Fort Bend County judge admits wills, appoints executors and administrators, releases estate funds

Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 1 on a Wednesday heard a slate of probate matters, admitting multiple wills, appointing independent executors and administrators to serve without bond, determining heirs in an intestate matter and ordering the release of funds held in the court registry.

The court’s actions cleared estate administration steps that will allow executors or administrators to settle debts, sell property and administer distributions. Several filings also waived appraisals and bonds, and the court awarded attorney fees in two matters.

In the matter of the estate of Don Victor Benskin (case no. '24 CPR 041936), the court admitted a will dated Oct. 16, 1998, and appointed John Floyd Nichols Jr. as independent executor to serve without bond; appraisers were waived. The judge recorded that Nichols had testified to proof of death, identified the will and recognized the signature. The judge stated that the court “will admit the will and the probate and appoint Mr. Nichols as independent executor to serve without bond, and appraisers will also be waived.”

In the estate of Claudia Ann Betting (case no. '24 CPR 041921), James Brian Medding testified as…