Sec. 33.004.  HEIRSHIP PROCEEDINGS.  (a)  Venue for a proceeding to determine a decedent's heirs is in:
(1)  the court of the county in which a proceeding admitting the decedent's will to probate or administering the decedent's estate was most recently pending; or
(2)  the court of the county in which venue would be proper for commencement of an administration of the decedent's estate under Section 33.001 if:
(A)  no will of the decedent has been admitted to probate in this state and no administration of the decedent's estate has been granted in this state; or
(B)  the proceeding is commenced by the trustee of a trust holding assets for the benefit of the decedent.
(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and Section 33.001, if there is no administration pending of the estate of a deceased ward who died intestate, venue for a proceeding to determine the deceased ward's heirs is in the probate court in which the guardianship proceedings with respect to the ward's estate were pending on the date of the ward's death.  A proceeding described by this subsection may not be brought as part of the guardianship proceedings with respect to the ward's estate, but rather must be filed as a separate cause in which the court may determine the heirs' respective shares and interests in the estate as provided by the laws of this state.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1338 (S.B. 1198), Sec. 2.04, eff. January 1, 2014.