Estate Administration

Appeal

Supersedeas Bond

In re Shore, 106 S.W.3d 817 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.).

 

Executor was dissatisfied with a county court order regarding the partition and distribution of the estate of which Executor was also a beneficiary. The order did not award Executor all of the property to which he believed he was entitled. Consequently, he appealed the judgment but neglected to file a supersedeas bond. The other beneficiaries filed a motion to force Executor to comply with the order. Executor then filed a mandamus proceeding to stop the judge from enforcing the order.

The resolution of this case turned on the application of Prob. Code § 29 which dispenses with the appellate bond when an executor appeals a lower court decision unless the appeal personally concerns the executor. The appellate court refused to issue mandamus because the appeal involved the amount of money Executor would personally obtain as a result of the final distribution of the estate. Accordingly, bond was required.

Moral: An executor should file a supersedeas bond if the result of the appeal would impact the amount of estate property the executor will receive.



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