Austin firm on W. 16th Street working primarily in Travis, Hays, and Williamson counties, and case by case across Central Texas and the major metros. The attorneys handle dependent and independent administrations, intestate estates, heirship determinations in probate court, muniment of title, affidavits of heirship, and annual accountings. Two partners are also CPAs.
Probate in Hays County
Probate Court Record
Hays County Courts at Law No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3
Hays County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2008, San Marcos, TX 78666
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Attorney of record required
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Hays County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Hays County? →Settling an estate in Hays County →
Probate Litigation Firms Serving Hays County
Austin firm off South Mopac serving the greater Austin area and courts across Texas. The attorneys advise executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries through opening probate, gathering assets, notifying creditors, responding to claims, filing tax returns, and distributing. Founding partners Craig Hopper and D'Ana Mikeska are both board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
Small Austin family firm serving Central Texas from Travis County. Represents independent executors and dependent administrators through will admission, creditor and beneficiary notices, the estate inventory, claims, accountings, and the Form 706 return, and also handles trust administration, estate and trust disputes, problem-trust fixes, and mediation.
Austin firm on South MoPac serving Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Blanco, and Caldwell counties. Handles probate administration — including flat-fee uncontested probate and probate by Zoom or submission — trust administration, and will and trust contests, alongside wills, trusts, and special needs planning.
Austin firm on North Lamar handling complex estate planning and fiduciary litigation for individuals, families, and international clients. Represents executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in will contests, trust disputes, removal actions, and suits to compel trust accountings, and administers probate estates and trusts. Also covers international trust planning and asset protection.
Estate planning and probate firm based in Cedar Park with six more offices across Austin, Round Rock, Bellaire, and Arlington. Handles probate administration and avoidance, muniment of title, small estate affidavits, trust administration, guardianship, will contests, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Eight attorneys split between planning and probate teams.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Texas
Free Texas forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Texas.
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Last Will and Testament
In Texas, a will is signed before 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyTex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Texas
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Texas: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Texas.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Texas costs an estimated $27,634Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.2%Modeled estimate under Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Texas is a community property state, so the surviving spouse already owns half of what the couple acquired during the marriage. Without a will in Texas, descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationTex. Est. Code § 201.101Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 120 hoursTex. Est. Code § 121.052Verified Oct 21, 2026View source to inherit.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Texas, the 4 monthsTex. Est. Code § 355.060; § 403.055 (independent administration); § 355.001Verified Sep 8, 2026View source a creditor has to present a claim run only from receipt of the written notice the personal representative mails; without notice, a claim can be presented until the estate closes.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Texas: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysTex. Estates Code §§ 309.001, 309.051, 309.056, 309.101Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsTex. Estates Code §§ 308.051-308.056, 355.001-355.004, 355.060, 355.064, 355.102Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Texas pays executors reasonable compensationTex. Est. Code §§ 352.002, 352.003Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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