This section ranks claims against an estate and sets the order they must be paid.
Sec. 355.102. CLAIMS CLASSIFICATION; PRIORITY OF PAYMENT. (a) Claims against an estate shall be classified and have priority of payment as provided by this section. (b) Class 1 claims are composed of funeral expenses and expenses of the decedent's last illness, including claims for reimbursement of those expenses, for a reasonable amount approved by the court, not to exceed $15,000 for funeral expenses and $15,000 for expenses of the decedent's last illness. Any excess shall be classified and paid as other unsecured claims. (c) Class 2 claims are composed of: (1) expenses of administration; (2) expenses incurred in preserving, safekeeping, and managing the estate, including fees and expenses awarded under Section 352.052; (3) unpaid expenses of administration awarded in a guardianship of the decedent; and (4) for an estate with respect to which a public probate administrator has taken any action under Chapter 455, court costs and commissions to which the administrator is entitled under Subchapter A, Chapter 352. (d) Class 3 claims are composed of each secured claim for money under Section 355.151(a)(1), including a tax lien, to the extent the claim can be paid out of the proceeds of the property subject to the mortgage or other lien. If more than one mortgage, lien, or security interest exists on the same property, the claims shall be paid in order of priority of the mortgage, lien, or security interest securing the debt. (e) Class 4 claims are composed of claims: (1) for the principal amount of and accrued interest on delinquent child support and child support arrearages that have been: (A) confirmed as a judgment or a determination of arrearages by a court under Title 5, Family Code; or (B) administratively determined as evidenced by a certified child support payment record produced by the Title IV-D agency, as defined by Section 101.033, Family Code, in a Title IV-D case, as defined by Section 101.034, Family Code; and (2) for unpaid child support obligations under Section 154.015, Family Code. (f) Class 5 claims are composed of claims for taxes, penalties, and interest due under Title 2, Tax Code, Chapter 2153, Occupations Code, former Section 81.111, Natural Resources Code, the Municipal Sales and Use Tax Act (Chapter 321, Tax Code), Section 451.404, Transportation Code, or Subchapter I, Chapter 452, Transportation Code. (g) Class 6 claims are composed of claims for the cost of confinement established by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 501.017, Government Code. (h) Class 7 claims are composed of claims for repayment of medical assistance payments made by the state under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, to or for the benefit of the decedent. (i) Class 8 claims are composed of any other claims not described by Subsections (b)-(h). Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 680 (H.B. 2502), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 8.015, eff. January 1, 2014. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 470 (S.B. 757), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 859 (S.B. 1726), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1141 (H.B. 2782), Sec. 26, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 152 (S.B. 870), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.