San Antonio, Texas · Serving Bexar & Contiguous Counties
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O ORTMAN LAW FIRM PLLC · Family & Probate
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Probate & Estate Law

Protecting what they leave behind.

When a loved one passes, grief and paperwork arrive together. Ortman Law Firm brings order, patience, and clear direction to probate — guiding families across Bexar and the surrounding counties through administration, heirship, guardianship, and the disputes that sometimes follow, so a legacy is honored rather than lost to confusion.

Schedule a Consultation → Explore our probate services
Our approach

An estate is the last thing a person builds for the people they love. We help families carry it forward with care.

Texas probate can be remarkably efficient — or unexpectedly difficult — depending on the will, the family, and the assets involved. Our role is to find the simplest lawful path: the right form of administration, the correct heirs, and a clean transfer of what was left behind, with as little friction and expense as the situation allows.

And because we also practice family law, we are rarely surprised by what surfaces. Most estate matters are, at heart, family matters — a surviving spouse, children from more than one marriage, an in‑law with questions. We've spent our careers in exactly those waters.

01

Probate & Estate Administration

Most estates are settled through administration — proving the will, appointing an executor or administrator, and distributing the estate. Texas favors independent administration, which keeps the estate out of constant court supervision. We guide executors and families through every step.

Probating a will
Letters testamentary & of administration
Independent administration
Dependent administration
Inventory, appraisement & accounting
Creditor claims & estate debts
↔ Where family law meets probate: a surviving spouse's homestead rights and community‑property interests shape nearly every administration. We understand those marital questions before they become obstacles.
02

Determination of Heirship

When someone dies without a valid will, Texas law decides who inherits. We bring heirship proceedings to establish the rightful heirs and clear title to property — carefully, and with attention to the family realities that statutes don't always anticipate.

Judicial determinations of heirship
Affidavits of heirship
Intestate succession
Blended‑family & multiple‑marriage heirs
Unknown or missing heirs
Clearing title to real property
03

Muniment of Title & Small Estates

Not every estate needs full administration. When the facts allow, simplified procedures can transfer property faster and at lower cost. We identify when these shortcuts apply and handle them efficiently.

Muniment of title
Small estate affidavits
Affidavits of heirship
Ancillary & foreign will probate
Transfer‑on‑death deeds
Homestead & exempt property
04

Guardianship of Person & Estate

When a loved one can no longer care for themselves — an aging parent, an adult with a disability, or a minor child — a guardianship protects them and their assets. We pursue guardianships with sensitivity, and always explore less‑restrictive alternatives first.

Guardianship of the person
Guardianship of the estate
Guardianship of minor children
Incapacity & capacity disputes
Less‑restrictive alternatives
Annual accountings & compliance
↔ Where family law meets probate: guardianship of minor children flows directly from custody and conservatorship. The firm that knows your family is the right one to protect your children's future.
05

Will Contests & Estate Disputes

When an estate divides a family, emotions run high and the stakes are real. We represent heirs, executors, and beneficiaries in contested matters — pursuing or defending claims with steady judgment and a clear eye on resolution.

Will contests & validity challenges
Undue influence & capacity claims
Breach of fiduciary duty
Executor & trustee removal
Accounting & distribution disputes
Mediation & settlement
↔ Where family law meets probate: most estate disputes are family disputes wearing legal clothing. Years of family‑law advocacy mean we already know how to handle conflict among the people who matter to each other.
06

Executor & Fiduciary Representation

Serving as an executor, administrator, or guardian is a serious legal responsibility — with personal liability for getting it wrong. We advise fiduciaries on their duties, keep them compliant, and defend them when their decisions are questioned.

Executor & administrator counsel
Fiduciary duty & compliance
Accountings & reporting
Asset collection & distribution
Defense of fiduciary conduct
Guardian & trustee guidance
07

Wills & Estate Planning

The kindest gift you can leave your family is clarity. We prepare wills and the core documents that spare your loved ones uncertainty later — and we keep them current as your family changes.

Wills & codicils
Powers of attorney
Medical & financial directives
Designation of guardian
Beneficiary & transfer planning
Updates after major life events
↔ Where family law meets probate: divorce, remarriage, and a new child are precisely the moments to revisit your plan. Because we handle both, your estate keeps pace with your life — automatically.
The connection

Probate is where family history comes due.

By the time an estate reaches probate, the relationships that shaped it — marriages, children, second families — are already written into the outcome. A firm that has spent its career in family law doesn't meet your family for the first time at the worst moment. We already speak the language.

See our family law practice →
A
An estate to settleA loved one passes, and property, debts, and a will must be sorted.
B
Family relationships surfaceA surviving spouse, children, and heirs — and sometimes old tensions — come to the table.
C
We already know this terrainOne firm, fluent in both family and probate law, guides the estate to a fair, orderly close.
Probate questions

What families ask us most.

Does every estate have to go through probate in Texas?
No. Many estates can avoid full probate through simplified procedures such as a muniment of title, a small estate affidavit, or assets that pass by beneficiary designation or survivorship. We'll review the estate and recommend the simplest lawful path — which often saves significant time and expense.
What is independent administration?
It's Texas's streamlined form of probate. An independent executor can administer the estate — paying debts and distributing property — with minimal court supervision, which usually means lower cost and far less delay than dependent administration. Most well‑drafted Texas wills request it.
What happens if someone dies without a will in Texas?
The estate passes by the Texas laws of intestate succession, which set out who inherits based on family relationships — and the result is frequently not what the person would have chosen, especially in blended families. A determination of heirship is typically required to establish the rightful heirs and clear title.
How long does probate take in Texas?
A straightforward independent administration can often be substantially underway within a few months, though the estate may remain open longer to resolve debts, taxes, or asset transfers. Contested matters take longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline once we understand the estate.
Can a will be contested — and on what grounds?
Yes. Common grounds include lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, improper execution, or fraud. Contests are time‑sensitive and fact‑intensive. Whether you're challenging a will or defending one, we'll assess the merits candidly and pursue the most sensible resolution.
Begin here

You don't have to sort this out alone.

Whether you're settling an estate, facing a guardianship, or simply unsure what comes next, one conversation will bring clarity. We'll guide you from here.

Schedule a Consultation → Explore Family Law

Call directly: (210) 361‑2425