The document is said to "speak for itself."
In Texas, filing for probate as a, Muniment of Title is a simplified method of probating a Will. This type of probate is appropriate when there is no need for a formal administration of the estate. In other words, where there is not a need for the appointment of an Executor to demand or receive the assets from third parties and distribute to heirs.
Examples of this would be when a spouse dies and the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary of the Will. If the surviving spouse already has access to all the financial assets and the only issue remaining is to establish vesting of title, the Muniment of Title may be an appropriate route. In most instances the homestead is in both names, but the Will acts as a Muniment to establishes that the surviving spouse is now the sole owner of the property and thus the surviving spouse has clear title establishing themselves as the sole owner with full title.
The Applicant files the original Will as a Muniment only, and through affidavit and testimony establishes the Will as the Last Will and Testament of the decedent. The Will can then be admitted by the Court as a “Muniment Only”.
One advantage is that the applicant does not assume the fiduciary relationship of an Executor or Administrator. This method of probate involves the least amount of formality in the administration because the Will is admitted for probate as a "Muniment only". Meaning that the instrument speaks for itself and all who read the Will can see who the beneficiaries are and how the property is distributed.
Thereafter the Applicant only needs to file an Inventory and List of Claims , and the estate will be closed.
Under Texas Law, institutions, including real estate and title companies recognize the transfer of real estate via the Muniment of Title.