H.B. No. 3311 amends the Estates Code to clarify the priority of claims against a decedent's estate and the payment of family allowances. The bill allows the decedent's surviving spouse or authorized representatives to apply for a family allowance before the estate's inventory is approved. The family allowance is now defined to cover the maintenance of the surviving spouse, minor children, and adult incapacitated children for specified periods, including until a minor child turns 18 or graduates from high school. The bill also modifies the method of payment for the family allowance, allowing it to be paid in a lump sum.

Additionally, the bill revises the classification of claims against the estate, specifically addressing child support obligations. It establishes that Class 3 claims include delinquent child support confirmed by a court or administratively determined, while Class 4 claims pertain to secured claims for money, including tax liens. The amendments ensure that claims are prioritized appropriately and clarify that the new provisions apply only to estates of decedents who die on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Estates Code 355.102 (Estates Code 355)
House Committee Report: Estates Code 353.101, Estates Code 353.102, Estates Code 353.103, Estates Code 355.102 (Estates Code 355, Estates Code 353)