H.B. No. 2492

AN ACT

relating to the family allowance, treatment of exempt property, and an allowance in lieu of exempt property in the administration of a decedent's estate.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

ARTICLE 1. CHANGES TO TEXAS PROBATE CODE

SECTION 1.01. Sections 139, 140, and 143, Texas Probate Code, are amended to read as follows:

Sec. 139. APPLICATION FOR ORDER OF NO ADMINISTRATION. If the value of the entire assets of an estate, not including homestead and exempt property, does not exceed the amount to which the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children of the decedent are entitled as a family allowance, there may be filed by or on behalf of the surviving spouse, [or] minor children, or adult incapacitated children an application in any court of proper venue for administration, or, if an application for the appointment of a personal representative has been filed but not yet granted, then in the court where such application has been filed, requesting the court to make a family allowance and to enter an order that no administration shall be necessary. The application shall state the names of the heirs or devisees, a list of creditors of the estate together with the amounts of the claims so far as the same are known, and a description of all real and personal property belonging to the estate, together with the estimated value thereof according to the best knowledge and information of the applicant, and the liens and encumbrances thereon, with a prayer that the court make a family allowance and that, if the entire assets of the estate, not including homestead and exempt property, are thereby exhausted, the same be set aside to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children, as in the case of other family allowances provided for by this Code.

Sec. 140. HEARING AND ORDER UPON THE APPLICATION. Upon the filing of an application for no administration such as that provided for in the preceding Section, the court may hear the same forthwith without notice, or at such time and upon such notice as the court requires. Upon the hearing of the application, if the court finds that the facts contained therein are true and that the expenses of last illness, funeral charges, and expenses of the proceeding have been paid or secured, the court shall make a family allowance and, if the entire assets of the estate, not including homestead and exempt property, are thereby exhausted, shall order that no administration be had of the estate and shall assign to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children the whole of the estate, in the same manner and with the same effect as provided in this Code for the making of family allowances to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children.

Sec. 143. SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS FOR SMALL ESTATES AFTER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTED. Whenever, after the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims has been filed by a personal representative, it is established that the estate of a decedent, exclusive of the homestead and exempt property and family allowance to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children, does not exceed the amount sufficient to pay the claims of Classes One to Four, inclusive, as claims are hereinafter classified, the personal representative shall, upon order of the court, pay the claims in the order provided and to the extent permitted by the assets of the estate subject to the payment of such claims, and thereafter present the personal representative's [his] account with an application for the settlement and allowance thereof. Thereupon the court, with or without notice, may adjust, correct, settle, allow or disallow such account, and, if the account is settled and allowed, may decree final distribution, discharge the personal representative, and close the administration.

SECTION 1.02. Sections 271(a) and (b), Texas Probate Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Unless an affidavit is filed under Subsection (b) of this section, immediately after the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims have been approved, the court shall, by order, set apart:

(1) the homestead for the use and benefit of the surviving spouse and minor children; and

(2) all other property of the estate that is exempt from execution or forced sale by the constitution and laws of this state for the use and benefit of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, [and] unmarried adult children remaining with the family of the deceased, and each other adult child who is incapacitated.

(b) Before the approval of the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims:

(1) a surviving spouse or any person who is authorized to act on behalf of minor children of the deceased may apply to the court to have exempt property, including the homestead, set aside by filing an application and a verified affidavit listing all of the property that the applicant claims is exempt; and

(2) any unmarried adult child [children] remaining with the family of the deceased, any other adult child who is incapacitated, or a person who is authorized to act on behalf of the adult incapacitated child may apply to the court to have all exempt property other than the homestead set aside by filing an application and a verified affidavit listing all of the other property that the applicant claims is exempt.

SECTION 1.03. Sections 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 286, 287, 288, 290, 291, and 292, Texas Probate Code, are amended to read as follows:

Sec. 272. TO WHOM DELIVERED. The exempt property set apart to the surviving spouse and children shall be delivered by the executor or administrator without delay as follows: (a) If there be a surviving spouse and no children, or if the children, including any adult incapacitated children, be the children of the surviving spouse, the whole of such property shall be delivered to the surviving spouse. (b) If there be children and no surviving spouse, such property, except the homestead, shall be delivered to the guardian of each of those [such] children who is a minor, to each of those children who is of lawful age and not incapacitated, and to the guardian of each of those children who is an incapacitated adult or to another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian [if they be of lawful age, or to their guardian if they be minors]. (c) If there be children of the deceased of whom the surviving spouse is not the parent, the share of such children in such exempted property, except the homestead, shall be delivered to the guardian of each of those [such] children who is a minor, to each of those children who is of lawful age and not incapacitated, and to the guardian of each of those children who is an incapacitated adult or to another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian [if they be of lawful age, or to their guardian, if they be minors]. (d) In all cases, the homestead shall be delivered to the surviving spouse, if there be one, and if there be no surviving spouse, to the guardian of the minor children.

