What actually happens when a family has to go through probate in Texas?

In this episode of The Wealth Transfer Podcast, Matt Templeton sits down with Linda Ham, estate planning and probate attorney at Glast, Phillips, Murray & Zopolsky, to talk through the probate process, wills, trusts, inherited property, and the common mistakes that can make an estate much harder to settle.

Linda explains what probate is, when it is required, how long it can take, and why having a will is only one part of the planning process. She also breaks down what happens when someone dies without a will, why a trust must actually be funded to work, and how real estate can create complications when title was never properly transferred.

This conversation also covers letters testamentary, muniment of title, affidavits of heirship, transfer-on-death planning, executor responsibilities, probate timelines, lost wills, intestacy, and why organizing documents before death can save families time, money, and stress.

Whether you are preparing your own estate plan, helping aging parents get organized, or dealing with inherited property after a death, this episode offers a practical look at what families need to understand about probate and estate planning in Texas.

📅 Book a Free Strategy Session with Real Estate Wealth Advisor, Matt Templeton: https://calendly.com/templeton/strate...

Connect with Linda Ham at Glast Phillips Murray Zopolsky:

📞 972-419-7132

🌐 www.gpmz-law.com

📧 LHam@gpmz-law.com

🧭 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

[00:03] Why the Original Will Matters and What Happens If It Is Lost

[00:05] Why a Surviving Spouse May Not Fully Own the House Without Probate

[00:07] What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Probate a Will

[00:08] Payable-on-Death Accounts and Beneficiary Designations Can Override the Estate Plan

[00:11] The Basic Probate Process in Texas

[00:18] What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will

[00:21] You May Not Need the Estate Planning Tool You Think You Need

[00:23] Common Misconceptions About Trusts, Probate, and Property Ownership

[00:27] Muniment of Title Explained

[00:29] How Texas Determines Heirs When There Is No Will

[00:31] Affidavits of Heirship

[00:34] Probate Timelines and What Can Speed Up or Slow Down the Process

[00:38] What an Executor Is Responsible For

[00:44] What to Bring to an Attorney After a Death

[00:46] Why Organization, Passwords, Account Lists, and Original Documents Matter

[00:47] Final Advice: Get the Will Done, Fund the Trust, and Use a Texas Probate Professional

What happens when a business owner knows they need to transition someday, but hasn’t figured out who should take over, what should happen next, or how to protect the relationships involved?

In this episode of The Wealth Transfer Podcast, Matt Templeton sits down with Elizabeth Ledoux, founder of The Transition Strategists, and Laura Chiesman, Managing Partner and Financial Advisor at Savant Wealth, to talk about business succession, family enterprise planning, and the people side of transition.

Elizabeth and Laura explain why successful transitions require more than legal documents, financial projections, or a sale price. They require clarity around why the transition matters, what is being transferred, who should be involved, when different responsibilities should move, and how the next chapter should be funded and structured.

This conversation also covers Transition 3.0, successor readiness, family business communities, spouses and children in the transition process, family offices, charitable planning, liquidity events, and why business owners should make time their friend long before they are ready to exit.

Whether you own a family business, manage a family enterprise, are preparing the next generation, or are simply trying to understand what life after the business could look like, this episode offers a practical look at how to build a transition roadmap that protects both wealth and relationships.

📅 Book a Free Strategy Session with Real Estate Wealth Advisor, Matt Templeton: https://calendly.com/templeton/strate...

Connect with Laura Chiesman & Savant Wealth

📧 lchiesman@savantwealth.com

📞 (321) 773-7773

🌐 SavantWealth.com

Connect with Elizabeth Ledoux & The Transition Strategists

📧 elizabeth@transitionstrategists.com

🌐 TransitionStrategists.com

Elizabeth is offering listeners a free electronic copy of the second edition of It’s A Journey: The MUST-HAVE Roadmap to Successful Succession Planning. Click HERE to request YOUR FREE DIGITAL COPY.

🧭 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

[00:00] Why Business Transition Planning Is About More Than Selling or Stepping Away

[00:05] Transition 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0: Why Successors Need a Voice in the Process

[00:07] How to Protect Relationships During a Business Transition

[00:08] The Objectives Matrix and Finding the Family’s Collective “Why”

[00:12] What Happens When the Next Generation Has a Different Vision for the Business

[00:15] What It Means to Be a “100 Percenter” in Succession Planning

[00:17] Why Financial Clarity Helps Owners Become More Generous and Open-Minded

[00:20] The Relationships Business Owners Must Consider: Family, Team, Clients, Community, and Self

[00:24] How Early Business Owners Should Start Planning Their Transition

[00:27] Common Mistakes Owners Make When Planning in a Vacuum

[00:30] The Big Six Questions Every Owner Should Ask Before Transitioning

[00:35] Charitable Giving, Foundations, and Donor-Advised Funds in Planning

[00:38] Family Business Community vs. Family Community

[00:48] Planning for Transitions When There Is No Family Successor

[00:50] Why the Planning Process Matters as Much as the Plan

[00:55] How Practice Runs Can Prepare Heirs Before a Major Liquidity Event

[00:58] Final Advice: Start Early, Be Intentional, and Make Time Your Friend

What if your estate plan is technically complete, but still leaves your family confused, frustrated, or fighting after you’re gone?

In this episode of The Wealth Transfer Podcast, Matt Templeton sits down with Aubrey Boswell, estate planning attorney and founder of Boswell PLLC, to talk about wills, trusts, probate, family conflict, legacy planning, and how to create an estate plan that actually works when your family needs it most.

Aubrey explains why estate planning is about more than documents. It is about making clear decisions, protecting your family from unnecessary court involvement, avoiding preventable conflict, and giving the next generation clarity around both your assets and your values.

This conversation also covers revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, family loans, co-executors, no-contest clauses, professional trustees, transfer-on-death deeds, and why family meetings can be one of the most valuable parts of the planning process.

Whether you are creating your first estate plan, updating an old one, helping aging parents think through their next steps, or trying to prevent future conflict among heirs, this episode offers a practical look at how thoughtful estate planning can protect both wealth and relationships.

📅 Book a Free Strategy Session with Real Estate Wealth Advisor, Matt Templeton: https://calendly.com/templeton/strate...

Connect with Aubrey Boswell & Boswell PLLC

📞 469.518.9299

📧 aubrey@boswellpllc.com

🌐 www.boswellpllc.com

🧭 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

[00:04] What Goes Into a Core Estate Plan Beyond Just a Will

[00:05] Legacy Planning: Passing Down Values, Not Just Assets

[00:08] How Inheritance Can Help or Hurt the Next Generation

[00:13] Why Families Fight After Death and How to Plan Ahead

[00:14] Why Family Loans Should Be Documented Clearly

[00:16] The Problem With Naming All Children as Co-Executors or Co-Trustees

[00:24] Revocable Trusts Explained and Why Probate Takes Longer Than Many People Expect

[00:28] Transfer-on-Death Deeds and When They May or May Not Be Enough

[00:30] Irrevocable Trusts, Asset Protection, and Legacy Gift Trusts

[00:36] Why No-Contest Clauses May Not Prevent Family Fights

[00:42] Family Meetings and the Value of Discussing the Plan Before Death

[00:55] Conservation Easements, Ag Exemptions, and Planning for Large Land Assets

[00:56] When It May Make Sense to Use a Professional Executor or Trustee

[01:00] Why the Right Advisor Matters More Than Just Having Documents