Source: https://chowinslaw.com/resources/texas-wills-and-probate-laws/173-qualification-of-personal-representatives-texas-wills-and-probate-law
Timestamp: 2020-07-10 16:05:55
Document Index: 731771772

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305', '§ 305']

Qualification of Personal Representatives - Texas Wills and Probate Law - Chowins Law Firm, PLLC | Chowins Law Firm, PLLC
TEXAS ESTATES CODE TITLE 2. SUBTITLE G. CHAPTER 305.
§ 305.001. DEFINITIONS.
(1) "Bond" means a bond required by this chapter to be given by a person appointed to serve as a personal representative.
(2) "Oath" means an oath required by this chapter to be taken by a person appointed to serve as a personal representative.
§ 305.002. MANNER OF QUALIFICATION OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.
(a) A personal representative, other than an executor described by Subsection (b), is considered to have qualified when the representative has:
(1) taken and filed the oath prescribed by Subchapter B;
(2) filed the required bond with the clerk; and
(3) obtained the judge's approval of the bond.
(b) An executor who is not required to give a bond is considered to have qualified when the executor has taken and filed the oath prescribed by Subchapter B.
§ 305.003. PERIOD FOR TAKING OATH.
An oath may be taken and subscribed at any time before:
(1) the 21st day after the date of the order granting letters testamentary or of administration, as applicable; or
(2) the letters testamentary or of administration, as applicable, are revoked for a failure to qualify within the period allowed.
§ 305.004. PERIOD FOR GIVING BOND.
(a) A bond may be filed with the clerk at any time before:
(1) the 21st day after:
(A) the date of the order granting letters testamentary or of administration, as applicable; or
(B) the date of any order modifying the bond requirement; or
(2) the date letters testamentary or of administration, as applicable, are revoked for a failure to qualify within the period allowed.
(b) The court shall act promptly to review a bond filed as provided by Subsection (a) and, if acceptable, shall approve the bond.
(c) If no action has been taken by the court on the bond before the 21st day after the date the bond is filed, the person appointed personal representative may file a motion requiring the judge of the court in which the bond was filed to specify on the record the reason or reasons for the judge's failure to act on the bond. The hearing on the motion must be held before the 11th day after the date the motion is filed.
§ 305.051. OATH OF EXECUTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR WITH WILL ANNEXED.
Before the issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration with the will annexed, the person named as executor or appointed as administrator with the will annexed shall take and subscribe an oath in substantially the following form:
§ 305.052. OATH OF ADMINISTRATOR.
Before the issuance of letters of administration, the person appointed as administrator shall take and subscribe an oath in substantially the following form:
§ 305.053. OATH OF TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATOR.
Before the issuance of temporary letters of administration, the person appointed as temporary administrator shall take and subscribe an oath in substantially the following form:
§ 305.054. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH.
§ 305.055. FILING AND RECORDING OF OATH.
An oath shall be:
(1) filed with the clerk of the court granting the letters testamentary or of administration, as applicable; and
(2) recorded in the judge's probate docket.
§ 305.101. BOND GENERALLY REQUIRED; EXCEPTIONS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this title, a person to whom letters testamentary or of administration will be issued must enter into a bond before issuance of the letters.
(b) Letters testamentary shall be issued without the requirement of a bond to a person named as executor in a will probated in a court of this state if:
(1) the will directs that no bond or security be required of the person; and
(2) the court finds that the person is qualified.
(c) A bond is not required if a personal representative is a corporate fiduciary.
§ 305.102. BOND REQUIRED FROM EXECUTOR OTHERWISE EXEMPT.
(a) This section applies only to an estate for which an executor was appointed under a will, but from whom no bond was required.
(b) A person who has a debt, claim, or demand against the estate, with respect to the justice of which the person or the person's agent or attorney has made an oath, or another person interested in the estate, whether in person or as the representative of another, may file a written complaint in the court where the will is probated.
(c) On the filing of the complaint, the court shall cite the executor to appear and show cause why the executor should not be required to give a bond.
