In Texas, this certificate is filed when a person dies with a wealth of less than $75,000. Also, the decisive factor is the absence of a will.
The important point is that the Texas Small Estate Affidavit can be completed 30 days after a person’s death. This does not require any other legal proceedings in the inheritance case. The form is filed if you want to hold the right to the deceased person’s belongings. Further, the small estate affidavit is accepted by the inheritance court in the district where the deceased lived before death. This is essential to subsequently recover their property.
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The Texas laws (Sec. 205.001(3)) describe certain cases where you can complete the Small Estate Affidavit paper. The Texas Estates Code, Title 2 (Estates of decedents; Durable Powers of Attorney), Subtitle E (Intestate Succession), Chapter 205 (Small Estate Affidavit) contains many points that organize the SEA creation. The main ones are presented below:
Section 205.001 The right to real estate without the appointment of a person
Section 205.002 Requirements of the heir
Section 205.003 Verification and approval of the heir
Section 205.004 Copy of the affidavit to certain individuals
Section 205.005 Affidavit as a record of the local government
Section 205.006 The right to the house is transferred under affidavit.
Section 205.007 Responsibility of certain individuals
Section 205.008 Influence of the chapter
Section 205.009 Construction of certain links
Please, note that Harris County has its special filling form.
Max. Estate | $75,000 |
Min. Time to Wait After Death | 30 days |
Filing Fee | Varies by county |
State Laws | Texas Statutes, Estates Code, Sections 205.001 to 205.009 |
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to fill the Small Estate Affidavit application properly:
1. Download the SEA Form
The very first thing to do when you are going to build the form is, of course, to download it with our software. Typically, the document is available in PDF format.
2. Choose the Heading
It is common for courts to require the clerk to complete the title. In most cases, information can be generated on your own after receiving it:
3. Bring the Specifics
This paper will note some important fulfillment conditions. What to indicate in point “A:”
The “H” section will provide three optional applications for determining the deceased person’s state in Medicaid:
4. Describe the Deceased Property
The first part will show a table that needs information about the deceased person’s capital, which provides six rows under three column titles: Description of the Asset, the Interest Cost of the assets as of the date of the affidavit, and Additional Information.
Column 1: describe the state of the deceased person’s holdings at the point of death (the name of the heir’s bank onward with the latest four symbols of the account number, car make, model).
Column 2: enter the asset value from column one in US dollars.
Column 3: write a statement of the state of each asset for any spouse or children. Also, indicate whether the asset is held as a society asset (received during marriage without inheritance) or separate property (acquired before marriage, as a gift or inheritance). It is likewise crucial to point out the matter that the specified person has in the declared asset. There should be enough space in the list, and if not, then apply an extra blank.
5. Insert the Responsibilities of the Principal
The table in section “J” must be filled out precisely as well. The “Description of Obligations or Debt” column describes what the deceased owed at the moment of death (account number, creditor name, contacts). In the field titled “Balance Due,” write the whole sum of the debts in column one.
6. Specify all Legal Fees
In this part of the SEA statement, you need to register the advocates’ charges. Similarly, write the names of those who are obliged to pay all fees or those who will be accountable for this.
7. Describe the Deceased’s Family History
This piece is called “K” and consists of several parts that will need to be filled in with the necessary information completely:
“Family History No5: Sisters And Brothers:” This field contains two tables in which you must write each brother or sister, as well as the degree of their relationship, and whether they remained alive or not at the moment of death of the defunct (if they have gone, designate the full date of death).
8. Specify each Inheritor in the Estate
The field called “L” contains instructions and applications for the use of the property for probate in Texas and tables of inheritance distribution. You should fill in the table with each heir’s name and exact contacts.
9. Sign the Form
This part of the SEA paper is called “M.” In this sector, you need to register the district in which the application is filed. Then each of the two distributors puts their notarized sign in the presence of two detached personalities.