Oct. 26, 2009
Dear George: My wife and I purchased a residence in 2002 in both our names. She passed away in 2003 without a will, leaving two adult children. I still live in the house, and now her children each have a one-quarter interest in the house. Does this mean they're responsible for half of the bills for the property, since they'll inherit half of the house's equity when I sell or die? Is there a legal document that I could obtain for clarification?
Answer: Section 45 of the Texas Probate Code outlines what happened to your property when your wife died. However, to answer your question regarding your wife's children's responsibilities regarding your property, you need to consult a probate attorney.
E-mail a question to ask George & Chuck or fax it to 713-978-6684. The answers to questions in this column do not contain legal advice. If you wish to obtain legal advice, you should consult your own attorney.
