What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Texas?

Many people assume they have plenty of time to create a will, but unexpected events can happen at any stage of life. When someone passes away without a valid will in Texas, their estate is handled according to state law—not personal wishes. This situation, known as dying intestate, can create confusion, delays, and unnecessary stress for surviving family members.

At ARC Legal Services, LLC, Attorney Arzoo Connor helps Fort Worth families understand how Texas intestate laws work and how creating a legally sound will can protect loved ones and preserve peace of mind.

What Does It Mean to Die Without a Will in Texas?

Dying without a will means you did not leave legal instructions explaining how your property, assets, and personal matters should be handled after your passing. When this happens, Texas law determines:

Who inherits your property
How much each heir receives
Who manages your estate
Who may care for minor children

Without guidance from a will, your estate may not be distributed according to your personal values or family dynamics.

How Texas Intestate Succession Laws Work

Texas intestate succession laws follow a strict order of inheritance. The outcome depends largely on your family situation at the time of death.

If You Are Married

If all children are shared with your spouse, your spouse typically inherits most or all of your estate.
If you have children from another relationship, your spouse and children may split assets, which can cause disputes and complications.

If You Are Single

Your estate may go to children, parents, siblings, or extended relatives.
Unmarried partners and close friends do not automatically inherit anything.

If You Have No Living Relatives

Your property could eventually be claimed by the State of Texas.

These laws are rigid and do not account for personal relationships, stepchildren, or long-term partners unless legally recognized.

What Happens to Minor Children Without a Will?

One of the most concerning consequences of dying without a will is the lack of direction regarding guardianship for minor children. Without your written wishes:

A court decides who may care for your children
Family disagreements may arise
The process can be emotionally difficult for loved ones

By working with ARC Legal Services, LLC, parents can ensure their intentions are clearly documented and legally enforceable.

The Probate Process Without a Will

When there is no will, probate often becomes more complicated and time-consuming. The court must appoint an administrator to manage the estate, pay debts, and distribute assets.

This can result in:

Longer court involvement
Higher legal and administrative costs
Increased emotional strain for family members

A properly prepared will helps streamline probate and reduces uncertainty during an already difficult time.

Why a Will Is So Important for Texas Residents

Creating a will allows you to:

Decide who receives your property
Choose a trusted person to handle your estate
Provide clear instructions for your family
Reduce conflict and confusion

Attorney Arzoo Connor of ARC Legal Services, LLC works closely with clients in Fort Worth to draft wills that reflect their goals and comply with Texas law.

How ARC Legal Services, LLC Can Help

At ARC Legal Services, LLC, clients receive personalized attention and clear guidance throughout the will-creation process. Attorney Arzoo Connor focuses on building documents that provide clarity, reduce disputes, and give families confidence about the future.

Whether you are creating your first will or updating an existing one, having proper legal support ensures your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected.

Take Control of Your Legacy Today

If you do not have a will—or if your circumstances have changed—it may be time to take action. Creating a will now can save your family from unnecessary hardship later.

📞 Call ARC Legal Services, LLC at 469-848-4151 to schedule a consultation and learn how a properly prepared will can protect your future and your family.

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His Record Was Expunged. He Thought He Was Fine. He Wasn't.

By Arzoo Connor • March 4, 2026

I've had this conversation more times than I can count. Someone comes in, stressed, and walks me through their situation. They had a run-in with the law a couple of years back. Nothing major, they say. They hired a criminal attorney, took a plea deal, got the records expunged. Their attorney told them they were good. Their family told them they were good. They even found someone in a Facebook group who went through the same thing and came out fine. So they moved on. Until a green card application came up, or a renewal, or a petition for a family member. Now they're sitting across from me. And I have to tell them the thing nobody told them before: expungement means nothing in immigration court. The look is always the same. Disbelief, then the slow weight of what that actually means. Two Systems. Two Very Different Rules. Here's what a lot of people don't know, and honestly, what a lot of criminal attorneys don't fully think about either. The criminal justice system and the immigration system are separate. Completely. What fixes your record in one does not fix it in the other. When a criminal record gets expunged, the state is saying it didn't happen. You can say no on job applications. It won't show on most background checks. That matters and it's a real relief. But immigration law runs on federal rules. And under those rules, that arrest, that plea, that conviction it still happened. USCIS can see it. An immigration judge can weigh it. Depending on the charge, it can affect a visa application, a green card, even whether someone ends up in removal proceedings. It is not a technicality. It is just how these two systems work. And not knowing it can cost someone everything. The Case I Keep Thinking About I'll walk you through a real situation. Details are changed, but the facts are ones I see all the time. A client came to me after being arrested a few years earlier for possession of a weapon. Not a U.S. citizen. His criminal attorney was good, got him a plea deal, record got expunged. Case closed. Nobody brought in an immigration attorney because from the criminal side, there was nothing left to do. Then he went to apply for his green card. That charge came up. And because of how immigration law handles weapons offenses, it created a real problem. One that would have been a lot easier to deal with, maybe even avoidable, if I had been in the room before he signed that plea. This is something I want people to hear: I work with criminal attorneys regularly . When I get involved before a plea is entered, we can sometimes push for a lower charge, or frame the plea in a way that does less damage on the immigration side. Not every time. But enough times that it matters. And that difference is someone staying here with their kids or not. Once the plea is signed, the options get a lot harder. You work with what's there. Why This Keeps Happening I'm not blaming criminal attorneys. Most of them are good at their job. But immigration law moves fast, the rules keep changing, and it is hard to track unless it is all you do. They are focused on the criminal case. That is what they should be focused on. The problem is nobody thinks to ask. When you're scared and just arrested, you call a criminal attorney. That is the right move. But if you are not a U.S. citizen, you need to tell that attorney immediately. And a good criminal attorney, when they hear that, should call someone like me before advising you on any deal. Then there is social media. I cannot tell you how many people come in after reading a post from someone who swears their expungement cleared everything for immigration too. Maybe that person's charge was different. Maybe their status was different. Maybe they just got lucky and don't know it yet. Immigration cases are not the same. What worked for one person can absolutely wreck another. What to Do If This Sounds Familiar If you are not a U.S. citizen and you have a criminal record, even something minor, even something expunged, even something dismissed, talk to an immigration attorney before you file anything. Don't assume it was taken care of. Find out for sure. If you are dealing with criminal charges right now, tell your criminal attorney you have immigration concerns. Ask them to get on the phone with an immigration attorney before you accept any deal. Any attorney who takes their job seriously will do that without hesitation. And if someone in a group chat or a comment thread told you your expungement fixed your immigration situation, please don't treat that as legal advice. Come in and let us actually look at your case. One Conversation Can Change a Lot I do this work because it is personal to me. My family came here in 1996. I became a citizen in the middle of my first year of law school. Everyone in my office has been through their own version of this process. We know what is actually at stake for the people who sit across from us. My consultations run 45 minutes to 1 hour. I go through every option, what it costs, what the timeline looks like, what the risks are. If I can't help you, I will tell you straight and explain why. I turn people away regularly. But at least they leave knowing exactly where they stand. It costs $50 to come in. If you have a criminal matter in your past and an immigration case anywhere in your future, that is a conversation worth having now , not when something has already gone wrong. Ready to talk? Call ARC Legal Services (469) 200-0158 or reach out online. We respond the same day.