Pickett v. Keene, 47 S.W.3d 67 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001, no pet.).
In a factually complex case regarding the ownership of a motel, the
appellate court held that Probate Code § 59A, which specifies how a
contractual will must be established, was inapplicable. The court
determined that the jury found that the parties orally agreed to an
inter vivos transfer if certain conditions applied and not to a
testamentary transfer.
Moral: Agreements regarding the future transfer of property need to be
carefully documented.