(d) On hearing the complaint, the court shall enter an order requiring the executor to give a bond not later than the 10th day after the date of the order if it appears to the court that:
(1) the executor is wasting, mismanaging, or misapplying the estate; and
(2) as a result of conduct described by Subdivision (1):
(A) a creditor may probably lose the creditor's debt; or
(B) a person's interest in the estate may be diminished or lost.
(e) A bond required under this section must be:
(1) in an amount sufficient to protect the estate and the estate's creditors;
(2) payable to and approved by the judge; and
(3) conditioned that the executor:
(A) will well and truly administer the estate; and
(B) will not waste, mismanage, or misapply the estate.
(f) If the executor fails to give a bond required under this section on or before the 10th day after the date of the order and the judge has not extended the period for giving the bond, the judge, without citation, shall remove the executor and appoint a competent person in the executor's place who shall administer the estate according to the will and law. Before entering into the administration of the estate, the appointed person must:
(1) take the oath required of an administrator with the will annexed under Section 305.051; and
(2) give a bond in the manner and amount provided by this chapter for the issuance of original letters of administration.
§ 305.103. BONDS OF JOINT PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES.
If two or more persons are appointed as personal representatives of an estate and are required by this chapter or by the court to give a bond, the court may require:
§ 305.104. BOND OF MARRIED PERSON.
(a) A married person appointed as a personal representative may execute a bond required by law:
(1) jointly with the person's spouse; or
(2) separately without the person's spouse.
(b) A bond executed by a married person binds the person's separate estate, but does not bind the person's spouse unless the spouse signed the bond.
§ 305.105. BOND OF MARRIED PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
Any bond required to be executed by a person who is under 18 years of age, is or has been married, and accepts and qualifies as an executor or administrator is as valid and binding for all purposes as if the person were of legal age.
§ 305.106. GENERAL FORMALITIES.
A bond required under Section 305.101(a) must:
(2) be payable to the judge and the judge's successors in office;
(3) bear the written approval of the judge in the judge's official capacity; and
(4) be executed and approved in accordance with this chapter.
§ 305.107. SUBSCRIPTION OF BOND BY PRINCIPALS AND SURETIES.
A bond required under Section 305.101 shall be subscribed by both principals and sureties.
§ 305.108. FORM OF BOND.
The following form, or a form with the same substance, may be used for the bond of a personal representative:
§ 305.109. FILING OF BOND.
A bond required under Section 305.101 shall be filed with the clerk after the court approves the bond.
§ 305.110. FAILURE TO GIVE BOND.
Another person may be appointed as personal representative to replace a personal representative who at any time fails to give a bond as required by the court in the period prescribed by this chapter.
§ 305.111. BOND NOT VOID ON FIRST RECOVERY.
A personal representative's bond does not become void on the first recovery but may be put in suit and prosecuted from time to time until the entire amount of the bond has been recovered.
AMOUNT OF BOND AND ASSOCIATED DEPOSITS
§ 305.151. GENERAL STANDARD REGARDING AMOUNT OF BOND.
(a) The judge shall set the amount of a bond, in an amount considered sufficient to protect the estate and the estate's creditors, as provided by this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or other provisions generally applicable to bonds of personal representatives, if the person to whom letters testamentary or of administration are granted is entitled to all of the decedent's estate after payment of debts, a bond shall be in an amount sufficient to protect creditors only.
§ 305.152. EVIDENTIARY HEARING ON AMOUNT OF BOND.
Before setting the amount of a bond, the court shall hear evidence and determine:
(2) the amount of cash estimated to be needed for administrative purposes, including operation of a business, factory, farm, or ranch owned by the estate, and expenses of administration for one year;
(3) the revenue anticipated to be received in the succeeding 12 months from dividends, interest, rentals, or use of property belonging to the estate and the aggregate amount of any installments or periodic payments to be collected;
(4) the estimated value of certificates of stock, bonds, notes, or other securities of the estate and the name of the depository, if any, in which those assets are deposited;
(5) the face value of life insurance or other policies payable to the person on whose estate administration is sought or to the estate;
(6) the estimated value of other personal property owned by the estate; and
(7) the estimated amount of debts due and owing by the estate.