Sec. 273. ALLOWANCE IN LIEU OF EXEMPT PROPERTY. In case there should not be among the effects of the deceased all or any of the specific articles exempted from execution or forced sale by the Constitution and laws of this state, the court shall make a reasonable allowance in lieu thereof, to be paid to such surviving spouse and children, or such of them as there are, as hereinafter provided. The allowance in lieu of a homestead shall in no case exceed $15,000 and the allowance for other exempted property shall in no case exceed $5,000, exclusive of the allowance for the support of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children which is hereinafter provided for.

Sec. 274. HOW ALLOWANCE PAID. The allowance made in lieu of any of the exempted property shall be paid either in money out of the funds of the estate that come to the hands of the executor or administrator, or in any property of the deceased that such surviving spouse, [or] children who are [, if they be] of lawful age, guardian of children who are [or their guardian if they be] minors, or guardian of each adult incapacitated child or other appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian, shall choose to take at the appraisement, or a part thereof, or both, as they shall select; provided, however, that property specifically bequeathed or devised to another may be so taken, or may be sold to raise funds for the allowance as hereinafter provided, only if the other available property shall be insufficient to provide the allowance.

Sec. 275. TO WHOM ALLOWANCE PAID. The allowance in lieu of exempt property shall be paid by the executor or administrator, as follows: (a) If there be a surviving spouse and no children, or if all the children, including any adult incapacitated children, be the children of the surviving spouse, the whole shall be paid to such surviving spouse.

(b) If there be children and no surviving spouse, the whole shall be [paid to and] equally divided among them and each of their shares shall be paid as follows:

(1) if the child is [they be] of lawful age and not incapacitated, to the child;

(2) [, but] if the child is a minor, [any of such children are minors, their shares shall be paid] to the child's [their] guardian; or

(3) if the child is an incapacitated adult, to the adult incapacitated child's guardian or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian [guardians].

(c) If there be a surviving spouse, and children of the deceased, some of whom are not children of the surviving spouse, the surviving spouse shall receive one-half of the whole, plus the shares of the children of whom the survivor is the parent, and the remaining shares shall be paid with respect to each of the children of whom the survivor is not the parent as follows:

(1) if the child is an adult who is not incapacitated, to the child;

(2) if the child is a minor [or, if they are minors], to the child's [their] guardian; or

(3) if the child is an incapacitated adult, to the adult incapacitated child's guardian or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

Sec. 276. SALE TO RAISE ALLOWANCE. If there be no property of the deceased that such surviving spouse or children are willing to take for such allowance, or not a sufficiency, and there be no funds, or not sufficient funds, of the estate in the hands of such executor or administrator to pay such allowance, or any part thereof, the court, on the application in writing of such surviving spouse and children, or of a person authorized to represent any of those children, shall order a sale of so much of the estate for cash as will be sufficient to raise the amount of such allowance, or a part thereof, as the case requires.

Sec. 286. FAMILY ALLOWANCE TO SURVIVING SPOUSES, [AND] MINORS, AND ADULT INCAPACITATED CHILDREN. (a) Unless an affidavit is filed under Subsection (b) of this section, immediately after the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims have been approved, the court shall fix a family allowance for the support of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children of the deceased.

(b) Before the approval of the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims, a surviving spouse or any person who is authorized to act on behalf of minor children or adult incapacitated children of the deceased may apply to the court to have the court fix the family allowance by filing an application and a verified affidavit describing the amount necessary for the maintenance of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children for one year after the date of the death of the decedent and describing the spouse's separate property and any property that minor children or adult incapacitated children have in their own right. The applicant bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence at any hearing on the application. The court shall fix a family allowance for the support of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children of the deceased.

Sec. 287. AMOUNT OF FAMILY ALLOWANCE. Such allowance shall be of an amount sufficient for the maintenance of such surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children for one year from the time of the death of the testator or intestate. The allowance shall be fixed with regard to the facts or circumstances then existing and those anticipated to exist during the first year after such death. The allowance may be paid either in a lump sum or in installments, as the court shall order.

