October Highlights
(Details in table below)
Introducing Norris Modern Wills
The original Wills volume has been replaced with Norris Modern Wills, designed by Joel Norris, board certified in Estate Planning and Probate. Watch a quick video to see how efficient this new volume can make your practice. To learn more, view this summary.
Probate
- Applications and Orders to Probate a Will — built out to allow for a Will written in a foreign language
- New Motion and Order to Alter Time Limits Regarding Translation of Foreign Language Document
- New Affidavit and Declaration of Translation of Foreign Document
- All applications — new option for additional explanation if Decedent’s identifying information is unknown
Family Law
- New Notice of Trial
- New Ten-Day Notice of Withdrawal Letter to Client
- More forms with service options “wherever he/she may be found”
- Request De Novo Hearing — expanded for more types of cases
Civil Litigation
- Motion for Substituted Service — added optional Certificate of Service and Notice of Hearing for cases with additional parties
Landlord/Tenant
- FE&D Answer — added verification, improved language in prayer, modified for specific affirmative defenses
Select a practice area below to see a complete list of updates:
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 9.02 | Limited Partnership Agreement | Minor formatting issues |
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 5.03 | Motion for Substituted Service (TRCP 106) | Added optional Certificate of Service and Notice of Hearing for cases with other parties/counsel. |
| 49.24 | Affidavit or Declaration - Atty's Proof of Mailing Notice of Foreign Judgment | Improved assembly of form to make it clear that a caption is included if a new cause number has been assigned by the Clerk. Also added option for online notary signature or an unsworn declaration, and changed title in table of contents. |
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 10.09 | Temporary Orders for Modification of SAPCR | Automatically default order for supervised visitation if prohibited access or supervised visitation is requested. |
| 18.40 | Notice of Trial | New form |
| 19.10 | Answer to Application for Protective Order | Updated form to use new PO caption and coding, removed inapplicable language and questions |
| 20.05 | Notice of Subpoena Requesting Production From a Nonparty | Improved language in last paragraph for clarity. |
| 21.05 | Written Interrogatories | Added interrogatory for proposed division of assets and debts. |
| 24.05 | Request De Novo Hearing | Expanded for more types of cases |
| 25.15 | 10 Day Notice of Withdrawal Letter to Client | New form |
| 29.02 | Income Withholding for Support | Added lines for judge signature and date of judge's signature |
| 29.09 | Order Terminating or Modifying Withholding | Fixed issue with missing client question for SAPCR |
| 38.02 | Petition to Challenge Acknowledgment of Paternity | Narrowed options to focus of form |
| 40.05 | Respondent's [Special Appearance and] Original Answer - Termination | Improved coding to delete special appearance language if not selected. |
| 43.03 | Original Petition for Child's Name Change | Added option to include "or wherever [name] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 44.06 | Petition in Intervention in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship | Added option to include "or wherever [name] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 44.12 | Authorization Agreement for Nonparent Adult Caregiver (Sec. 34.002) | Added Family Code section to title to make form easier to find. |
| 45.05 | Petition for Removal of Disabilities of Minority | Added option to include "or wherever [he/she/name] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 45.14 | Original Petition for Court-Ordered Support for Disabled Child | Added option to include "or wherever [name] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 45.20 | Original Petition for Bill of Review | Added option to include "or wherever [he/she] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 45.29 | Petition for Declaratory Judgment | Added option to include "or wherever [he/she] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 47.08 | [Petition - Motion] to Compel Arbitration | Added option to include "or wherever [he/she] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 50.01 | Original Petition for Post-Decree Division of Property | Added option to include "or wherever [name] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| 50.02 | Original Petition for Post-Decree Qualified Domestic Relations Order | Added option to include "or wherever [name] may be found" to service of citation and language in prayer if cited |
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 2.01 | Application for Appointment of Guardian | Improved coding for address of Ward's spouse |
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 1.05 | Retail Lease | Resolved calculation issue when user erroneously enters "0 sqare feet" |
| 6.02 | FE&D Answer | Added verification, improved language in prayer, and replaced standard litigation affirmative defenses with FE&D specific affirmative defenses. |
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 1.02 | Letter to Client Confirming Representation | Improved formatting of the Texas Lawyer's Creed. |
| 5.29 | Application for Access to Financial Records (Sec. 153.003) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 6.01 | Application for Probate of Will - Independent Executor (Sec. 401.001) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.01 | Application for Probate of Will - Independent Executor (Sec. 401.001) | Added optional explanation if identifying information for decedent is not known |
| 6.02 | Order Admitting Will to Probate (Sec. 401.001) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.03 | Order Admitting Will to Probate (Sec. 254.006) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.03 | Application for Probate of Will - Ind. Executor by Agreement (Sec. 401.002a) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.03 | Application for Probate of Will - Ind. Executor by Agreement (Sec. 401.002a) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 6.04 | Order Admitting Will to Probate (Sec. 401.002a) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.05 | Application for Probate of Will Inc. Administrator by Agreement (Sec. 401.002b) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.05 | Application for Probate of Will Ind. Administrator by Agreement (Sec. 401.002b) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 6.06 | Order Admitting Will to Probate (Sec. 401.002b) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.07 | Application for Probate of Will - Designated Administrator (Sec. 