1. (a) Payment due to an estate will be made upon receipt of a certified copy of one of the following:

   1. (1) letters testamentary which are issued to a person named executor or administrator of an estate;
   2. (2) an order admitting a will to probate as muniment of title;
   3. (3) an affidavit filed with the county court under the small estates provisions of the Texas Probate Code §137;
   4. (4) a judgment to declare heirship under the provisions of the Texas Probate Code §54.
2. (b) If none of the requirements in subsection (a) of this section have been or will be obtained and the amount payable is $5,000 or less, then payment may be made to the estate of the decedent at his or her last known address or in care of a member of the decedent's family; or in the alternative, payment may be made in accordance with other documentation supplied by the heirs, provided the retirement system has reviewed and approved the documentation and obtained satisfactory releases from the heirs.

Source Note:The provisions of this §73.25. adopted to be effective September 21, 1981, 6 TexReg 3427; amended to be effective July 19, 1982, 7 TexReg 2549; amended to be effective February 6, 1984, 9 TexReg 488; amended to be effective September 15, 1997, 22 TexReg 9005.