Sec. 288. WHEN FAMILY ALLOWANCE NOT MADE. No such allowance shall be made for the surviving spouse when the survivor has separate property adequate to the survivor's maintenance; nor shall such allowance be made for the minor children or adult incapacitated children when they have property in their own right adequate to their maintenance.

Sec. 290. FAMILY ALLOWANCE PREFERRED. The family allowance made for the support of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children of the deceased shall be paid in preference to all other debts or charges against the estate, except Class 1 claims.

Sec. 291. TO WHOM FAMILY ALLOWANCE PAID. The executor or administrator shall apportion and pay the family allowance:

(a) To the surviving spouse, if there be one, for the use of the survivor and the minor children and adult incapacitated children, if such children be the survivor's.

(b) If the surviving spouse is not the parent of such minor children and adult incapacitated children, or of some of them, the portion of such allowance necessary for the support of such minor child or children of which the survivor is not the parent shall be paid to the guardian or guardians of such child or children who are minors, and to the guardian of each adult incapacitated child or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

(c) If there be no surviving spouse, the allowance to the minor child or children shall be paid to the guardian or guardians of such minor child or children, and the allowance to each adult incapacitated child shall be paid to the guardian of the adult incapacitated child or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

(d) If there be a surviving spouse and no minor child or adult incapacitated child [children], the entire allowance shall be paid to the surviving spouse.

Sec. 292. MAY TAKE PROPERTY FOR FAMILY ALLOWANCE. The surviving spouse, [or] the guardian of the minor children, or the guardian of an adult incapacitated child or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian, as the case may be, shall have the right to take in payment of such allowance, or any part thereof, any of the personal property of the estate at its appraised value as shown by the appraisement; provided, however, that property specifically devised or bequeathed to another may be so taken, or may be sold to raise funds for the allowance as hereinafter provided, only if the other available property shall be insufficient to provide the allowance.

SECTION 1.04. The changes in law made by this article apply only to the estate of a decedent who dies on or after the effective date of this Act. The estate of a decedent who dies before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date of the decedent's death, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

ARTICLE 2. CHANGES TO ESTATES CODE

SECTION 2.01. Sections 353.051(a) and (b), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Unless an application and verified affidavit are filed as provided by Subsection (b), immediately after the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims of an estate are approved, the court by order shall set aside:

(1) the homestead for the use and benefit of the decedent's surviving spouse and minor children; and

(2) all other estate property that is exempt from execution or forced sale by the constitution and laws of this state for the use and benefit of the decedent's:

(A) surviving spouse and minor children; [and]

(B) unmarried adult children remaining with the decedent's family; and

(C) each other adult child who is incapacitated.

(b) Before the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims of an estate are approved:

(1) the decedent's surviving spouse or any other person authorized to act on behalf of the decedent's minor children may apply to the court to have exempt property, including the homestead, set aside by filing an application and a verified affidavit listing all property that the applicant claims is exempt; and

(2) any of the decedent's unmarried adult children remaining with the decedent's family, any other adult child of the decedent who is incapacitated, or a person who is authorized to act on behalf of the adult incapacitated child may apply to the court to have all exempt property, other than the homestead, set aside by filing an application and a verified affidavit listing all property, other than the homestead, that the applicant claims is exempt.

SECTION 2.02. Sections 353.052(b), (c), and (d), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, are amended to read as follows:

(b) If there is a surviving spouse and there are no children of the decedent, or if all the children, including any adult incapacitated children, of the decedent are also the children of the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator shall deliver all exempt property to the surviving spouse.

(c) If there is a surviving spouse and there are children of the decedent who are not also children of the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator shall deliver the share of those children in exempt property, other than the homestead, to:

(1) the children, if the children are of legal age; [or]

(2) the children's guardian, if the children are minors; or

(3) the guardian of each of the children who is an incapacitated adult, or to another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

(d) If there is no surviving spouse and there are children of the decedent, the executor or administrator shall deliver exempt property, other than the homestead, to:

(1) the children, if the children are of legal age; [or]

(2) the children's guardian, if the children are minors; or

(3) the guardian of each of the children who is an incapacitated adult, or to another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

SECTION 2.03. Section 353.053(b), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The allowance in lieu of a homestead may not exceed $15,000, and the allowance in lieu of other exempt property may not exceed $5,000, excluding the family allowance for the support of the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children provided by Subchapter C.

