Snodgrass Law Firm in Corpus Christi focuses on family law, divorce, probate, estate planning, and appeals. Every case is handled personally by Attorney Michael Snodgrass - from first consultation through resolution - providing clear guidance, responsive communication, and practical legal solutions. Clients always work directly with their lawyer - Never passed off to associates or staff.
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Snodgrass Law Firm, PLLC
4901 Saratoga Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78413
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All in Probate
Losing a loved one is overwhelming. On top of grief, Texas families are suddenly faced with legal, financial, and practical decisions - often with little guidance. This checklist walks you step-by-step through what to do after someone dies in Texas, so you can protect yourself, honor your loved one, and avoid costly mistakes.
If you’ve inherited a house in Texas, one of the first questions that comes up is:
“Can we sell the house before probate?”
The short (and frustrating) answer is:
Usually, no — but there are important exceptions and workarounds.
This article explains when heirs can sell a house before probate in Texas, when they can’t, and what actually has to happen before a sale can legally close.
Why Inherited Property Gets Stuck in Probate in Texas — and How to Fix It.
If you’ve inherited a house in Texas and discovered you can’t sell it, you’re not alone. Every year, heirs across Texas learn, often at the closing table, that a property is “stuck in probate.”
The good news? Most probate roadblocks are fixable.
When a Texas resident dies without a valid will, their estate does not pass automatically to loved ones. Instead, Texas law determines who inherits, how property is divided, and whether court proceedings are required. This process is known as intestate probate, and it often creates delays, unexpected outcomes, and family conflict—especially in blended families.
Understanding how intestacy works can help families avoid costly mistakes and protect their rights.
Learn how estate administration works in Texas, including executor duties, timelines, and mistakes to avoid. Clear guidance from a Texas probate attorney.
Estate administration is the court-supervised process of settling a deceased person’s affairs. Depending on the estate, this process may be straightforward—or highly contested.
Probate disputes often arise when an executor or administrator forgets - or ignores - that they are a fiduciary, not the owner of the estate. In Texas, executors owe strict legal duties to heirs and beneficiaries. When those duties are violated, the consequences can include removal, personal liability, and court-ordered repayment.
If you suspect an executor is mishandling an estate, this guide explains:
What fiduciary duties executors owe under Texas law
Common executor misconduct
Warning signs of abuse
How contested probate litigation works
What remedies are available to heirs and beneficiaries
When a probate case turns contested, emotions run high, and mistakes happen. If a Texas probate judge has issued a ruling you believe is wrong, an appeal may be your last and most important opportunity to protect your inheritance or executor rights.
This guide is written for families and fiduciaries in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, and South Texas who are searching for answers after a contested probate ruling. It focuses on what to do before calling a probate appeals lawyer, so you can preserve your rights and avoid irreversible errors.
When a loved one passes away, probate is supposed to be a straightforward legal process. Unfortunately, that is not always how it works. In many Texas estates, family members disagree, documents are questioned, or assets are mishandled, turning what should be routine probate into contested probate litigation.
If you are facing a probate dispute in Corpus Christi, Nueces County or South Texas, understanding your rights, and acting quickly, can make the difference between protecting your inheritance and losing it.
This guide explains what contested probate is, why disputes arise, how Texas courts handle them, and when you need an experienced contested probate attorney.
If you’ve recently lost a loved one in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, or South Texas, the idea of probate can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to grieve and handle practical matters at the same time. The good news is that many Texas probate cases are uncontested, meaning they can often be resolved efficiently and without court fights.
This guide is written for Texas families who are searching online for uncontested probate in Texas and want to know what to do before calling a probate lawyer. Taking the right steps early can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.
