Spring Branch, TX Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

The answer depends on facts which are not included in your summary. You have no rights in the absence of a Will or Trust providing for you, or joint assets or beneficiary designations. If all of his assets are titled in his name alone, you would only be entitled if there was a Will or Trust naming you as beneficiary.

If you provide the bank with a certified copy of your letter of office that should be sufficient to gain access to any bank account held in your husband's name. If the bank account was a joint account the account would not be in your husband's estate. It would be owned by the surviving joint tenant. The death certificate would give them authority to turn the account over to the surviving joint tenant. As the executrix you can require the bank to provide you with information on all of his accounts, including the title on all of his accounts.

Easiest and cheapest way is to sign an Assignment of your interest in your mother's estate to your brother. Presumably, his lawyer will be happy to draft that, and it won't cost you or him anything.