2011 Legislation

Top

Information for Consumers

Information for Professionals

Legislation

2011 Bills

Other

Legislation Topics

Legislation Key Words

The 82nd Texas Legislature ended its regular session May 30, 2011. All probate, guardianship and trust bills passed during the session have been signed by the Governor, and most become effective September 1, 2011. One bill in the first called session (SB 1) contains guardianship changes and, as of July 8, 2011, was awaiting the Governor's signature. Each bill affecting probate, guardianship and trust law is listed below. Click here to search for a particular bill, or use the list of topics and key words to the right to find legislation.

Useful links:

Texas Legislature Online.
Glenn Karisch's 2011 Legislative Update.
Bill Pargaman's 2011 Legislative Update -- All of the bills, the full text of all of the changes to the probate and trust codes and helpful forms.
Top Ten Things to Do Now -- Glenn Karisch's list of ten things estate planning and probate attorneys should do to address the legislative changes taking effect September 1, 2011. Here are the pdf and blog versions.

All bills are labeled "Awaiting Governor's Signature," "Enacted," or "Did Not Pass."
____________________________________________________________________

Entries in HB 1934 (1)

Tuesday

Mar012011

x-Did Not Pass: HB 1934 -- Attorneys' fees of beneficiary in will contest

Caption: Relating to an allowance from a decedent's estate for devisees in and beneficiaries of a will who defend and prosecute certain proceedings relating to the will.
Author: Woolley
Bill History
Bill Text

Relevance: If HB 1934 passes, a beneficiary in a will contest must be successful in that litigation in order to be eligible to have his or her attorneys' fees paid from the decedent's estate. Currently, Texas Probate Code Section 243 permits the court to award attorneys' fees to an beneficiary who acts in good faith and with just cause whether successful or not.