In In re Est. of McCulloch, David McCulloch died August 14, 2022, with a pour-over will leaving all property to the David and Vicki McCulloch Trust. No. 02-25-00036-CV, 2026 Tex. App. LEXIS 2094 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth March 5, 2026, no pet.). Vicki McCulloch, surviving co-trustee, amended the trust September
Court Dismissed Appeal After No Person Accepted The Position Of Representative Of The Estate
In Criswell v. Polk, Catherine Polk sued Dolores Sharp over Houston real property ownership. No. 01-22-00428-CV, 2026 Tex. App. LEXIS 2290 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] March 12, 2026, no pet.). The probate court granted partial summary judgment for Polk, vesting title in Angel’s estate. Sharp then died during the
Court Discusses Whether Texas’s Anti-SLAP Statute Applies To Certain Trust Claims
In Frost Bank v. Glenn, Jo Ann Turrentine created a revocable living trust in 2007, naming herself and Raymond James as co-trustees. No. 13-23-00595-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 9484 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi December 11, 2025, no pet.). After Turrentine’s death in 2018, Frost Bank became the sole trustee. In
Court Reverses Temporary Injunction In Trust Case Where The Order Was Not Sufficiently Precise But Held That County Court At Law Had Jurisdiction Over Dispute Because A Statutory Probate Judge Presided Over The Case
In In the Est. of Ledbetter, Lonnie Ledbetter Jr. married Tawni in December 2023 at age 81, shortly after his wife of 44 years died. No. 02-25-00263-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 9540 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth December 11, 2025, no pet.). After marriage, Lonnie changed his will to give 80% to
Court Reverses Jurisdictional Challenge In A Will Contest Where There Was A Fact Question On Whether A Prior Will Would Be Admitted And Whether The Decedent Would Be Intestate
In In re Est. of Corbett, Robert William Corbett died on November 26, 2016, unmarried and without children. No. 14-24-00922-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 9380 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] December 9, 2025, no pet.). Robert’s 2016 will bequeathed his residue estate to his maternal aunt, Willie Lee Bell Lambert
Court Held That Funeral Home Did Not Have Liability For Following Decedent’s Girlfriend’s Directions
In Radford v. Stansbury, Lonzell Radford died on June 21, 2023, while living with Ardie Govan. No. 06-25-00058-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 9052 (Tex. App.—Texarkana November 17, 2025, no pet.). Govan reported the death to WCSO, which called Croley Funeral Home to remove the body. Govan signed a cremation
Court Holds That Jury’s Decision That A Will Was A Forgery Should Have Been Entered As The Judgment
In In re Bice, Lois Kathlyn Bice died in 2009, survived by her husband Donald Gene Bice and three daughters. No.10-25-00307-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 9005 (Tex. App.—Waco November 20, 2025, no pet.). In 2010, all parties signed a notarized heirship affidavit stating she died intestate. Mr. Bice continued
Court Held That An Illegitimate Child Was Not A Beneficiary Of A Trust Due To The Law In Effect At The Time Of The Trust’s Creation
In Zeller v. Allen, William and Elizabeth Moncrief created a trust in 1966 that would distribute to Tex’s children and lineal descendants upon his death. No. 13-24-00200-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 8941 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi November 20, 2025, pet. filed). Charles Moncrief (Tex’s son) died in January 2021, and
Court Affirmed Rejection Of Executor As Being Unsuitable Who Had Assaulted A Beneficiary
In In re Est. of Terrell, the decedent Sue died on May 15, 2010. No. 12-25-00177-CV, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 8901 (Tex. App.—Tyler November 19, 2025, pet. denied). In August 2022, Sue’s son Donald Ray Terrell filed an application for independent administration of Sue’s estate. After learning that Sue
David F. Johnson Recognized for Distinguished Service on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
David F. Johnson, lead writer for the Fiduciary Litigator Blog, has officially concluded a distinguished six-year tenure on the Board of Directors for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS).
Since 2020, David has provided leadership and strategic insight to TBLS alongside fellow outgoing board members Judge Tuck McLain and