Bill Text: TX HB705 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to access to a financial institution account of a person who dies intestate.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-29 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB705 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB705-Engrossed.html
  84R18065 CLG-F
 
  By: Farrar H.B. No. 705
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to access to a financial institution account of a person
  who dies intestate.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Estates Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 153 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 153. ACCESS TO INTESTATE'S ACCOUNT WITH FINANCIAL
  INSTITUTION
         Sec. 153.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Account" has the meaning assigned by Section
  113.001.
               (2)  "Financial institution" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 201.101, Finance Code.
               (3)  "P.O.D. account" and "trust account" have the
  meanings assigned by Section 113.004.
         Sec. 153.002.  INAPPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter
  does not apply to:
               (1)  an account with a beneficiary designation;
               (2)  a P.O.D. account; 
               (3)  a trust account; or
               (4)  an account that provides for a right of
  survivorship.
         Sec. 153.003.  COURT-ORDERED ACCESS TO INTESTATE'S ACCOUNT
  INFORMATION. (a) In this section, "interested person" means an
  heir, spouse, creditor, or any other having a property right in or
  claim against the decedent's estate.
         (b)  On application of an interested person or on the court's
  own motion, a court may issue an order requiring a financial
  institution to release to the person named in the order information
  concerning the balance of each account that is maintained at the
  financial institution of a decedent who dies intestate if:
               (1)  90 days have elapsed since the date of the
  decedent's death; 
               (2)  no petition for the appointment of a personal
  representative for the decedent's estate is pending; and
               (3)  no letters testamentary or of administration have
  been granted with respect to the estate. 
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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