Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
This session will discuss what Texas law requires in order for a will to be considered a valid will and why having a valid will is important.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speaker: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
If a person dies without a will or "intestate", Texas law determines who gets what and why. In this session Professor Beyer will discuss the laws of descent and distribution.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speaker: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Texas law allows for alternatives to the traditional, full administration probate. This session will explore those alternatives and when they are used.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speakers: Hon. Stephanie Davis, Judge, Comanche County
Hon. Jennifer Martin, County Clerk, Ector County
Hon. Julie Smith, County Clerk, Potter County
Hon. Jimmy Sylvia, Judge, Chambers County
Moderator: Hon. Curtis Parrish, Judge, Lubbock County
Hear from a panel of judges and clerks on lessons learned about probate and guardianship during their time in office.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speakers: Hon. Heidi Easley, County Clerk, Victoria County
Hon. Alison Haley, County Clerk, Midland County
A discussion of filing specific issues in county clerk offices, from wills, safekeeping issues, e-filing issues, certification of documents and fees.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Hon. Jerry Simoneaux, Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1
This session will provide an overview of the Texas guardianship process.
Location: Horizon Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speakers: Hon. CJ Chasco, County/District Clerk, Swisher County
Hon. Jennifer Fogg, County Clerk, Rockwall County
This session will cover notice and citation procedures in probates/guardianships as well as review what clerks need to know when handling fingerprints and background checks.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Hon. Jerry Simoneaux, Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1
Texas law has alternatives that might satisfy the basic purposes of a guardianship without a full guardianship proceeding. This session will explore those alterntives as well as services available to wards needing assistance. The course satisfies the judicial education rquirement of county judges having probate jurisdiction to complate a 1 hour course every 2 years.
Location: Horizon Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speaker: Hon. Karen McQueen, County Clerk, Brazos County
This session will discuss when the small estate affidavit (SEA) process can be used when a person dies without a will to tranfers assets.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Hon. Jerry Simoneaux, Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1
This session will discuss caseflow, management of guardianship cases, time standards, non-compliance issues, and how to keep your guardianship caseload moving.
Location: Horizon Ballroom
Speaker: Hon. Julie Smith, County Clerk, Potter County
Test your knowledge of topics presented in this fun interactive audience game!
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speakers: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Hon. Julie Smith, County Clerk, Potter County
Hon. Karren Winter, County Clerk, Archer County
An introduction of the new book "Texas Estate Planning Statutes with Commentary: 2025-2027 Edition" by Prof. Beyer and the popular tabbing session to tab your new book with often used sections. Tabs will be provided.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speakers: Dana Drexler, Deputy Division Director, Harris County Attorney's Office
Cecilia Longoria, Disability & Elder Law Division Director, Harris County Attorney's Office
This session will introduce the variety of templates, forms, reports and other documents frequently required in guardianship cases which you can modify and use in your own court.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speaker: Hon. Jerry Simoneaux, Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 1
This session will review handbooks for applicants in Estates and Guardianships that will stress the importance of their roles, duties and responsibilities.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speakers: Hon. Jennifer Fogg, County Clerk, Rockwall County
Kirsten Mills, Legislative Consultant, TAC
This session will provide a summary of new legislation impacting clerks.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Hon. Curtis Parrish, Judge, Lubbock County
Probate usually involves the simple issues of who inherits the deceased person's stuff. Probate becomes complicated when we don't know who the surviving heirs are. This session will cover the family law concepts of "informal marriage" and "adoption by estoppel" within the context of probate.
Location: Horizon Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speaker: Hon. Heidi Easley, County Clerk, Victoria County
This session will provide a brief overview of guardianship cases from the clerks perspective and provide tabs for the new book.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Prof. Beyer will provide an overview of recent appellate cases involving probate issues which may be illustrative of how county judges can avoid being reversed on appeal.
Location: Horizon Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speakers: Hon. CJ Chasco, District/County Clerk, Swisher County
Hon. Jennifer Martin, County Clerk, Ector County
Hon. Julie Smith, County Clerk, Potter County
Hon. Karren Winter, County Clerk, Archer County
This session will be a Q & A panel discussion answering questions from the audience submitted on note cards provided earlier in the conference, or questions submitted in advance to lucyh@county.org
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Speaker: Hon. Claudia Laird, Judge, Montgomery County Probate Court No. 1
In this breakout session we will discuss the process of completing the annual review requirement imposed for guardianship cases by the Texas Estates Code. We will review court procedures and forms used in connection with the required annual accountings and annual reports as well as warning signs of negligence or malfeasance and what to do when problems are identified.
Location: Horizon Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speakers: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Hon. Curtis Parrish, Judge, Lubbock County
This will be a discussion of a "typical" probate case, from beginning to end, with emphasis on the hearing on the application, with explanations and commentary from Prof. Beyer and Judge Parrish.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speakers: Prof. Gerry Beyer, Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Professor Beyer will be available to answer questions on all things "Estate" or "Probate" during this session. Please save your questions from each session for this time slot.
Location: Sunset Ballroom
Location: Sunset Ballroom Prefunction
Speaker: Prof. Brian Shannon, Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor; Adjunct Professor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry
This session will discuss the current standards for civil commitment cases and updated criteria for emergency detention as it applies to peace officers and county judges.
Location: Sunset Ballroom