Opinion ID: 1774420
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Survival Statute

Text: The Survival Statute provides that only a personal representative, administrator, or heir may sue on behalf of an estate. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE § 71.021(b). A person who dies intestate with no children leaves all of his or her estate to his or her spouse as sole heir. See TEX. PROB.CODE §§ 37, 38(b)(2). The Wrongful Death Act expressly authorizes the surviving spouse to bring suit on behalf of all wrongful death beneficiaries. However, the Survival Statute is silent about whether and when a spouse may bring a survival claim. Compare TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE § 71.004(b) with TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE § 71.021(b). This Court has determined that generally, personal representatives of the decedent's estate are the only people entitled to sue to recover estate property. See Frazier v. Wynn, 472 S.W.2d 750, 752 (Tex.1971). However, circumstances can exist when an heir may have standing to bring suit on behalf of the decedent's estate. Heirs at law can maintain a survival suit during the four-year period the law allows for instituting administration proceedings if they allege and prove that there is no administration pending and none necessary. See Frazier, 472 S.W.2d at 752. A family settlement agreement is an alternative method of administration in Texas that is a favorite of the law. See In re Estate of Hodges, 725 S.W.2d 265, 267 (Tex.App. Amarillo 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Estate of Morris, 577 S.W.2d 748, 755-56 (Tex.Civ. App.Amarillo 1979, writ ref'd n.r.e.) Under section 37 of the Probate Code, when a person dies leaving a will, all of the estate devised or bequeathed by the will immediately vests in the devisees or legatees, subject to payment of the decedent's debts. The beneficiaries of an estate are free to arrange among themselves for the distribution of the estate and for the payment of expenses from that estate. See TEX. PROB.CODE § 37; see also Pitner v. United States, 388 F.2d 651, 656 (5th Cir.1967); Estate of Hodges, 725 S.W.2d at 267. Section 37 also provides that when a person dies intestate, all of his estate shall vest immediately in his heirs at law, subject to payment of the debts of the estate. See TEX. PROB.CODE § 37. If the deceased has no children or their descendants, the surviving spouse is entitled to all of the personal estate. See TEX. PROB.CODE § 38(b)(2).