in Re Katrina Kohleffel ( 2022 )

NUMBER 13-22-00509-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG
IN RE KATRINA KOHLEFFEL
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Longoria, Hinojosa, and Silva
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Hinojosa1
By petition for writ of mandamus, relator Katrina Kohleffel contends that the trial
court 2 abused its discretion by transferring a contested probate proceeding to the district
court after relator filed a motion requesting the appointment of a statutory probate court
1 See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(d) (“When denying relief, the court may hand down an opinion but is not
required to do so. When granting relief, the court must hand down an opinion as in any other case.”); id. R.
47.1 (“The court of appeals must hand down a written opinion that is as brief as practicable but that
addresses every issue raised and necessary to final disposition of the appeal.”); id. R. 47.4 (explaining the
differences between opinions and memorandum opinions).
This original proceeding arises from trial court cause number PR15544 in the County Court of
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Wharton County, Texas, and the respondent is the Honorable Phillip Spenrath. See id. R. 52.2.
judge. See TEX. EST. CODE ANN. § 32.003(b). We conditionally grant the petition for writ
of mandamus.
I. BACKGROUND
On September 2, 2022, real parties in interest Cody Kohleffel and Cordale
Kohleffel filed an application to probate will and for letters testamentary in the County
Court of Wharton County, Texas. According to the application, the decedent, Allen J.
Kohleffel, had passed away on August 22, 2022, and his will, dated September 30, 2020,
named the real parties as independent co-executors of the will.
On October 12, 2022, relator filed an “Application to Set Aside Homestead and
Exempt Property.” See id. § 353.051 (requiring the court to set aside the homestead and
exempt property for the use and benefit of the decedent’s surviving spouse and minor
children). According to the application, relator and the decedent were married in 1991
and had filed respective divorce petitions but were still married at the time of the
decedent’s death. The application stated that the will appointed the couple’s two sons as
executors and beneficiaries of the decedent’s will. The application further provided that
Wharton County does not have a statutory probate court or a county court at law to
exercise original probate jurisdiction, thus relator stated that her application was filed
contemporaneously with a motion to request the appointment of a statutory probate judge.
The application specified: “Upon the order granting her Request to Appoint, [relator]
intends that this Application be heard as a contested matter before the statutory probate
judge to set aside certain exempt property, including [relator] and Decedent’s homestead,
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even before the Inventory, Appraisement, and List of Claims of the Estate are approved.”
Relator also attempted to file a “Motion to Request Appointment of Statutory
Probate Judge” pursuant to estates code § 32.003, as previously mentioned, along with
a proposed “Order for Appointment of Statutory Probate Judge.” On October 14, 2022, at
9:47 a.m., the Wharton County Clerk’s Office returned this motion for insufficient fees
because the filing fee of $2.00 for the order was missing. The return notice indicates that
relator submitted the motion on October 12, 2022, at 1:36 p.m. The return further states,
“Another order came in from attorney of the estate to transfer to [district] court, the [county]
judge has just signed this order.” At the same time, the Wharton County Clerk’s Office
returned the proposed order for insufficient fees. Later that same day on October 14,
2022, at 2:30 p.m., the Wharton County Clerk’s Office returned the motion to request
appointment of statutory probate judge on the stated grounds that the document had been
addressed to the “[w]rong [c]lerk/[l]ocation” and informing relator that, “[t]his case has
been [transferred] to [the] Wharton County District Clerk” and “will need to be filed there.”
The return notice from the clerk included the new case number in district court. At the
same time, the clerk returned the proposed order for the same reasons.
In the intervening period between relator’s attempted filing of her motion to appoint
a statutory probate judge and the motion’s return by the clerk, on October 13, 2022, real
parties filed a “Motion to Transfer Contested Matter to District Court” on grounds that
“[t]his is a contested probate proceeding.” On October 14, 2022, the trial court granted
the real parties’ motion and transferred the case to the District Court of Wharton County.
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That same day, the county clerk issued the transfer certificate regarding the transfer to
district court.
