Under Texas law, when a person dies with a will a small estate affidavit is not allowed as an alternative to probate.

Q: My sister passed away and named me as the beneficiary and executor in her will. She owned nothing. The only asset is a life insurance policy payable to her estate for $1,500. My lawyer told me not to bother probating her will, as it would cost $3,500, far more than the policy is worth. Can I do the probate myself, or is there some other low-cost process for small estates in Texas?

A: You could try to do the probate yourself, but even if you can figure out what to do, most courts in Texas will not allow you to proceed without an attorney.

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A simpler small estate affidavit is not available because........

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