Our website now features a new Probate research guide! This guide provides an overview of the resources available online and in the library pertaining to what happens legally to the property of a person when he or she dies.

The guide links to the laws as well as to other resources that discuss estate planning and what to do when a person dies without a will in “plain English,” which can be easier to understand than complex legal language.

We also highlight useful e-books, articles, and other digital resources that you can access from home (some of which require a library account) such as:

• 8 Ways to Avoid Probate (e-book) by Nolo Publishing provides solid advice on easy methods to skip the probate process, such as naming payable-on-death beneficiaries for financial accounts and owning property jointly to creating living trusts.
• The Executor's Guide (e-book) also by Nolo Publishing provides a guide for executors and trustees, describing legal procedures and terminology, what to expect, decisions that will need to be made, and questions to ask.
• Texas Probate Passport: A Guide to Probate and Estate Planning in Texas (PDF) by the Texas Young Lawyers Association “seeks to make Texas residents aware of how the law (the Texas Estates Code) affects them and their families.”

If you have a question or would like more information about any of our legal research guides, feel free to Ask a Librarian!