§ 305.153. SPECIFIC BOND AMOUNT.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the judge shall set the bond in an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) the estimated value of all personal property belonging to the estate; and
(2) voluntarily deposited by the personal representative or the sureties on the representative's bond, as provided by Sections 305.155 and 305.156.
(c) A bond required to be given by a temporary administrator shall be in the amount that the judge directs.
§ 305.154. AGREEMENT REGARDING DEPOSIT OF ESTATE ASSETS.
(a) A personal representative may agree with the surety or sureties on a bond, either corporate or personal, for the deposit of any cash and other estate assets in a depository described by Subsection (c), if the deposit is otherwise proper, in a manner that prevents the withdrawal of the cash or other assets without:
(1) the written consent of the surety or sureties; or
(2) a court order entered after notice to the surety or sureties as directed by the court.
(b) The court may require the action described by Subsection (a) if the court considers that action to be in the best interest of the estate.
(c) Cash and assets must be deposited under this section in a financial institution, as defined by Section 201.101, Finance Code, that:
(d) An agreement under this section may not release the principal or sureties from liability, or change the liability of the principal or sureties, as established by the terms of the bond.
§ 305.155. DEPOSIT OF ESTATE ASSETS ON TERMS PRESCRIBED BY COURT.
(a) Cash, securities, or other personal assets of an estate or to which the estate is entitled may or, if considered by the court to be in the best interest of the estate, shall, be deposited in one or more depositories described by Section 305.154(c) on terms prescribed by the court.
(b) The court in which the proceedings are pending may authorize or require additional estate assets currently on hand or that accrue during the pendency of the proceedings to be deposited as provided by Subsection (a) on:
(2) the written application of the personal representative or any other person interested in the estate.
(c) The amount of the bond required to be given by the personal representative shall be reduced in proportion to the amount of the cash and the value of the securities or other assets deposited under this section.
(d) Cash, securities, or other assets deposited under this section may be withdrawn in whole or in part from the depository only in accordance with a court order, and the amount of the personal representative's bond shall be increased in proportion to the amount of the cash and the value of the securities or other assets authorized to be withdrawn.
§ 305.156. DEPOSITS OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.
(a) Instead of giving a surety or sureties on a bond, or to reduce the amount of a bond, a personal representative may deposit the representative's own cash or securities acceptable to the court with a depository described by Subsection (b), if the deposit is otherwise proper.
(b) Cash or securities must be deposited under this section in:
(1) a depository described by Section 305.154(c); or
(2) any other corporate depository approved by the court.
(c) A deposit may be in an amount or value equal to the amount of the bond required or in a lesser amount or value, in which case the amount of the bond is reduced by the amount or value of the deposit.
(d) The amount of cash or securities on deposit may be increased or decreased, by court order from time to time, as the interest of the estate requires.
(e) A deposit of cash or securities made instead of a surety or sureties on a bond may be withdrawn or released only on order of a court having jurisdiction.
(f) A creditor has the same rights against a personal representative and deposits made under this section as are provided for recovery against sureties on a bond.
§ 305.157. RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITS OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.
(a) A depository that receives a deposit made under Section 305.156 instead of a surety or sureties on a bond shall issue a receipt for the deposit that:
(2) states that the depository agrees to disburse or deliver the cash or securities only on receipt of a certified copy of an order of the court in which the proceedings are pending.
(b) A receipt issued by a depository under Subsection (a) shall be attached to the personal representative's bond and be delivered to and filed by the county clerk after approval by the judge.
§ 305.158. BOND REQUIRED INSTEAD OF DEPOSITS BY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.
(a) The court may on its own motion or on the written application by the personal representative or any other person interested in the estate:
(1) require that an adequate bond be given instead of a deposit under Section 305.156; or
(2) authorize withdrawal of a deposit made under Section 305.156 and substitution of a bond with sureties.
(b) Not later than the 20th day after the date of entry of the court's motion or the date the personal representative is personally served with notice of the filing of an application by another person interested in the estate, the representative shall file a sworn statement showing the condition of the estate.
(c) A personal representative who fails to comply with Subsection (b) is subject to removal as in other cases.
