By: Watson S.B. No. 1048

(In the Senate - Filed March 1, 2007; March 14, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; April 2, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 2, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1048 By: Watson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the inheritance rights of certain parents.

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

SECTION 1. Section 41, Texas Probate Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) Parent-Child Relationship. A probate court in its discretion may declare that the parent of a child may not inherit from or through the child under the laws of descent and distribution if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that grounds described by Section 161.001(1), Family Code, existed for the involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship before the death of the child. On determination that the parent of a child may not inherit from or through the child, the parent shall be treated as if the parent predeceased the child for purposes of inheritance under the laws of descent and distribution.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to the estate of a person who dies on or after the effective date of this Act. An estate of a person who dies before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect on the date of the person's death, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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