SECTION 2.04. Sections 353.054(b), (c), and (d), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, are amended to read as follows:

(b) If there is a surviving spouse and there are no children of the decedent, or if all the children, including any adult incapacitated children, of the decedent are also the children of the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator shall pay the entire allowance to the surviving spouse.

(c) If there is a surviving spouse and there are children of the decedent who are not also children of the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator shall pay the surviving spouse one-half of the entire allowance plus the shares of the decedent's children of whom the surviving spouse is the parent. The remaining shares must be paid to:

(1) the decedent's adult children of whom the surviving spouse is not a parent and who are not incapacitated; [or]

(2) the guardian of the children of whom the surviving spouse is not a parent and who [described by Subdivision (1), if those children] are minors; or

(3) the guardian or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, if there is no guardian, of each child who is an incapacitated adult.

(d) If there is no surviving spouse and there are children of the decedent, the executor or administrator shall divide the entire allowance equally among the children and pay the children's shares to:

(1) each of those [the] children who are adults and who are not incapacitated;

(2) the guardian of each [, if the children are of legal age, or, if any] of those [the] children who are minors; or

(3) the guardian or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, if there is no guardian, of each of those children who is an incapacitated adult[, pay the minor children's shares to the guardian of the minor children].

SECTION 2.05. Section 353.055(a), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a) An allowance in lieu of any exempt property shall be paid in the manner selected by the decedent's surviving spouse or children of legal age, or by the guardian of the decedent's minor children, or by the guardian of each adult incapacitated child or other appropriate person, as determined by the court, if there is no guardian, as follows:

(1) in money out of estate funds that come into the executor's or administrator's possession;

(2) in any of the decedent's property or a part of the property chosen by those individuals at the appraisement; or

(3) part in money described by Subdivision (1) and part in property described by Subdivision (2).

SECTION 2.06. Section 353.056(a), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a) On the written application of the decedent's surviving spouse and children, or of a person authorized to represent any of those children, the court shall order the sale of estate property for cash in an amount that will be sufficient to raise the amount of the allowance provided under Section 353.053 or a portion of that amount, as necessary, if:

(1) the decedent had no property that the surviving spouse or children are willing to take for the allowance or the decedent had insufficient property; and

(2) there are not sufficient estate funds in the executor's or administrator's possession to pay the amount of the allowance or a portion of that amount, as applicable.

SECTION 2.07. Section 353.101, Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 353.101. FAMILY ALLOWANCE. (a) Unless an application and verified affidavit are filed as provided by Subsection (b), immediately after the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims of an estate are approved, the court shall fix a family allowance for the support of the decedent's surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children.

(b) Before the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims of an estate are approved, the decedent's surviving spouse or any other person authorized to act on behalf of the decedent's minor children or adult incapacitated children may apply to the court to have the court fix the family allowance by filing an application and a verified affidavit describing:

(1) the amount necessary for the maintenance of the surviving spouse, [and] the decedent's minor children, and the decedent's adult incapacitated children for one year after the date of the decedent's death; and

(2) the surviving spouse's separate property and any property that the decedent's minor children or adult incapacitated children have in their own right.

(c) At a hearing on an application filed under Subsection (b), the applicant has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. The court shall fix a family allowance for the support of the decedent's surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children.

(d) A family allowance may not be made for:

(1) the decedent's surviving spouse, if the surviving spouse has separate property adequate for the surviving spouse's maintenance; [or]

(2) the decedent's minor children, if the minor children have property in their own right adequate for the children's maintenance; or

(3) any of the decedent's adult incapacitated children, if the adult incapacitated child has property in the person's own right adequate for the person's maintenance.

SECTION 2.08. Section 353.102(a), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The amount of the family allowance must be sufficient for the maintenance of the decedent's surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children for one year from the date of the decedent's death.

SECTION 2.09. Section 353.104, Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 353.104. PREFERENCE OF FAMILY ALLOWANCE. The family allowance made for the support of the decedent's surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children shall be paid in preference to all other debts of or charges against the estate, other than Class 1 claims.

SECTION 2.10. Sections 353.105(b), (c), (d), and (e), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, are amended to read as follows:

(b) If there is a surviving spouse and there are no minor children or adult incapacitated children of the decedent, the executor or administrator shall pay the entire family allowance to the surviving spouse.