(d) The personal representative's deposit under Section 305.156 may not be released or withdrawn until the court has:
(1) been satisfied as to the condition of the estate;
(2) determined the amount of the bond; and
(3) received and approved the bond.
§ 305.159. WITHDRAWAL OF DEPOSITS ON CLOSING OF ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Any deposit of assets of the personal representative, the estate, or a surety that remains at the time an estate is closed shall be released by court order and paid to the person or persons entitled to the deposit.
(c) A writ of attachment or garnishment may lie against a deposit described by Subsection (a) as to a claim of a creditor of the estate being administered or a person interested in the estate, including a distributee or ward, to the extent the court has ordered distribution.
§ 305.160. INCREASED OR ADDITIONAL BONDS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
The provisions of this subchapter regarding the deposit of cash and securities govern, to the extent the provisions may be applicable, the court orders to be entered when:
(1) one of the following circumstances occurs:
(A) estate property has been authorized to be sold or rented;
(B) money has been borrowed on estate property; or
(C) real property, or an interest in real property, has been authorized to be leased for mineral development or subjected to unitization; and
(2) the general bond has been found to be insufficient.
§ 305.201. PERSONAL OR AUTHORIZED CORPORATE SURETIES.
(a) The surety or sureties on a bond may be personal or authorized corporate sureties.
(b) A bond with sureties who are individuals must have at least two sureties, each of whom must:
(1) execute an affidavit in the manner provided by this subchapter; and
(c) A bond with an authorized corporate surety is only required to have one surety, except as provided by law.
§ 305.202. SURETIES FOR CERTAIN BONDS.
(a) If the amount of a bond exceeds $50,000, the court may require that the bond be signed by:
(2) one authorized corporate surety and at least two good and sufficient personal sureties.
(b) The estate shall pay the cost of a bond with corporate sureties.
§ 305.203. AFFIDAVIT OF PERSONAL SURETY.
(a) Before a judge may consider a bond with personal sureties, each person offered as surety must execute an affidavit stating the amount by which the person's assets that are reachable by creditors exceeds the person's liabilities, and each affidavit must be presented to the judge for consideration.
(b) The total worth of the personal sureties on a bond must equal at least twice the amount of the bond.
(c) An affidavit presented to and approved by the judge under this section shall be attached to and form part of the bond.
§ 305.204. LIEN ON REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY PERSONAL SURETIES.
(a) If a judge finds that the estimated value of personal property of the estate that cannot be deposited, as provided by Subchapter D, is such that personal sureties cannot be accepted without the creation of a specific lien on real property owned by each of the sureties, the judge shall enter an order requiring each surety to:
(1) designate real property that:
(A) is owned by the surety and located in this state;
(B) is subject to execution; and
(C) has a value that exceeds all liens and unpaid taxes by an amount at least equal to the amount of the bond; and
(2) give an adequate legal description of the real property designated under Subdivision (1).
(b) The surety shall incorporate the information required in the order under Subsection (a) in an affidavit. Following approval by the judge, the affidavit shall be attached to and form part of the bond.
(c) A lien arises as security for the performance of the obligation of the bond only on the real property designated in the affidavit.
(d) Before letters testamentary or of administration are issued to the personal representative whose bond includes an affidavit under this section, the court clerk shall mail a statement to the office of the county clerk of each county in which any real property designated in the affidavit is located. The statement must be signed by the court clerk and include:
(1) a sufficient description of the real property located in that county;
(3) the amount of the bond; and
(4) the name of the estate and court in which the bond is given.
(e) Each county clerk who receives a statement required by Subsection (d) shall record the statement in the county deed records. Each recorded statement shall be indexed in a manner that permits the convenient determination of the existence and character of the liens described in the statements.
(f) The recording and indexing required by Subsection (e) constitutes constructive notice to all persons regarding the existence of the lien on real property located in the county, effective as of the date of the indexing.
(g) If each personal surety subject to a court order under this section does not comply with the order, the judge may require that the bond be signed by:
§ 305.205. SUBORDINATION OF LIEN ON REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY PERSONAL SURETIES.
