Proving Adoption in Probate, Security Deposit Refund Deadlines & Title Company Overpayments

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle a complex probate dispute involving contested heirship and sealed adoption records. They discuss the legal hurdles of proving an adoption when a step-mother alleges a daughter is not a legal heir, and whether a court can be persuaded to unseal confidential adoption paperwork to resolve a father’s estate. They also dive into a landlord-tenant dispute regarding the strict 30-day statutory deadline for security deposit refunds in Texas. They analyze whether a refund check postmarked just days late—even if the letter was drafted on time—constitutes a violation of Texas law and what it means for landlord liability. Finally, they answer a critical question for property sellers: if a title company accidentally overpays you at closing, do you have a legal obligation to return the funds, or is it a "bank error in your favor"? ⏰  Timestamps00:00 Intro2:48 Is Your Inheritance At Risk? How To Prove Adoption7:20 Late Security Deposit Refunds: Does The Postmark Date Actually Matter In Texas? 14:26  Bank Error In Your Favor? The Truth About Keeping Title Company Overpayments#UnsealingAdoptionRecords #TexasProbateDisputes #SecurityDepositDeadlines #LandlordTenantLawTexas #TitleCompanyRefundErrors #ContestedHeirship #TexasPropertyCode #EstateLitigation #PostmarkDeadlines #WeeklyDocketEpisode122