Chambers County judge admits multiple wills to probate, appoints executors and administrators

A Chambers County judge on the probate docket admitted multiple wills to probate and appointed executors or independent administrators in a series of uncontested estate matters.

The judge opened the hearing by swearing in witnesses and addressing technical matters before moving through the docket. Attorney Scott Renick identified himself "on behalf of the estate," and several applicants and witnesses testified under oath about decedents' domiciles, marital histories and whether wills existed.

In one matter, counsel presented a 1983 will for Philip Stanley Merin and Stacy Lee Hardison testified she possessed the filed will and had not seen it revoked; the court admitted the will to probate and authorized letters testamentary. In another case, petitioner Lee Eric Anderson was sworn and testified that Lawrence (Jeffrey) Baron died Dec. 17, 2023, was domiciled in Winnie, Chambers County, and that no will was found after a diligent search; the court appointed Anderson as independent administrator to collect and distribute the decedent's assets.

Other rulings included admission of a will for Dennis W. Ferguson (will dated April 4, 1991) with the court asked to waive appraisers and appoint Frell Ferguson as administrator with will annexed; admission of Kenneth W. Perryman's will (Feb. 17, 2023) and issuance of letters testamentary to Nancy A. Perryman without bond; and admission of a handwritten will for Steven Tallet dated Sept. 26, 2014 after witnesses confirmed handwriting and signature.

The court also admitted the 2023 will of Katherine Sue Larrison, which names grandchildren Bret Wayne Fier and Harley David McBride as heirs, and appointed the named independent executive to serve without bond. In the final matter, the will of Maryanne E. Porter (executed Jan. 8, 2001) was admitted; the judge issued letters testimonial to Rodney Earl Porter and Carl Morgan Porter as co-executors for an estate the attorneys described as under $1 million.

Throughout the docket attorneys confirmed that nominees were qualified to serve, that no children had been born or adopted after the dates of the wills (when relevant), and that no state agencies or charities were named as devisees in the presented instruments. Where waivers were filed by heirs, counsel asked the court to permit administration without bond; the judge repeatedly accepted those requests and in at least one instance stated, "No, I'm just going to put zero bond." (Judge)

The court granted the submitted orders, authorized letters or letters testamentary in the cases presented, and in at least one matter waived appraisers. The docket record shows the court concluded the calendar and adjourned following the final admission and issuance of letters.

The filings and testimony on the record establish the admissions and appointments; where dates of death, will dates and domicile were given on the record those particulars are noted in this summary. The court did not take contested testimony or record any adversarial argument on the matters heard.

Next steps for the estates are administrative: issuance of letters, collection and distribution of assets per the wills or statutory heirs and any required inventories or lists of claims.