Our jurisdiction on the merits depends upon whether the
probate exception to federal court jurisdiction applies to the
claims initiated in the Texas probate court between the contesting
claimants to the decedent’s property. Incidentally we are required to determine whether the probate exception applies in a bankruptcy case.

We have appellate jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We hold that
all federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, are bound
by the probate exception to federal court jurisdiction and that
we are required to refrain from deciding state law probate matters, no matter how the issue is framed by the parties. We vacate the district court’s final judgment and remand with instructions.