incorrect result. Affidavits and deeds may then have to be re-prepared and re-filed, thereby prolonging the process and increasing the expense. Consult a real estate attorney knowledgeable in this field and follow his advice.

Information in this article is proved for general informational and educational purposes only and is not offered as legal advice upon which anyone may rely. The law changes. Legal counsel relating to your individual needs and circumstances is advisable before taking any action that has legal consequences. Consult your tax advisor as well. This firm does not represent you unless and until it is expressly retained in writing to do so.

Copyright © 2013 by David J. Willis. All rights reserved worldwide. David J. Willis is board certified in both residential and commercial real estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. More information is available at his web site, http://www.LoneStarLandLaw.com.