A decedent (pronounced da-See-dunt) is a deceased person. This term is commonly used to refer to a deceased person in the law of wills, trusts, and estates.
In Texas, the term 'decedent' refers to an individual who has passed away. In the context of wills, trusts, and estates law, the decedent's assets and liabilities become part of their estate upon death. Texas law, including the Texas Estates Code, governs the distribution of a decedent's estate. If the decedent had a valid will, the estate is distributed according to the will's instructions. If there is no will, the estate is distributed according to Texas intestacy laws, which provide a default scheme for distribution to the decedent's heirs based on their relationship to the decedent. The process of administering a decedent's estate, whether testate (with a will) or intestate (without a will), typically involves a court-supervised process known as probate, where an executor or administrator is appointed to manage the estate's affairs, pay debts, and distribute assets to the rightful beneficiaries.
