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Providing Individualized Legal Service Throughout the State of Texas with Offices in Houston and Fort Worth
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Johnson County

    "Keith and his team were fantastic."

    Keith and his team were fantastic. We had heard horror stories of the probate process but our experience was fast and ...

    - Thomas M.
    "Thank you, Keith, I truly appreciate you."

    He researched my problem, consulted another expert just for a second opinion, and responded to me with the answers I needed. He is a SUPER PERSON.

    - Kathie
    "He was responsive and found the right resources for us."

    He helped my family navigate a unique probate and trust process right at the end of the year.

    - Previous Client
    "He is aggressive in court room while remaining respectful and compassionate to other lawyers and his clients."

    Keith is one of the finest and technically proficient lawyers I have ever met.

    - Jennifer
    "Whenever I had a question or concern, all I had to do was call or email Keith."

    Keith is very professional and was able to settle my family dispute.

    - Susan
    "Keith handled our case with both dignity and professionalism that is always needed in a disputed guardianship case."

    Keith would be the one attorney I hope I never set on the opposite side of the table against.

    - Bruce
    "Compassionate, no-nonsense, and fair."

    Mr. Morris represented me in a complicated and nasty probate matter. I am a paralegal and must say that Mr. Morris is in the top .5 of the 1% of excellent lawyers.

    - Jennifer L.
    "Made everything very easy."

    Keith was easy to reach and had a lot of knowledge about estate planning. He helped me and my family with our wills and helped set up trusts for my kids.

    - Oda

Johnson County Probate Attorney

Probate is the legal process that takes place when a loved one passes away and leaves behind their estate. In Texas, it’s important to initiate this process in the right county. Probates should be carried out in the county in which the deceased person used to reside.

At Keith Morris Attorney at Law, our Johnson County probate lawyer will be happy to assist you and your family in commencing the probate process for any decedent that used to reside in Johnson County. However, our assistance doesn’t stop there. Our legal professionals proudly provide probate guidance to families all over the North and East Texas regions.

For more information regarding the Texas probate process and how it works in your area, contact Keith Morris Attorney at Law today: (713) 636-5339.

How Does Probate Work in Texas?

Each state has its own way of carrying out probate. In Texas, the process is normal. However, one common error occurs within the first step of probate. Texas holds 18 different probate courts that are located within 10 different counties across the state. As the estate executor or administrator, if you try to file the estate documents at a court that’s not within your jurisdiction, your case could be thrown out or deemed void. This is where a probate lawyer can greatly assist all beneficiaries involved to make sure that the probate is initiated in the proper court.

Notifying Creditors

In Texas, before any beneficiaries can receive assets or property, all of the decedent’s debts must be paid off. This responsibility falls on the executor. Once the executor is done taking inventory of all assets, they should alert all creditors of the deceased party’s death. Since a death certificate usually isn’t available, creditors will accept a death notice from the local news as sufficient proof. In most cases, the debt is then paid off with the remaining assets held by the deceased party. Once all debts are cleared, the property and assets can be cleared for transfer to the beneficiaries.

Inheriting Assets

Assuming there are no will disputes and all debts have been paid, the time will come for beneficiaries to receive their owed property and assets. The good news? In Texas, state inheritance tax doesn’t exist. This means that no matter the amount of property or assets received, a beneficiary cannot be taxed on these items from the state. However, federal inheritance tax still exists. While federal taxes vary depending on the amount, in some situations beneficiaries could have to pay as high as a 40% tax rate on their inheritance. For a complete breakdown of federal inheritance tax rates, click here.

Seeking Legal Assistance

The probate process can be rather daunting, especially when trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. That’s why Keith Morris Attorney at Law is here to help. Our Johnson County probate attorney can help any estate executor, administrator, or beneficiary. Whether or not it’s your first time dealing with probate, it’s critical to make sure all the boxes are checked in an orderly fashion.

For more information regarding how we can assist you and your family, contact Keith Morris Attorney at Law today!

Success that Speaks for Itself

Case Results
  • Dispute Resolved Estate Administration & Division of Assets

    Resolved highly contentious ongoing dispute over father’s estate and division of assets between son and daughter.

  • Dispute Resolved Estate Administration Case

    Successfully resolved case between two siblings fighting over cash and personal property of their father.

  • Hearing Won Evidentiary Hearing

    Won lengthy evidentiary hearing to prove client was not in contempt of court to avoid sanction or jail time.

  • Case Won Guardianship Case

    Won trial to exclude wife to serve as guardian of gentleman she married that was at least twice her age.

  • Six-Figure Settlement Reached Multi-Million Dollar Estate Case

    Obtained six-figure settlement after jury was seated for adopted child in multi-million dollar estate case after adoption was disputed.

Why Choose Keith Morris, Attorney at Law?

  • Personalized Attention
    If you call Keith Morris, he will personally pick up the phone and handle your case with the attention it deserves.
  • Free Consultations
    Your first free case evaluation with us can be done through video conference, phone call, or an in-person meeting.
  • Aggressive Litigator
    Keith Morris is proud to be the litigator that takes on the most complicated and difficult cases to court and getting his clients optimal results.
  • Extensive Experience
    With over 20 years of legal experience, Keith Morris has devoted his efforts to sharpening his skills in probate, trust, and estate planning and litigation.
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