Do all interested persons have to be joined as parties in a will contest?
The Probate Code does not require joinder of all interested persons in a will contest. See Jones v. LaFargue, 758 S.W.2d 320, 323 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, writ denied). Nor does it generally require service of citation, or even notice. The Probate Code states that no person need be joined as a party or given notice of proceedings under the Probate Code unless the Probate Code expressly so provides. Probate Code § 33(a). Texas is one of a handful of states in this country with a will-contest statute that does not require notice to interested parties. See Petty v. Call, 599 S.W.2d 791, 793–94 (Tenn.1980) (noting that Tennessee was one of seven states at that time whose will-contest statute did not require that will contestants join or notify interested parties).