(c) If there is a surviving spouse and all of the minor children and adult incapacitated children of the decedent are also the children of the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator shall pay the entire family allowance to the surviving spouse for use by the surviving spouse, [and] the decedent's minor children, and adult incapacitated children.

(d) If there is a surviving spouse and some or all of the minor children or adult incapacitated children of the decedent are not also children of the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator shall pay:

(1) the portion of the entire family allowance necessary for the support of those minor children to the guardian of those children; and

(2) the portion of the entire family allowance necessary for the support of each of those adult incapacitated children to the guardian of the adult incapacitated child or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

(e) If there is no surviving spouse and there are minor children or adult incapacitated children of the decedent, the executor or administrator shall pay the family allowance:

(1) for the minor children, to the guardian of those children; and

(2) for each adult incapacitated child, to the guardian of the adult incapacitated child or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian.

SECTION 2.11. The heading to Section 353.106, Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 353.106. SURVIVING SPOUSE, [OR] MINOR CHILDREN, OR ADULT INCAPACITATED CHILDREN MAY TAKE PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR FAMILY ALLOWANCE.

SECTION 2.12. Section 353.106(a), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A decedent's surviving spouse, [or] the guardian of the decedent's minor children, or the guardian of an adult incapacitated child of the decedent or another appropriate person, as determined by the court, on behalf of the adult incapacitated child if there is no guardian, as applicable, is entitled to take, at the property's appraised value as shown by the appraisement, any of the estate's personal property in full or partial payment of the family allowance.

SECTION 2.13. Section 353.107(a), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The court shall, as soon as the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims are returned and approved, order the sale of estate property for cash in an amount that will be sufficient to raise the amount of the family allowance, or a portion of that amount, as necessary, if:

(1) the decedent had no personal property that the surviving spouse, [or] the guardian of the decedent's minor children, or the guardian of the decedent's adult incapacitated child or other appropriate person acting on behalf of the adult incapacitated child is willing to take for the family allowance, or the decedent had insufficient personal property; and

(2) there are not sufficient estate funds in the executor's or administrator's possession to pay the amount of the family allowance or a portion of that amount, as applicable.

SECTION 2.14. Section 354.001(a), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a) If, after a personal representative of an estate has filed the inventory, appraisement, and list of claims as required by Chapter 309, it is established that the decedent's estate, excluding any homestead, exempt property, and family allowance to the decedent's surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children, does not exceed the amount sufficient to pay the claims against the estate classified as Classes 1 through 4 under Section 355.102, the representative shall:

(1) on order of the court, pay those claims in the order provided and to the extent permitted by the assets of the estate subject to the payment of those claims; and

(2) after paying the claims in accordance with Subdivision (1), present to the court the representative's account with an application for the settlement and allowance of the account.

SECTION 2.15. Sections 451.001(a) and (d), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, are amended to read as follows:

(a) If the value of the entire assets of an estate, excluding homestead and exempt property, does not exceed the amount to which the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children of the decedent are entitled as a family allowance, an application may be filed by or on behalf of the surviving spouse, [or] minor children, or adult incapacitated children requesting a court to make a family allowance and to enter an order that no administration of the decedent's estate is necessary.

(d) The application must also include a prayer that the court make a family allowance and that, if the family allowance exhausts the entire assets of the estate, excluding homestead and exempt property, the entire assets of the estate be set aside to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children, as with other family allowances provided for by Subchapter C, Chapter 353.

SECTION 2.16. Section 451.002(b), Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:

(b) On the hearing of the application, if the court finds that the facts contained in the application are true and that the expenses of last illness, funeral charges, and expenses of the proceeding have been paid or secured, the court shall:

(1) make a family allowance; and

(2) if the entire assets of the estate, excluding homestead and exempt property, are exhausted by the family allowance made under Subdivision (1):

(A) assign to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children the entire estate in the same manner and with the same effect as provided in Subchapter C, Chapter 353, for the making of a family allowance to the surviving spouse, [and] minor children, and adult incapacitated children; and

(B) order that there shall be no administration of the estate.

SECTION 2.17. The changes in law made to Sections 139, 140, 143, 271(a) and (b), 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 286, 287, 288, 290, 291, and 292, Texas Probate Code, by Article 1 of this Act are repealed.

SECTION 2.18. This article takes effect January 1, 2014.

ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 3.01. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2492 was passed by the House on May 11, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 3, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2492 was passed by the Senate on May 25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0 .

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor