Pyke & Associates

If the decedent's will is controlled by someone hostile to you, you may need legal help simply to learn if you are entitled to any inheritance.  In Texas, there is no requirement for a  "reading of the will," nor will the person holding the will necessarily notify you of your rights.  Several options are available.

	Get a copy of the will from the Court.  If the will is probated,  a copy can be obtained from the court.   The will should be probated in the County where the decedent resided at the time of death.  Check with your County Clerk, probate section, and they will have a way to search whether a probate has been filed, and if so, you can get a copy of the will.
	Demand that the person who controls the decedent's records to produce and probate the will.  Hire an attorney to make the demand if necessary.
	If neither of these options work, a Court order can be obtained to make the person holding the will to produce it in Court.

	If your demand to get your inheritance have been unanswered, you will need to hire an attorney.  What can the attorney do?  An attorney's demand with the threat of a lawsuit often gets attention that your demands have not received.
	If necessary, a claim can be filed in the Probate Court to force the executor of the will to make the distributions that the will requires -- i.e., to get you your inheritance
	Contingency fee arrangements are possible.

	Are you an "heir at law?"  Generally, the decedent's spouse and children inherit the decedent's estate.  For more details, click here.
	If you are one of the heirs, you can open a probate and get your assets.
	Contingency fee arrangements are possible.