Traditionally, Probate Court was known as the court for ‘widows and orphans‘ Truthfully, the complete, now-profoundly politically incorrect phrase is: ‘widows, orphans and idiots.’ Today, the widows and orphans are protected through ‘Decedent Estates‘ and the idiots (my apologies) are protected through guardianship (and are always welcomed in leadership posts for local political clubs, red and blue alike).
Probate court originates from the doctrine of Parens patriae . . . the notion that government is the default protector of people unable to protect themselves (including the unknown heirs to an estate).
Inheritance is decided in a Probate Court, as is Guardianship. Mental Health law (that is, Mental Health Commitment) is a sub-genre of Texas probate court jurisdiction.
Here’s an insightful quote about Probate Court, credited to Ben Franklin: “If you want to know the true character of a man, share an inheritance with him.”
Trust me . . . Ben intended to include the feminine (not just the masculine) with that sentiment.