Your Dependent Administration Roadmap

What's Inside

Preparation guide for dependent (court-supervised) administration in Texas. Built for the path identified by the WG Law Probate Guide.

1. Step 1. Understand that every sale, payment, and distribution will require a separate court order

2. Step 2. Identify all heirs at law under Texas intestacy if the decedent died without a will

3. Step 3. Plan to post a fiduciary bond — typically equal to the value of the estate's personal property

4. Step 4. Locate originals of every legal document: death certificate (5+ certified copies), any will, deeds, account statements

5. Step 5. Identify the creditor disputes, complex assets, or family conflict that triggered the dependent path

6. Step 6. Begin a contemporaneous record of every receipt and disbursement — required for the annual accounting

7. Step 7. Confirm whether a Determination of Heirship will need to be filed alongside the administration

8. Step 8. Block any distribution of estate property until the court signs an order authorizing it

9. Step 9. Be prepared for the court to appoint an Attorney Ad Litem if heirs are unknown — cost charged to the estate

10. Step 10. Understand the administrator's personal liability for unauthorized actions, missed deadlines, or unpaid taxes

11. Step 11. Plan for a 12 to 24+ month timeline — discuss any hardship-distribution motions with your attorney early

12. Step 12. Schedule a flat-fee consultation with WG Law before filing — dependent administration is the highest-risk Texas probate path