Laughing Heirs and Your Estate

Without a will, in the event of your death your estate is divided based on state intestacy laws. Texas intestacy law requires that a person's property pass to his or her immediate family, such as the person's spouse, children, parents, siblings, or other close family members. However, in some families the only family members left to inherit the estate are distant relatives, and in some cases can be relatives that the deceased only vaguely knew or never met.

If you have few or no close relatives and have not written a will, you risk having your estate passed on to people you hardly know or do not care to know. To protect your property, consider consulting with an Austin estate planning lawyer of Slater, Kennon & Pugh LLP today to prepare your will. Contact us today at 512-338-1100.

Laughing Heirs and Texas Law

Any distant relative who may legally receive a part of your estate, even if they have no personal relationship with you, is called a laughing heir. People often unknowingly pass on their property to laughing heirs because they have not properly prepared a will that overrides Texas intestacy laws.

While some states have laughing heir statues which limit an inheritance to close relatives, such as those sharing the same grandparents, Texas does not have a laughing heir statute. This means that your estate can be inherited by even very distant relatives that have no more of a personal connection to you than a random stranger.

Protecting Your Estate

To prevent laughing heirs from being included in the allocation of your property, you should draft a will that explicitly states who you would like your assets to pass to in the event of your death. Don't leave the decision in the hands of Texas intestacy laws and have your estate divided up against your wishes. A good estate planning lawyer can help you ensure that your property is passed on to those who matter to you most and can help you set up trusts, gifts, or other measures to protect your estate.

Contact Us

For more information on writing your will and avoiding laughing heirs, contact the experienced Austin estate planning attorneys of Slater, Kennon & Pugh LLP today at 512-338-1100.