This original proceeding ensued on October 21, 2022. By two issues, relator
asserts: (1) the trial court abused its discretion by transferring a contested probate
proceeding to the district court after relator filed a motion seeking appointment of a
statutory probate court judge; and (2) she lacks an adequate remedy by appeal. This
Court requested and received a response to the petition for writ of mandamus from the
real parties in interest. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.2, 52.4, 52.8. The real parties assert that:
Relator claims to have moved for the assignment of a statutory probate
judge pursuant to [Texas Estates Code] § 32.003(c). . . . Section 32.003(c)
is a mechanism that permits the filing of a motion for the assignment of a
statutory probate court judge before a probate matter becomes contested
and provides that the motion is to be given effect if the matter later becomes
contested. Relator does not demonstrate the existence of an actual
contested probate matter and expressly disclaimed the existence of an
actual contested probate matter in her Motion.
Further, relator has filed a reply in support of her petition for writ of mandamus.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Mandamus is an extraordinary and discretionary remedy. See In re Allstate Indem.
Co., 622 S.W.3d 870, 883 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re Garza, 544 S.W.3d 836,
840 (Tex. 2018) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam); In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148
S.W.3d 124, 138 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). The relator must show that (1) the trial
court abused its discretion, and (2) the relator lacks an adequate remedy on appeal. In re
USAA Gen. Indem. Co., 624 S.W.3d 782, 787 (Tex. 2021) (orig. proceeding); In re
Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d at 135–36; Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833,
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839–40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding). “The relator bears the burden of proving these two
requirements.” In re H.E.B. Grocery Co., 492 S.W.3d 300, 302 (Tex. 2016) (orig.
proceeding) (per curiam); Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840.
III. ANALYSIS
Relator contends that a constitutional county court cannot transfer a contested
probate matter to the district court if a party has already filed a motion seeking the
appointment of a statutory probate court judge. In contrast, the real parties allege that
relator is not entitled to the requested transfer because she did not demonstrate the
existence of an actual contested probate matter and argue that “[t]here is no evidence of
a contested matter that would allow present exercise of jurisdiction by a statutory probate
court judge.”
A. Section 32.003
The parties’ contentions concern § 32.003 of the Texas Estates Code, entitled
“Jurisdiction of Contested Probate Proceeding in County with No Statutory Probate Court
or Statutory County Court,” which provides in relevant part:
(a) In a county in which there is no statutory probate court or county
court at law exercising original probate jurisdiction, when a matter in
a probate proceeding is contested, the judge of the county court may,
on the judge’s own motion, or shall, on the motion of any party to the
proceeding, according to the motion:
(1) request the assignment of a statutory probate court judge to
hear the contested matter, as provided by Section 25.0022,
Government Code; or
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(2) transfer the contested matter to the district court, which may
then hear the contested matter as if originally filed in the
district court.
(b) If a party to a probate proceeding files a motion for the assignment
of a statutory probate court judge to hear a contested matter in the
proceeding before the judge of the county court transfers the
contested matter to a district court under this section, the county
judge shall grant the motion for the assignment of a statutory probate
court judge and may not transfer the matter to the district court unless
the party withdraws the motion.
TEX. EST. CODE ANN. § 32.003(a), (b). It is an abuse of discretion, correctable by
mandamus, to transfer a case to district court rather than granting a motion for the
assignment of a statutory probate court judge. In re Lewis, 185 S.W.3d 615, 618 (Tex.
App.—Waco 2006, orig. proceeding); In re Vorwerk, 6 S.W.3d 781, 783 (Tex. App.—
Austin 1999, orig. proceeding); see also In re Wagner, No. 03-21-00367-CV, 2021 WL
5611497, at *1 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 1, 2021, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (stating
that the statute imposes on a trial court the mandatory duty to request the assignment of
a statutory probate judge upon the filing of a motion by a party—it does not require that
the movant set the motion for a hearing or otherwise “present” the motion); In re McCown,
No. 10-20-00128-CV, 2020 WL 4875579, at *2 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 10, 2020, orig.
proceeding) (mem. op.) (“The language of Section 32.003(b) is clear that the proceeding
may not be transferred to district court if a party has filed a motion seeking the
appointment of a statutory probate court judge.”).
B. Contested Matter
Section 32.003 of the estates code does not define the phrase “contested matter.”
