Sec. 13.16.555. Penalty clause for contest.
A provision in a will purporting to penalize any interested person for contesting the will or instituting other proceedings relating to the estate is unenforceable if probable cause exists for instituting proceedings.
Sec. 13.16.560. Distribution in kind; valuation; method.
(a) Unless a contrary intention is indicated by the will, the distributable assets of a decedent’s estate shall be distributed in kind to the extent possible through application of the following provisions: (1) a specific devisee is entitled to distribution of the thing devised, and a spouse or child who has selected particular assets of […]
Sec. 13.16.535. Successors’ rights if no administration.
In the absence of administration, the heirs and devisees are entitled to the estate in accordance with the terms of a probated will or the laws of intestate succession. Devisees may establish title by the probated will to devised property. Persons entitled to property by homestead allowance, exemption, or intestacy may establish title to it […]
Sec. 13.16.540. Distribution; order in which assets appropriated; abatement.
(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section and except as provided in connection with the share of the surviving spouse who elects to take an elective share, shares of distributees abate, without any preference or priority as between real and personal property, in the following order: (1) property not disposed of by the […]
Sec. 13.16.545. Right of retainer.
The amount of a noncontingent indebtedness of a successor to the estate if due, or its present value if not due, shall be offset against the successor’s interest; but the successor has the benefit of any defense that would be available to the successor in a direct proceeding for recovery of the debt.