In Texas, when a person dies and leaves property that hasn’t been transferred to someone else through a trust, wasn’t owned via joint ownership with a right of survivorship, or isn’t subject to direct payments to beneficiaries, that property is subject to probate.
The deceased person’s death is legally recognized in probate in Texas, with all of their debts paid and remaining assets then distributed. The court oversees this process and aims to protect the interests of creditors and estate beneficiaries.
If the deceased person dies with a will, the estate executor or personal representative will usually still have to file for probate in Texas. The executor usually has four years from the death to file for probate. If they don’t file within that time, the Texas laws of intestacy govern who receives what.
Courts will often require estate executors, administrators or personal representatives to obtain an estate surety bond in order to protect the interests of the estate and its beneficiaries.
Where can you purchase instant estate surety bonds?
Colonial Surety offers the direct and digital way to obtain estate bonds, also known as probate bonds, personal representative bonds, administrator bonds, and executor bonds. We are the insurance company — which means no agent, no broker, and no middleman. We make it easy to obtain your bond instantly. The steps are easy — get a quote online, fill out your information, satisfy underwriting requirements, and enter your payment method. Print or e-file your bond from your office. It’s that simple!