{"id":46141,"date":"2023-05-01T20:47:02","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T01:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duplicate-3802907.findlaw5.flsitebuilder.com\/?page_id=46141"},"modified":"2025-08-01T16:31:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T16:31:39","slug":"probate-and-estate-litigation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fire.h50.us\/~hetheringtonlaw\/probate-and-estate-litigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Probate And Estate Litigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Precise Guidance Through Probate And Estate Litigation<\/h1>\n<p>After a loved one has passed away, it can be difficult to know where to begin the process of enacting their final wishes and distributing their assets. At\u00a0<span class=\"nap-item nap-item--name\">The Hetherington Law Firm<\/span>, our attorney guides families in and beyond Houston through Texas probate and the administration of Texas estates.<\/p>\n<p><a role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/fire.h50.us\/~hetheringtonlaw\/about\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">G. Riley Hetherington III<\/a>\u00a0has practiced law in Texas since 1974. Clients turn to Mr. Hetherington for firm, knowledgeable direction through estate administration, and can rest assured that their loved one\u2019s legacy is in competent hands during their time of grief.<\/p>\n<h2>How Does Texas Probate Work?<\/h2>\n<p>Probate is the process through which Texas courts inventory and assess the value of a deceased person\u2019s property, and then distribute that property to the deceased person\u2019s beneficiaries. These distributions are dictated by\u00a0<a role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/fire.h50.us\/~hetheringtonlaw\/estate-planning\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">the deceased person\u2019s will<\/a>, or by the laws of intestacy if there is no valid will.<\/p>\n<p>All property that is not passed from a deceased person to their beneficiaries through a trust, joint ownership, or direct payments must go through Texas probate. Probate is a strict process, requiring the observance of legally-binding procedures, and involving a wide range of complex terminologies and court filings. An experienced Texas probate lawyer can help you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>File for probate in the correct probate court<\/li>\n<li>Validate the deceased person\u2019s will before a probate court<\/li>\n<li>Act as the administrator of the deceased person\u2019s will, or advise you if you have been named as the executor of the will<\/li>\n<li>Catalogue the deceased person\u2019s property, and submit that catalogue to the probate court<\/li>\n<li>Identify the deceased person\u2019s beneficiaries and creditors, and resolve any disputes that may arise<\/li>\n<li>Distribute the deceased person\u2019s assets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"nap-item nap-item--name\">The Hetherington Law Firm<\/span>\u2019s support and precision through Texas probate can provide your family with clarity and peace of mind as you adjust to your loved one\u2019s passing.<\/p>\n<h2>Estate Administration And Litigation<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to guiding clients through Texas probate,\u00a0<span class=\"nap-item nap-item--name\">The Hetherington Law Firm<\/span>\u00a0can represent you through the administration of your will or trust. When beneficiaries of a will or trust contest its validity, attorney Hetherington is also available to represent them in litigation challenging how assets are distributed.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Hetherington\u2019s practice focuses on issues concerning contested wills, trusts and transfers effective during lifetime or at date of death that touch heirs, devisees, transferees, family members and business associates.\u00a0<span class=\"nap-item nap-item--name\">The Hetherington Law Firm<\/span>\u00a0can be relied upon for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fact gathering, budgeting and assessment of available courses of action<\/li>\n<li>Assessment of available forums, both judicial and non-judicial,\u00a0<a role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/fire.h50.us\/~hetheringtonlaw\/mediation-and-collaborative-law\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">including mediation and arbitration<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Review and research of applicable claims and defenses, and legal theories to support actions to be taken<\/li>\n<li>Participation in mediation and judicial proceedings<\/li>\n<li>Implementation of litigation strategies through the discovery process and ultimate trial of the matter<\/li>\n<li>Successful defense, and assertion of probate claims in will contests<\/li>\n<li>Contested Heirship proceedings<\/li>\n<li>Accounting issues concerning trust or estate administration<\/li>\n<li>Breach of fiduciary claims against executors, administrators and trustees, including removal of the personal representative estate or trustee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When your legacy, or the legacy of your loved one, is at stake, turn to the experienced and assertive estate litigation services offered by\u00a0<span class=\"nap-item nap-item--name\">The Hetherington Law Firm<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2>Rely On Experienced Probate And Estate Litigation Counsel<\/h2>\n<p>Attorney G. Riley Hetherington III has served Houston for his entire professional career \u2013 and he is ready to serve you through your probate, estate administration or estate litigation matter. To schedule your consultation with\u00a0<span class=\"nap-item nap-item--name\">The Hetherington Law Firm<\/span>, call <span class=\"nap-item nap-item--phone\"><a role=\"link\" href=\"tel:832-626-1243\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">832-626-1243<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<a role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/fire.h50.us\/~hetheringtonlaw\/contact\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">contact the firm online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Precise Guidance Through Probate And Estate Litigation After a loved one has passed away, it can be difficult to know where to begin the process of enacting their final wishes and distributing their assets. At\u00a0The Hetherington Law Firm, our attorney guides families in and beyond Houston through Texas probate and the administration of Texas estates. G. Riley Hetherington III\u00a0has practiced.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-single-practice.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-46141","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Probate And Estate Litigation - Houston Real Estate Lawyer | Estate Planning | Probate | Mediation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Probate And Estate Litigation - Houston Real Estate Lawyer | Estate Planning | Probate | Mediation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Precise Guidance Through Probate And Estate Litigation After a loved one has passed away, it can be difficult to know where to begin the process of enacting their final wishes and distributing their assets. 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