Dear Texas,
Obey your parents. If there are no debts in the estate, no taxes AND no real estate, you may be able to avoid even the expense of probate by utilizing a small estate affidavit if such are used in the state of Texas. I advise you consult with an attorney in your state just to inquire if small estate affidavits are utilized there and if your situation qualifies for use of such......If it qualifies, honoring your parents wishes will be a breeze. However, if it does not qualify for a small estate affidavit to be utilized and there are debts and/or taxes to pay or there's real estate that needs to be conveyed, consult an attorney and proceed to probate....because if probate is necessary, your parents made it impossible for you to honor their wishes by failing to establish a better estate plan. Best wishes to you.
Answered on Oct 17th, 2012 at 9:53 PM