Probate in Hays County

Probate Court Record

Hays County Courts at Law No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3

Hays County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2008, San Marcos, TX 78666

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 Firms Serving Hays County

New Braunfels practice serving Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties. George Carroll brings 28 years of experience to probate with and without a will, affidavits of heirship, small estate affidavits, and trust administration, alongside wills, trusts, and Medicaid asset protection planning for farm and family-business owners. Free consultations.

Solo PracticeServes 3 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawAsset ProtectionBusiness Succession

New Braunfels firm established in 2017 by Beverly Davidek and now five attorneys, serving Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties. Probate work covers small estate affidavits, muniment of title, and applications to determine heirship in intestate estates. Davidek has practiced since 1994 and was an Assistant District Attorney in Bexar County.

Since 2017Serves 3 countiesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipAsset ProtectionBusiness Succession+2

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.

Serves 5 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTax Planning+6

San Antonio and Austin firm handling independent and dependent administration, muniment of title, small estate affidavits, letters testamentary, and trust administration for families across Bexar, Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. Also handles guardianship and Medicaid crisis planning. Free 45-minute estate planning and probate consultations.

Serves 7 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipLong Term Care Planning

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.

Serves 3 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTax Planning+5

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.

Serves 3 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationMediation

All 25 Texas probate firms serving Hays County →

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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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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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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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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Do I Need Probate?

In Texas, estates valued at $75,000Tex. Est. Code § 205.001/205.006Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Small Estate AffidavitTex. Est. Code § 205.001/205.006Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysTex. Est. Code § 205.001/205.006Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate.

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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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Can I Self-File Probate?

Texas requires an attorney of record to open formal probate, and informal probate is not available; a qualifying small estate can still be collected without one.

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