(a) A personal surety required to create a lien on specific real property under Section 305.204 who wishes to lease the real property for mineral development may file a written application in the court in which the proceedings are pending requesting subordination of the lien to the proposed lease.
(c) A certified copy of the order, filed and recorded in the deed records of the proper county, is sufficient to subordinate the lien to the rights of a lessee under the proposed lease.
§ 305.206. RELEASE OF LIEN ON REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY PERSONAL SURETIES.
(a) A personal surety who has given a lien under Section 305.204 may apply to the court to have the lien released.
(c) If the personal surety does not offer a lien on other substituted property under Subsection (b)(2) and the court is not satisfied that the bond is sufficient without the substitution of other property, the court shall order the personal representative to appear and give a new bond.
(d) A certified copy of the court's order releasing the lien and describing the property that was subject to the lien has the effect of cancelling the lien if the order is filed with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located and recorded in the deed records of that county.
§ 305.207. DEPOSITS BY PERSONAL SURETY.
Instead of executing an affidavit under Section 305.203 or creating a lien under Section 305.204 when required, a personal surety may deposit the surety's own cash or securities instead of pledging real property as security. The deposit:
(1) must be made in the same manner a personal representative deposits the representative's own cash or securities; and
(2) is subject, to the extent applicable, to the provisions governing the same type of deposits made by personal representatives.
§ 305.251. GROUNDS FOR REQUIRING NEW BOND.
(a) A personal representative may be required to give a new bond if:
(b) Any person interested in the estate may have the personal representative cited to appear and show cause why the representative should not be required to give a new bond by filing a written application with the county clerk of the county in which the probate proceedings are pending. The application must allege that:
§ 305.252. COURT ORDER OR CITATION ON NEW BOND.
(a) When a judge becomes aware that a bond is in any respect insufficient or that a bond and the record of the bond have been lost or destroyed, the judge shall:
(1) without delay and without notice enter an order requiring the personal representative to give a new bond; or
(2) without delay have the representative cited to show cause why the representative should not be required to give a new bond.
(3) the period within which the new bond must be given, which may not be earlier than the 10th day after the date of the order.
(c) A personal representative who opposes an order entered under Subsection (a)(1) may demand a hearing on the order. The hearing must be held before the expiration of the period within which the new bond must be given.
§ 305.253. SHOW CAUSE HEARING ON NEW BOND REQUIREMENT.
(a) On the return of a citation ordering a personal representative to show cause why the representative should not be required to give a new bond, the judge shall, on the date specified for the hearing of the matter, inquire into the sufficiency of the reasons for requiring a new bond.
(2) the period within which the new bond must be given, which may not be later than the 20th day after the date of the order.
§ 305.254. EFFECT OF ORDER REQUIRING NEW BOND.
(a) An order requiring a personal representative to give a new bond has the effect of suspending the representative's powers.
(b) After the order is entered, the personal representative may not pay out any of the estate's money or take any other official action, except to preserve estate property, until the new bond is given and approved.
§ 305.255. NEW BOND IN DECREASED AMOUNT.
(a) A personal representative required to give a bond may at any time file with the clerk a written application requesting that the court reduce the amount of the bond.
(b) On the filing of an application under Subsection (a), the clerk shall promptly issue and have notice posted to all interested persons and the sureties on the bond. The notice must inform the interested persons and sureties of:
(1) proof is submitted that a bond in an amount less than the bond in effect will be adequate to meet the requirements of law and protect the estate; and
§ 305.256. REQUEST BY SURETY FOR NEW BOND.
(a) A surety on a bond may at any time file with the clerk a petition requesting that the court in which the proceedings are pending:
(1) require the personal representative to give a new bond; and
(2) discharge the petitioner from all liability for the future acts of the representative.
(b) On the filing of a petition under Subsection (a), the personal representative shall be cited to appear and give a new bond.
§ 305.257. DISCHARGE OF FORMER SURETIES ON EXECUTION OF NEW BOND.
When a new bond has been given and approved, the court shall enter an order discharging the sureties on the former bond from all liability for the future acts of the principal on the bond.