Estates Code § 362.052

Sec. 362.052. LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO DELIVER ESTATE PROPERTY. (a) On the final settlement of an estate, if the personal representative neglects on demand to deliver a portion of the estate or any money in the representative's possession ordered to be delivered to a person entitled to that property, the person may file with the court clerk a written complaint alleging: (1) the fact of the neglect; (2) the date of the person's demand; and (3) other relevant facts. (b) On the filing of a complaint under Subsection (a), the court clerk shall issue a citation to be served personally on the personal representative. The citation must: (1) apprise the representative of the complaint; and (2) cite the representative to appear before the court and answer, if the representative desires, at a time designated in the citation. (c) If at the hearing the court finds that the citation was properly served and returned, and that the personal representative is guilty of the neglect charged, the court shall enter an order to that effect. (d) A personal representative found guilty under Subsection (c) is liable to the person who filed the complaint under Subsection (a) for damages at the rate of 10 percent of the amount of the money or the appraised value of the portion of the estate neglectfully withheld, per month, for each month or fraction of a month that the money or portion of the estate is or has been neglectfully withheld after the date of demand. Damages under this subsection may be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 680 (H.B. 2502), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.