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TEX. EST. CODE ANN. § 32.003. However, case law instructs us that a probate matter is
considered contested when the pleadings include “sufficient facts to show some
reasonable grounds for the belief that there are two or more parties or claimants to assets
of an estate and there is a bona fide controversy between them concerning those assets,”
or stated otherwise, when “the pleadings on file demonstrate that the parties to the suit
have adopted adversary positions.” Sivley v. Sivley, 972 S.W.2d 850, 856 (Tex. App.—
Tyler 1998, no pet.); see Lesley v. Lesley, 664 S.W.2d 437, 439 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
1984, no writ); Jackson v. Thompson, 610 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 1980, no writ); Brown v. Crockett, 601 S.W.2d 188, 190 (Tex. App.—Austin 1980,
no writ); see also In re Surovik, No. 07-20-00371-CV, 2021 WL 865205, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo Mar. 8, 2021, orig. proceeding [mand. denied]) (mem. op.) (stating that the trial
judge “had no discretion not to transfer a contested probate matter on [the applicant’s]
motion if any matter was contested at the time”); In re Estate of Treviño, No. 04-13-00404-
CV, 2013 WL 5950138, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Nov. 6, 2013, orig. proceeding)
(mem. op.) (“We hold that, in keeping with the plain language of the [Estates] Code
provision, the right of transfer to the district court did not arise until the matter was, in fact,
contested by another party.”).
Although real parties allege that relator’s pleadings did not establish that the
underlying proceeding constituted a contested matter, the real parties’ own pleadings bely
their claim. The real parties’ “Motion to Transfer Contested Matter to District Court” states
explicitly that “[t]his is a contested probate proceeding.” Leaving this aside, examining the
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relator’s “Application to Set Aside Homestead and Exempt Property,” relator stated that
she “intends that this Application be heard as a contested matter,” and further alleged:
5. The Inventory will show that Decedent and Kohleffel own a
community property interest in their homestead. In advance of the
filing of an inventory, Kohleffel presents her Verified Affidavit of
Exempt Property which is attached as Exhibit A and is incorporated
by reference (“Homestead”). Additionally, Kohleffel has property
received during their marriage as her separate property yet titled in
both their names, including the Cassady property.
6. Decedent and Kohleffel also own a community property interest in
household furnishings and personal effects; farming and ranch
vehicles and implements; tools, equipment, books and apparatus,
including motor vehicles used in our farming and ranching business;
[sixty] head of cattle; and other types of livestock, all of which include
property that is exempt under Texas law as reflected, in part, in the
equipment list attached as Exhibit A-2 which is incorporated by
reference (“Exempt Property”). The Exempt Property identified as
being in the Estate is exempt and should be set aside as not
belonging to the Estate.
7. The Homestead should be set aside for the use and benefit of
Kohleffel pursuant to § 353.051(a)(1).
8. The Exempt Property should be set aside for the use and benefit of
Kohleffel pursuant to § 353.051(a)(2). Upon information and belief[,]
all other property in which the Estate has an interest is community
property which is held by undivided ownership of Kohleffel and the
Estate each of which own 50% of the property interests—both real
and personal—as co-owners.
As stated previously, the real parties were the beneficiaries of the decedent’s estate, and
in this pleading relator seeks her share of the marital community property, both real and
personal, and seeks property that she characterizes as her separate property, “yet titled
in both their names.” We conclude that relator’s pleadings include sufficient facts to show
some reasonable grounds for the belief that both she and the real parties are claimants
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to the assets of the decedent’s estate and that there is a bona fide controversy between
them concerning those assets. See Sivley, 972 S.W.2d at 856; Lesley, 664 S.W.2d at
439. We thus reject real parties’ contention that this matter was uncontested.
C. Filing
We turn our attention to the filing sequence. In this regard, the real parties assert
that the relator “claims to have filed” the motion to request appointment of statutory
probate judge.
With two exceptions not relevant here, “[a]n electronically filed document is
deemed filed when transmitted to the filing party’s electronic filing service provider.” TEX.
