Special to Texas Border Business
Since current Probate Judge Homero Garza is retiring, former Judge Fidencio Guerra, Jr. has announced he seeks to be elected as judge for the Hidalgo County Probate Court.
Guerra has a strong academic background as he graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1974. He has been practicing law ever since and is a seasoned attorney at law and well known in this community.
“As an attorney, I have over 40 years of legal experience, and out of those, I have 25 years in the judicial field.” He spent years as a judge; during that time, he has had many people come before him. “You learn to see what kind of person they are,” he said.
His years of judicial experience include Assistant Municipal Court Judge in McAllen, 370th District Court Judge, State District Judge, and Hidalgo County’s visiting Judge for Jail Court, Drug Court, and Auxiliary Court B.
Guerra is known to be honest and to have a desire to serve the people of the Hidalgo County. His experience and his personal values speak for him anytime, anywhere. His purpose is to work to solve Probate cases faster.
“Well, I’m hoping they would vote for me based on my prior record, and my judicial experience. But, I also think that they can trust me, I’m honest. Nobody can buy me off. Let’s get the case heard and let’s move on.”
The Hidalgo County Probate Court deals with the assets and debts left behind after a person’s death. Probate is a legal process, supervised by the probate court. This process typically begins when a representative of a deceased person files a petition accompanied with the death certificate in the probate court.
“The probate court in Hidalgo County probates wills and non-wills. In other words, a non-will is when somebody dies without a will and it’s called to die intestate,” Guerra explained.
According to Guerra, probate is a very serious and important matter; most people try to avoid it because they are misinformed. Making a will is an easy way to prevent your loved ones from an unnecessary strain. A will is a document that is legally binding to give you control what happens to your estate.
“If you die with a will, you name an executor of your estate to go to court and to talk to the attorneys and distribute your estate. If you die without a will, then the attorney has to go with the family to court, then the judge has to appoint an administrator which is generally a spouse or a child,” said Guerra.
He also pointed out that probate can be complicated and often misunderstood, but it does not cease to be important. Guerra has heard peoples’ complaints and is ready to serve them even if they don’t have an attorney.
“I enjoy helping people and I enjoy defending those who cannot help themselves. I’ve always helped people that come without an attorney to make sure that they’re not rolled over by the other side,” Guerra said.
“The probate court is a matter of life and death. You have the death to get into the court and you have the life because of the heirs of the deceased; their lives are all affected in one way or another,” Guerra finalized.
