1. The decedent must have died without a will; and
2. The assets of the estate, exclusive of homestead* and exempt property, must exceed the known liabilities of said estate, exclusive of liabilities secured by homestead and exempt property; and
3. No Application for a personal representative may be pending or have been granted; and
4. Decedent must not have applied for and received Medicaid benefits, or if Decedent did, must have a Medicaid Estate Recovery Program form stating Medicaid is not pursing recovery from the Estate; and
5. Thirty days must have elapsed since the death of the decedent; and
6. The value of the entire assets of the estate, not including homestead*, must not exceed $50,000.

A Small Estate Affidavit lists all of Decedent’s heirs and the assets of the estate. The Affidavit is then signed before a notary public by all of the heirs of the estate and two disinterested witnesses. The Affidavit is then filed with the court. The Probate Court will then review and approve or deny the affidavit. If approved, the Court will issue an Order Approving Small Estate Affidavit. No administrator is appointed and no administration is opened. The distributes must provide a copy of the affidavit to anyone who has custody or possession of property or is a creditor of the property. *A “homestead” means only a homestead or other exempt property which would be eligible to be set aside under Texas Estates Code 353.051 if decedent’s estate was being administered. Many courts have interpreted that “homestead” under the small estate affidavit means the homestead to surviving spouse and/or minor children.