Chambers County probate judge admits multiple wills, appoints executors and grants 30‑day extension in one estate

A Chambers County probate court sitting remotely admitted multiple wills, appointed independent administrators and executors and granted a 30‑day extension of temporary administration in one estate during a docket that consumed several hours of testimony on domiciles, wills and heirship.

Court witnesses swore under oath that the decedents had Chambers County domiciles and that the will documents presented were authentic. Dorothy Jean Stanford testified she and the other heirs agreed it was in the estate’s best interest for her to serve as independent administrator for the estate of Roy Stanford Jr., who died Sept. 24, 2021, at age 74. After hearing testimony, the judge approved a judgment declaring heirship and granted independent administration for that estate.

Counsel told the court a separate estate — that of Kathleen Ann Babcock, who died Sept. 9, 2024 — required a successor independent administrator because the appointed administrator is incapacitated and in hospice. The court appointed Bradford Ellen Robick (who identified herself on the record) as successor independent administrator and authorized the requested waivers common in non‑taxable estates.

In another matter, counsel said an IRS issue required converting a previously admitted muniment of title into an independent administration and issuing letters testamentary for the estate of Karen Gallier. The court set aside the earlier muniment‑of‑title order and authorized letters testamentary so the estate can address the tax issue and related administration tasks.

The court admitted to probate a 2000 will for the estate of Billy Janelle Harvey and appointed James Glenn Harvey as independent executor to serve without bond, and it admitted the holographic (handwritten) will of Larry Reedy and approved co‑appointments for Jeff and Dan Reedy as co independent executors. The court also admitted wills and authorized letters in other estates where witnesses verified signatures and the absence of post‑execution children or intervening marriages.

Counsel for the estate of Lawrence (Larry) Baron asked the court for an extension so the temporary administrator could continue to access business and personal accounts and to complete litigation and settlement matters related to the decedent’s business. After counsel described ongoing federal litigation and the near‑completion of paperwork to convert to a permanent independent administration, the judge granted a 30‑day extension, saying, “Then I’m gonna approve the motion to extend temporary administration, for 30 days.” The matter was continued to the next docket after that period.

Several small‑estate affidavits and uncontested matters were also proved and approved. The written property details and asset values were provided on the record in at least one matter (a Baytown property listed at 1911 Lafayette Lane, described as belonging to a decedent’s estate and valued in excess of $200,000). In other cases counsel asked the court to waive appraisers and issue letters testamentary for nontaxable estates.

The court dismissed parties after each matter and set future docket dates where necessary. For the case in which the temporary administration was extended, counsel said the parties expected to file permanent independent administration paperwork within weeks and return on the new docket if necessary.