254.006) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 6.07 | Application for Probate of Will - Designated Administrator (Sec. 254.006) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 7.01 | Application for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary (Dependent) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 7.01 | Application for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary (Dependent) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 7.02 | Order Admitting Will to Probate and Granting Letters Testamentary (Dependent) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 8.01 | Application for Letters of Dependent Administration (Intestate) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 8.03 | Combined Application to Determine Heirship Letters of Administration (Intestate) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 8.05 | Combined Application to Determine Heirship & Letters of Indep. Admin (Intestate) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 8.07 | Application for Letters of Indep. Admin. by Agreement (Sec 401.003) (Intestate) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 9.01 | Application for Temporary Administration | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 10.01 | Application for Probate of Will as Muniment of Title | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 10.01 | Application for Probate of Will as Muniment of Title | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 10.03 | Order Admitting Will to Probate as Muniment of Title | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 11.01 | Application for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration (Dependent) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 11.01 | Application for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration (Dependent) | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 11.02 | Order Admitting Will to Probate and for Letters of Administration (Dependent) | Added provision for foreign language Will. |
| 12.01 | Application to Determine Heirship | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 12.02 | Affidavit Concerning Identity of Heirs (for filing in real property records) | Added optional relationship of disinterested witness to Decedent. |
| 14.02 | Application for Ancillary Probate of Foreign Will-Issuance Letters Testamentary | Added the Optional explanation for why social security number and/or driver's license number is unknown |
| 35.40 | Affidavit or Declaration of Translation of Foreign Language Document | New Form |
| 35.41 | Motion to Alter Time Limits Regarding Translation of Foreign Language Document | New Form |
| 35.42 | Order on Motion to Alter Time Limits RE Translation of Foreign Language Document | New Form |
| Menu # | Title | Details |
| 1.01 | Blank Modern Intake | New Form |
| 1.02 | Confirmation of Client Information | New form |
| 1.02 | Confirmation of Spouse's Information | New form |
| 1.05 | Flat Fee Agreement | Updated to new standards and to work smoothly with the rest of the forms in the volume |
| 1.07 | Mutual Representation Consent Agreement | Moved to chapter 1, modified title, combined notary, updated to current standards |
| 1.12 | Closing Letter | New form (based off of Exit Letters for AEP) |
| 2.02 | Modern Will | Includes more options for beneficiaries of residue of the estate, including listing beneficiaries with fractional shares |
| 2.02 | Modern Will | Co-guardians built out for smoother language |
| 2.02 | Modern Will | New form |
| 2.05 | Will Signing Ceremony | Added Notary Log |
| 2.08 | Codicil to Modern Will | Improved assembly relating to signatures for witnesses. |
| 2.08 | Spouse's Codicil to Modern Will | Improved assembly relating to signatures for witnesses. |
| 2.08 | Spouse's Codicil to Will | New form |
| 2.08 | Codicil to Modern Will | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 4.02 | Durable Power of Attorney (Not Statutory) | Made example of agent's signature line style instead of block style. |
| 4.02 | Spouse's Durable Power of Attorney (Not Statutory) | Made example of agent's signature line style instead of block style. |
| 4.05 | Medical Power of Attorney | Moved witness signatures to their respective witness statements |
| 4.05 | Medical Power of Attorney and Designation of Health Care Agent | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 4.06 | Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 4.07 | Statutory Declaration of Guardian | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 4.08 | Statutory Declaration for Mental Health Treatment | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 4.09 | Declaration Regarding Anatomical Gifts | New form |
| 4.09 | Spouse's Declaration Regarding Anatomical Gifts | New form |
| 4.09 | Declaration Regarding Anatomical Gifts | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 4.16 | Out of Hospital DNR (TX Dept of State Health Svcs) | Updated to new version of PDF |
| 5.02 | Transfer on Death Deed - Spouse's - Client Separate | Added separate forms for each spouse for easier revocability |
| 5.02 | Spouse's Transfer on Death Deed | Separated original 5.02 and made spouse's version |
| 6.02 | Living Trust - Single Person | Updated to new standards, added contingency trust, expanded definitions |
| 6.03 | Assignment of Property to Trust | New form |
| 6.10 | Gun Trust | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 7.01 | Medical Power of Attorney for a Minor | Allows for 2 parents signing, added option for footer, improved formatting and assembly |
| 7.03 | Statutory Declaration of Guardian for Minor Child | Allows for 2 parents signing, added option for footer, option for appointment of co-guardians, improved formatting and assembly |
| 7.03 | Statutory Declaration of Appointment of Guardian for Minor Child | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| 7.04 | HIPAA Authorization and Release for a Minor | Allows for multiple children and 2 parents signing, improved formatting and assembly |
| 8.03 | Self-Proving Affidavit | Updated Witness Signature block to new standard |
| ch. 4 | Chapter wide | Added option to include a standard footer |
| ch. 4 | Chapter 4 | Added top border and centered the chapter 4 footers; Made the Name, Address and Telephone Number in the Agent sections in the templates consistent |
| OIS | Modern Client Intake | New Online Intake Service for use with Modern Wills |
| OIS | Modern Client Intake With Assets | New Online Intake Service for use with Modern Wills |
| Volume wide | Improved default for "Prepared By" during assembly | |
| Memorandum of Personal Property - Married Client | New form | |
| Memorandum of Personal Property for Spouse | New form | |
| Memorandum of Personal Property - Single Person | New form | |
| All forms | Improved signature lines |