SALSA’s Small Estate Help Desk is a first-come, first-served, walk-in opportunity for low-income communities. Income qualifications are required. If you qualify for SALSA’s services, you’ll be paired with a volunteer attorney to receive legal advice about the Small Estate Affidavit (SEA).
The attorney and client discuss the assets and debts of the decedent’s estate to determine whether the SEA or some other method, such as Affidavit of Heirship or Independent Administration, are better suited for the client’s needs.
Details:
Every Other Thursday
- 01/18/24
- 02/01/24
- 02/15/24
- 02/29/24
- 03/14/24
- 03/28/24
- 04/11/24
- 04/25/24
- 05/09/24
- 05/23/24
12:30 pm until 3:30 pm
Where:
In the hallway outside of the Probate Courts in the Bexar County Courthouse, at 100 Dolorosa St., San Antonio, Texas 78205.
What Happens During the Small Estate Help Desk:
Clients who qualify for services at SALSA’s Small Estate Help Desk will meet with a volunteer attorney in a “help desk” setting. Clients should arrive at the clinic with all documentation about the decedent’s estate. The attorney and client will discuss the assets and debts of the decedent’s estate to determine whether the SEA or some other method, such as Affidavit of Heirship or Independent Administration, are better suited for the client’s needs. If the SEA is not appropriate, and the client’s situation requires a more complex method to settle the estate, SALSA staff will assist with providing the client a referral for extended services after the volunteer’s assistance at the Small Estate Help Desk has concluded.
What to Bring:
All documentation related to the Small Estate Affidavit (SEA):
- Decedent’s death certificate
- Evidence of decedent’s assets
- Evidence of decedent’s debts
- Any previously filed SEAs
- Any responses from the court regarding previously filed SEAs
Helpful Resources:
Bexar County – County Clerk:
- Probate: https://www.bexar.org/3396/Probate-Division
- Website: https://www.bexar.org/2946/County-Clerk
Bexar County – Probate Courts:
Texas Law Help:
- Small Estate Affidavits: https://texaslawhelp.org/article/small-estate-affidavits
- Medicaid Estate Recovery: https://texaslawhelp.org/article/medicaid-estate-recovery
Texas Health & Human Service
- Your Guide to the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/regulations/legal-information/your-guide-medicaid-estate-recovery-program
Need Additional Assistance?
Other Non-Profits in San Antonio and Surrounding Areas who provide free or low-bono legal services for qualifying clients:
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)
- https://www.trla.org/
- (956) 996-8752
- Practice Areas: Community Preservation & Empowerment, Economic & Social Justice, Domestic Violence & Family Law, Housing, Immigration, Labor & Employment, Public Benefits
Caritas Legal Services of Catholic Charities
- https://ccaosa.org/caritas-legal-services/
- (210) 433-3256
- Practice Areas: Guardianship, Wills, Property Deeds, Financial Wellness and Care, Immigration
Beyond this, if you are still seeking legal assistance, you are welcome to contact the San Antonio Bar Association’s (SABA’s) Lawyer Referral Service. SABA has a host of attorneys in all practice areas who may be able to help. Their website is: https://www.salawhelp.org