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We live in Texas and my Aunt passed away and left me executor of her Will and her POW. She has no property other than a van and less than $3,000 in her checking account (but she neglected to put me as beneficiary on the account). If I go through probate it will cost me approximately $3,000 for the attorney which is more than she has. Is there anyway around probate?

If you mean POA, that stops at death, then the Executor takes over.

Where I live, anything under 20k does not need to be probated. You would not need a lawyer for such a small estate. It depends on how her acct is written to determine if the money is yours. So...

First talk to the bank to see if the money is yours. If not, they may freeze the acct until you show them papers from Probate that you are executor.

Find out what the Van is worth. Once you do these two things, then you have info for Probate. I feel that you will just need to sign an affidavit declaring what the estate worth is. Hopefully its under 20k or whatever your State allows. At that point you do what you want with the van. If there are any outstanding bills, I may pay them. I know my exSIL took the money and ran when she found out from probate that she was under the 20k allowed. If her brother had any outstanding debts, I am sure they weren't paid.

No lawyer is needed for this estate.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Check with your county court.

Here is info from Harris County, which popped up in my quick google search.

https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/forms/I/I0222.pdf
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Reply to Frebrowser
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Contact the probate clerk. For small amounts there might be a short form. When my dad passed in MA, he had 1 stock worth $2000 without a beneficiery. Everything else was not subject to probate. The short form cost $65 . I helped my mother claim that she was the beneficery under state law. My brother and I did not bother to claim
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Reply to MACinCT
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Look online and see if Texas has a small succession affidavit.
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Reply to Southernwaver
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