Court Opinion

ID: 4136886
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 02:18:38.987885+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:18.108673
License: Public Domain

.      . .

                                  April   15, 1957

Hon. J. 0. Duncan                         ww-95
District-County   142 Tex.     651, 180 S.W.2d 435 (1944).          If we be correct       in our
assumption      that the 1956 will revoked        the 1953 will in the manner
prescribed      by the statute,    then we can put aside the 1953 will with-
out further     notice.

               This brings    us to the consideration          of the subsequent     or
the 1956 will which we assume            was in writing       and executed     with the
necessary    statutory   prerequisites       to make it a valid will.         We
assume    that the 1956 will bequeathed           the entire    estate,   both real and
personal,   to the wife without       limitation    or remainder        to anyone.   If
this be true, the bequest       lapsed upon the death of the wlfe prior              to
the death of the husband, the testator.              Logan v. Thomason,         146 Tex.
37, 202 S.W.2d 212 (1947).          Thea in that event the husband died
intestate  and his property       would descend        according    to the law of
descent   and distribution    as provided        in V.A.T.S.     Probate    Code, 338.

                 You state in your letter         that the testator    died “without
issue *.     We assume      that you mean by this “without           children”,        Died
‘?without issue”      is not the same as saying          &died without      heirs”.
Only if the testator      died without      living heirs     is his estate     subject     to
escheat.       We are not justified      in concluding     from your letter         that the
testator     died without    heirs,  even though he died without           leaving
brothers      and sisters    or children.       The foregoing     constitutes     the most
satisfactory      answer  we can give you in the absence             of more       specific
information.

                                     s UMMARY
               A prior      will may be revoked            only by the
               execution      of a subsequent         will or declara-
               tion in writing      executed      with the same
               formalities      or by destroying          or canceling
                the same or causing          it to be done in the
                presence     of the maker.          If the sole
               beneficiary      of an estate      under a will,
               without     any qualification,      limitation     or
                remainder,      dies prior     to the test&or,
                such an estate       lapses,    resulting      in the
                testator    dying intestate      and the estate
Hon.     3. 0.    Duncan,      page   3 (WW-95)

                  passes     under the law of descent
                  and distribution      as, provided      in
                  V.A.T.S.     Probate     Code, 838.
                  Property     of a person      who dies
                  intestate,    leaving   no living    heirs
                  is subject     to es&eat.      Articles
                  7272-3289,      Vernon’s    Civil Statutes.

                                            Very     truly   yours,

                                            WILL     WILSON
                                            Attorney    General

                                                   Assistant

LPL:cs

APPROVED:

OPINION          COMMITTEE

H. Grady         Chandler,     Chairman

Arthur     Sandlin

Richard     Stone

B. H.     Timmins,       Jr.

REVIEWED    FOR THE ATTORNEY                       GENERAL
BY:
       Geo. P. Blackburn