2023 Texas Statutes › Estates Code › Title 2 - Estates of Decedents; Durable Powers of Attorney › Subtitle F - Wills › Chapter 255 - Construction and Interpretation of Wills › Subchapter J. Judicial Modification or Reformation › Section 255.456. Jurisdiction and Transfer of Proceeding

Sec. 255.456.  JURISDICTION AND TRANSFER OF PROCEEDING.  (a)  To the extent that this section conflicts with other provisions of this title, this section prevails.
(b)  In a county in which there is no statutory probate court or county court at law exercising original probate jurisdiction, if a personal representative petitions the county court to modify or reform the terms of a will, the judge of the county court may, on the judge's own motion, or shall, on the motion of any party to the proceeding, according to the motion:
(1)  request the assignment of a statutory probate court judge to hear the proceeding, as provided by Section 25.0022, Government Code; or
(2)  transfer the proceeding to the district court, which may then hear the proceeding as if originally filed in the district court.
(c)  A district court to which a proceeding is transferred under Subsection (b) has the jurisdiction and authority granted to a statutory probate court by Subtitle A.
(d)  If a party to a modification or reformation proceeding files a motion for the assignment of a statutory probate court judge to hear the proceeding before the judge of the county court transfers the proceeding to a district court under this section, the county judge shall grant the motion for the assignment of a statutory probate court judge and may not transfer the proceeding to the district court unless the party withdraws the motion.
(e)  A statutory probate court judge assigned to a proceeding under this section has the jurisdiction and authority granted to a statutory probate court by Subtitle A.
(f)  In a county in which there is no statutory probate court, but in which there is a county court at law exercising original probate jurisdiction, if a personal representative petitions the county court to modify or reform the terms of a will, the judge of the county court may, on the judge's own motion, or shall, on the motion of any party to the proceeding, transfer the proceeding to the county court at law, which may then hear the proceeding as if originally filed in the county court at law.
(g)  The county court shall continue to exercise jurisdiction over the management of the estate, other than the modification or reformation proceeding, until final disposition of the modification or reformation proceeding is made in accordance with this subchapter.
(h)  On resolution of the modification or reformation proceeding, the statutory probate court judge assigned to hear the proceeding or the district court or county court at law to which the proceeding is transferred under this section shall return the matter to the county court for further proceedings not inconsistent with the orders of the statutory probate court, district court, or county court at law, as applicable.
(i)  The clerk of a district court to which a modification or reformation proceeding is transferred under this section may perform in relation to the proceeding any function a county clerk may perform with respect to that type of matter.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1141 (H.B. 2782), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2019.