Harris County Probate Lawyer: Issues to Consider with an Out-of-State Probate

It has become more and more common now to see clients come in with probate cases that need to be dealt with in multiple states. Many seniors today are “snow birds,” meaning they spend their winters in states with warmer climates while keeping their actual residency in the state they have spent most of their lives in.

These seniors often own property in the state where they spend their winters, whether it is real property like a vacation home or timeshare, or even tangible property like a car, boat, or financial account. When the senior passes away, a situation is created where an out of state or ancillary probate proceeding must take place to administer the out-of-state property. Whatever the case may be, clients dealing with an out of state probate often need help since they are dealing with two or more sets of probate rules and regulations, all of which differ from state to state.

Texas probate lawyers find that one of the biggest issues involving an out-of-state probate proceeding is cost. Typically, you will need to pay probate court fees for each property held under a different probate court jurisdiction. In addition, you may be faced with extra accounting and legal fees. If possible, you should try to find an attorney who is licensed both in the home state of the deceased and the state where the ancillary probate is taking place.  While the fees may still be higher than usual because the probate is out-of-state, it will still most likely be cheaper than hiring multiple attorneys to handle one estate.

Another serious issue can arise if the decedent did not leave behind a Last Will and Testament. When this happens, the probate court will often order distributions of the estate based on the laws of intestacy. The problem with out-of-state probates is that every state has different laws of intestacy, meaning the heirs in one state may not be the same as the heirs in another. This is a very tricky situation and one where Texas probate attorneys urge their clients to proceed with caution as it may cause additional stress for already grieving family members.

Are there ways to avoid an out-of-state probate proceeding? Yes, but it all depends on the state where the additional property is held since, as noted before, every state has different laws concerning probate. Some of the techniques Harris County probate lawyers use to get around an out of state probate include placing the property into a revocable living trust, owning the property jointly with someone else, or drafting a type of deed where the property is transferred upon death. However, probate lawyers caution that this type of planning must be done BEFORE death, and attorneys must be consulted to make sure these techniques will actually work in the state where the property is held.

If you are need help with an out-of-state probate or would like to plan to avoid out-of-state probate proceedings, please contact our Houston law firm at (281) 885-8826 to set up a consultation.