Jansen v. Fitzpatrick

OPINION

KEM THOMPSON FROST, Justice.

This is an appeal from the trial court’s dismissal of a declaratory judgment action for lack of jurisdiction. We reverse and remand this case to the trial court.

Factual BACKGROUND

In January 1993, Geraldine M. Putnam (“Geraldine”), then 80 years old, transferred by deed real property she owned in Fort Bend County, Texas, to her niece, Virginia Ann Fitizpatrick (“Virginia”). Geraldine died approximately two months later.

At the time of her death, Geraldine was a widow with no children; however, she had a host of other relatives. She left a will naming the…