NO SURVIVING SPOUSE, EXECUTOR, OR ADMINISTRATOR

(a) In this section "heirs" has the meaning assigned by Chapter 22, Estates Code, except that the term excludes any person who has filed a proper disclaimer or renunciation with the retirement system. (b) If the administrator of a deceased member's estate would be entitled to a refund or an annuity because of the death of the member, the heirs of the deceased member may apply for and receive the benefit if: (1) no petition for the appointment of a personal representative of the member is pending or has been granted; (2) 30 days have elapsed since the date of death of the member; (3) the value of the entire assets of the member's probate estate, excluding homestead and exempt property, does not exceed $50,000; and (4) on file with the retirement system is a certified copy of a small estates affidavit that has been approved and filed in accordance with Chapter 205, Estates Code, or an original affidavit described by Subsection (c). (c) If no affidavit has been filed with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction and venue as provided by Chapter 205, Estates Code, the retirement system may accept instead an affidavit sworn to by two disinterested witnesses and by those heirs who have legal capacity and, if the facts warrant, by the natural guardian or next of kin of any minor or incompetent who is also an heir. The affidavit must include the names and addresses of the heirs and witnesses, establish the facts listed in Subsection (b), include a list of the assets and liabilities of the estate, show the facts that constitute the basis for the right of the heirs to receive the estate, and show the fractional interests of the heirs in the estate as a result of those facts. (d) If the retirement system, acting through the director or a person designated by the director, approves the affidavit, the heirs may make the election if each heir agrees to it.