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Court admits wills, appoints executors and a guardian in a series of probate and guardianship hearings
Summary
Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 1 admitted several wills, appointed independent executors without bond, and appointed a guardian for a minor; the court also awarded attorney and guardian-ad-litem fees and authorized deposit of potential minor funds into the court registry.
Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 1 handled a batch of probate and guardianship matters on its docket Wednesday, admitting wills, appointing independent executors without bond in multiple estates, and naming a guardian for a 15-year-old.
The court admitted the last wills and, where applicable, codicils into probate and appointed independent executors to serve without bond, waiving appraisers where requested. The court also appointed Robert Drew as guardian of the person for 15-year-old Veronica Brown, allowed parties to deposit any funds that may come to the minor into the court’s registry, and awarded statutory or requested fees to attorneys and the guardian ad litem.
Votes at a glance
- Estate of Thomas Jesse May Sr. (Case 25 CPR 042041): The court admitted a will dated July 2017 and an August 2021 codicil and appointed Ashley Ruth May as independent executrix to serve without bond; appraisers waived. Judge extended condolences to the family.
- Estate of Jean Marilyn Schwecky (Case 25 CPR 040200/304): The will dated March 6, 2024, was admitted; Jacqueline Ann Ultramari was appointed independent executrix to serve without bond; appraisers waived.
- Estate of William Albert Tuthill Jr. (Case 24 CPR 041867): The court admitted the will dated Oct. 15, 1993, and appointed Pamela Tuthill Taylor as successor independent executrix to serve without bond, waiving appraisers.
- Estate of Clara M. Pena (Case 24 CPR 041305): The will was admitted and Mimi Penn Lamons was appointed independent administrator; a necessity for administration was found and appraisers waived.
- Estate of Andrea Steersman (Case 24 CPR 040950): After testimony including witnesses Ryan J. Maine and attorney Stephen Mendel, the court found a necessity for administration and appointed Kelly Steersman as independent administrator. The court also approved a fee of $968 to the attorney who assisted with the heirship matter.
- Guardianship of Veronica Brown (Case 23 CPR 038935): The court appointed Robert Drew guardian of the person of Veronica Brown (age 15). The judge found guardianship for a person (by reason of minority) was warranted and ordered that, as an alternative to appointing a guardian of the estate, any funds that may be payable to the minor (including a thrift savings plan and small savings) may be deposited into the court registry. The court awarded fees to counsel and the guardian ad litem and set a small bond requirement for the guardian.
In several probate matters the court noted the decedents were domiciled in Fort Bend County, that no subsequent revocations of wills had been shown, and that there were no charities or state agencies named as devisees. The court repeated standard probate practice: wills were admitted to probate, executors named in the documents were appointed to serve without bond where requested, and appraisers were waived when estate circumstances and testimony supported waiver.
The court also ordered that counsel file required documents (oaths, proof of death) and said signed orders and letters would be issued shortly.
Court awards and administrative notes: The court awarded attorney and guardian-ad-litem fees on the record (examples: $968; $723; $894.24 were spoken on the record for various appointments) and instructed counsel on filing annual reports where guardianships were appointed.