R. CIV. P. 21(f)(5); see Hall v. Lewis, 639 S.W.3d 197, 207 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
2021, no pet.). “The clerk may not refuse to file a document that fails to conform with this
rule. But the clerk may identify the error to be corrected and state a deadline for the party
to resubmit the document in a conforming format.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 21(f)(11); see Nevarez
Law Firm, P.C. v. Inv’r Land Servs., L.L.C., 610 S.W.3d 567, 570 (Tex. App.—El Paso
2020, no pet.). In this regard, a pleading seeking affirmative relief is considered
conditionally filed until the required filing fee is paid. Garza v. Garcia, 137 S.W.3d 36, 37
(Tex. 2004); Tate v. E.l. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 934 S.W.2d 83, 84 (Tex. 1996) (per
curiam); Jamar v. Patterson, 868 S.W.2d 318, 319 (Tex. 1993) (per curiam); In re C.A.S.,
128 S.W.3d 681, 686 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, orig. proceeding). Our sister court of
appeals in Waco has applied the concept of conditional filing to a case arising under the
predecessor statute to § 32.003. See In re Lewis, 185 S.W.3d at 616–19.
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In Lewis, the plaintiff filed a probate proceeding against the executrix of an estate
in a county court. Id. at 616. The county clerk received, but did not file, the executrix’s
motion for appointment of a statutory probate court judge because the executrix did not
pay the filing fee for the motion. Id. at 617. The plaintiff filed a motion to transfer the case
to district court. Id. The probate court signed an order granting the transfer to district court.
Id. By original proceeding filed in the appellate court, the executrix claimed that the
transfer was improper and that a statutory probate court judge should be assigned to hear
the case because the executrix filed her request first. Id. at 616. The appellate court
concluded that the probate court was not free to ignore the executrix’s conditional filing
because “[t]he purpose of the conditional filing rule is to establish the date on which a
document is filed in order to promote certainty for litigants,” and “[i]f a court could ignore
the date on which a conditionally filed document is filed, the rule would be empty.” Id. at
618. The court explained that the section “appears to contemplate a probate court facing
competing motions to transfer to district court and for assignment of a statutory probate
court judge.” Id. “In such a situation, [the statute] mandates the result: the probate court
shall grant the motion for assignment of a statutory probate court judge and may not
transfer the contested matter to district court.” Id. The court explained that although the
executrix did not pay the filing fee until after the judge signed the transfer order, it was
nonetheless “conditionally” filed first and thus had priority because once the clerk received
the filing fee, the executrix’s motion was deemed to have been properly filed before the
transfer motion. Id. The court thus concluded that the trial court abused its discretion by
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failing to correctly apply the statutory directive. Id. Thus, the executrix was entitled to
mandamus relief. Id. The court further concluded that the executrix lacked an adequate
remedy at law because the error deprived the executrix of the “statutory right to the
assignment of a statutory probate court judge.” Id.D. Summary
According to Rule 21(f)(5), relator filed her motion when she tendered the motion
by transmitting it to her e-filing service provider. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 21(f)(5). However,
because she did not pay the fee, the motion was conditionally filed. See Garza, 137
S.W.3d at 37–38; Jamar, 868 S.W.2d at 318–19. The trial court was not free to ignore the
conditional filing. See In re Lewis, 185 S.W.3d at 616–19. Under the express language of
the statute, the probate court could not have granted the real parties’ motion to transfer
the lawsuit to district court because relator’s motion for the appointment of a statutory
probate judge had already been conditionally filed. See TEX. EST. CODE ANN. § 32.003(b);
In re Lewis, 185 S.W.3d at 616–19. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion
by granting the real parties’ motion, and thus we sustain relator’s first issue.
In her second issue, relator contends that she lacks an adequate remedy by appeal
to address this error. When the county court improperly transferred the matter to the
district court, relator was deprived of her “statutory right to the assignment of a statutory
probate court judge,” a deprivation for which she lacks an adequate remedy by appeal.
See In re Lewis, 185 S.W.3d at 618; In re Vorwerk, 6 S.W.3d at 785; see also In re
Wagner, 2021 WL 5611497, at *3. We sustain relator’s second issue.
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IV. CONCLUSION
The Court, having examined and fully considered the petition for writ of mandamus,
the response, the reply, and the applicable law, is of the opinion that relator has met her
burden to obtain relief. Because the trial court abused its discretion and relator has no
adequate remedy at law, we conditionally grant the petition for writ of mandamus and
order the trial court to vacate its order transferring the lawsuit to district court and to
request an assignment of a statutory probate court judge. We are confident that the trial
court will comply with our ruling, so the writ will issue only if the trial court fails to do so.
LETICIA HINOJOSA
Justice
Delivered and filed on the
18th day of November, 2022.
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