Shepherd, TX Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

The court will not send you anything that explains your duties as the administrator of the estate, or what you can expect in terms of compensation. In general, however, your duties are to identify and manage the estate assets, identify and pay the estate liabilities, handle any litigation or disputes in which the estate may be involved, distribute the estate according to the will (or according to the laws of intestacy if there is no will), and report to the court as needed regarding your activities as administrator. You also may not mix the estate assets with your own.

I think it's useful to discuss the different between what happens when someone does have a will, and when someone doesn't. In Texas, a person who dies without a will is known as "intestate." In that case, with your father's set of facts, the rule is that if he died intestate and had no other children outside of his marriage to your mother, your mother would indeed take everything upon his death. Because your father had a will, this default rule does not apply. The details and contents of your father's will determine what you are indeed entitled to. If your mother has begun the probate process, she will be required to submit an original version of his will to the court where it will then be made public. You can then see what his will said by looking up the case information online (available in many of the larger counties in Texas) or by contacting the county clerk's office. It appears as though your father made provisions for you in his will, but it's a good idea to consult a local attorney experienced in probate matters to discuss the specifics of your case. That way you'll have all of the information you need to decide how to move forward. Good luck.