Hey BP,

Looking for some guidance from anyone who's navigated a similar deal. I'm working on purchasing a property that's part of an estate — the will was never probated, and there are 7 people named as heirs/beneficiaries. I want to move forward carefully and make sure the sales contract actually protects me, so I'm looking for an attorney (Texas-licensed, ideally with real estate + probate/estate crossover experience) who can help structure this the right way.

A few things I'm hoping to get feedback on:

• Type of attorney to look for — should I be searching for a probate attorney, a real estate attorney, or someone who specializes in both? Is there a specific term I should be searching for (e.g., "heir property attorney")?

• Probate requirement — has anyone closed on a property like this where the estate wasn't probated first? Did you require probate to happen before closing, or was there a way to structure the contract/title work around it?

• Getting all heirs on board — with 7 people involved, I'm assuming I need every single heir to sign off. Any tips on how that process typically works, or common issues when one or more heirs are hard to reach/uncooperative?

• Title company coordination — has your title company been able to insure these types of "heir property" deals, or did it create complications with clear title?

• Contract protections — what specific clauses or language did your attorney add to protect you in a deal like this (e.g., contingencies tied to probate completion, indemnification from heirs, etc.)?

If anyone has a TX attorney they'd personally recommend for this kind of deal (Texas-wide or specifically in the San Antonio/Houston area), I'd really appreciate a referral. Also happy to hear cautionary tales if this is more trouble than it's worth!

Thanks in advance — this community has already taught me so much.