84R8252 MTB-F
 
  By: Naishtat H.B. No. 3136
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of a small estate affidavit to distribute
  certain intestate estates.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 205.002, Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 205.002.  AFFIDAVIT REQUIREMENTS. (a) An affidavit
  filed under Section 205.001 must:
               (1)  be sworn to by:
                     (A)  two disinterested witnesses;
                     (B)  each distributee of the estate who has legal
  capacity; and
                     (C)  if warranted by the facts, the natural
  guardian or next of kin of any minor distributee or the guardian of
  any other incapacitated distributee;
               (2)  show the existence of the conditions prescribed by
  Sections 205.001(1), (2), and (3); and
               (3)  include:
                     (A)  a list of all known estate assets and
  liabilities;
                     (B)  the name and address of each distributee; and
                     (C)  the relevant family history facts concerning
  heirship that show each distributee's right to receive estate money
  or other property or to have any evidence of money, property, or
  other right of the estate as is determined to exist transferred to
  the distributee as an heir or assignee.
         (b)  A list of all known estate assets under Subsection
  (a)(3)(A) must indicate which assets the applicant claims are
  exempt.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 205, Estates Code, is amended by adding
  Section 205.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 205.009.  CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN REFERENCES. A
  reference in this chapter to "homestead" or "exempt property" means
  only a homestead or other exempt property that would be eligible to
  be set aside under Section 353.051 if the decedent's estate was
  being administered.
         SECTION 3.  Section 205.009, Estates Code, as added by this
  Act, applies to the estate of a decedent that is pending on or after
  the effective date of this Act, regardless of the decedent's date of
  death.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.