A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

By Pearl Jordan

For each person who wishes to leave everything in order in the event of their passing, a documented last will and testament is the proper and necessary option. There are those who have accumulated assets over the years and would like to divide it according to how they deem it fit.

As with any other place, there are governing laws on the proper creation and execution of the last will in the state of Texas. These are being mandated to ensure the legality of any claims toward the execution of Texas Wills.

Texas Wills has its own set of requirements to make this document legally binding. First and foremost would be the age and status of the testator; they must be at least eighteen years of age, married or is presently serving in the armed forces.

Another requirement would be the testator's state of mind during the creation of the will. Their capacity to rationally make decisions and practice reason with their own free will is what makes the testator credible. No claims can be made should the testator be forced to create the will.

A pair of credible witnesses is required to attest to the creation of the will as well as the credibility of the testator. They must sign the document in the testator's presence and must at least be 14 years of age. The beneficiaries or those who will be receiving the inheritance and a person who will administer or execute the details of the will are all required in Texas Wills.

Oral wills or those which are only applicable to personal property, handwritten wills which are personally written by the testator and typewritten wills which may have been created at a prepared date with or without the aide of the testator's lawyer are the three types of wills recognized and accepted in Texas.

As far as the three recognized forms of wills are concerned, there are various laws and provisions which make these legally binding. Both the handwritten and the typewritten wills should be presented in court to prove its validity within four years from the date of the testator's death. Otherwise, it will no longer be valid and the proceeds of whatever the testator has left will proceed with the rules of intestacy. Oral wills are not a common form of will to be left behind. This is why a particular number of witnesses may be required to testify to its claim and validity. Oral wills are also required to be made only in the deteriorating moments of the testator in their home with the exception of their passing prior to coming home as a result of taking them to a facility for care or sickness.

Apart from properties, there are other purposes for Texas Wills; some would be meant for endorsing minor children to a new legal guardian or perhaps to appoint an individual to manage property and in some cases, the transfer of ownership for pets. - 29971

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