The judge in Fort Bend County probate court admitted the last will of Kathy Vann and appointed the named alternate independent executor to serve without bond, the court said on the record in case 25 CPR 042790. The court also waived the requirement for appraisers.

The will, dated April 22, 2016, was offered into evidence and the judge said the court would take judicial notice of the original document. Testimony established that Kathy Vann (also known as Kathy Lynn Vann) died May 29, 2025, and was domiciled in Fort Bend County at the time of her death. The will named Mickey Lindbon as independent executor, but testimony showed Lindbon predeceased Vann on July 4, 2016; the will then named the alternate, who the court identified in its ruling as Chelsea Rose Gumb, to serve in that role.

The court admitted proof of death and the will, granted the request to appoint the alternate executor to serve independently and without posting a bond, and waived appraisers. Chelsea Rose Gumb testified she had not seen the will revoked and that no children were born or adopted by the decedent after the will’s date. The will does not name a state agency or charity as a devisee.

"The court heard the testimony of Chelsea Rose Gumb," the judge said when announcing the ruling, and later added, "Ma'am, I'm sorry for your loss." The judge said the order would be signed shortly after docket.

Why it matters: Admitting the will and appointing an independent executor without bond clears the legal path for estate administration and distribution under the terms of the will, and waiving appraisers speeds the process when the estate is declared nontaxable or when the court finds appraisal unnecessary.