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Texas follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesTex. Prop. Code Ann. § 114.061Verified Jun 11, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Texas trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Texas is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 4 months in Texas — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Texas trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Texas average $387 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,161–$2,322 for a simple individual will and $4,130–$6,195 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Texas allows estates under $75,000 to use a simplified small estate affidavit procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Texas probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Texas, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships (community property rules can produce surprising outcomes); ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 4,004 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
24 firms
Pearland firm serving Harris, Fort Bend, and Brazoria counties across every Texas probate track — court-supervised administration, muniment of title, small-estate affidavit, and ancillary probate for out-of-state property. Drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship designations. Offers in-person and virtual consultations.
Location
3129 Kingsley Dr, #110Pearland, TX 77584
Phone
(832) 243-1763
Service Area
3 counties
Ranked Tier 1 in Trusts & Estates Law in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers. Specializes in all areas of trust and tax planning and litigation.
Location
777 Main Street, Suite 550Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone
(817) 334-0066
Service Area
Statewide
New Braunfels estate planning firm led by George Carroll with over 29 years of experience devoted exclusively to estate planning, asset protection, and probate. Handles specialized matters including business succession planning for family-owned businesses and farms.
Location
2336 Gruene Lake Dr, Suite CNew Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone
(830) 554-4055
Service Area
3 counties
Houston-based firm founded in 1979 focusing on estate planning, estate administration, business transactions, and tax-exempt organizations. Founder Roger Q. Beck has been board certified since 1988 and named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates in Houston.
Location
5718 Westheimer, Suite 1750Houston, TX 77056
Phone
(713) 840-7710
Established
1979
Service Area
2 counties
Statewide Texas firm whose Beaumont office serves Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties through the Jefferson County courts. Attorneys Christopher Leavins and Gary Coker represent executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in estate administration, contested wills, trust litigation, guardianship, and incapacity planning. Five Texas offices let estate disputes that cross regions stay with one firm.
Location
550 Fannin, Suite 400Beaumont, TX 77701
Phone
(409) 654-6700
Service Area
Statewide
Established civil practice law firm in San Angelo providing estate planning, probate, taxation, trust law, and real estate services to West Texas.
Location
One East Twohig, Third FloorSan Angelo, TX 76903
Phone
(325) 658-2728
Service Area
6 counties
Jackson Walker's Trusts & Estates group handles probate, trust, and guardianship administration from its Austin office and statewide, serving high-net-worth families and family offices. Attorneys manage will filings, creditor claims, inventories, and estate and gift tax returns, and also handle fiduciary litigation, business succession, and charitable planning structures.
Location
100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1100Austin, TX 78701
Phone
(512) 236-2000
Service Area
Statewide
North Dallas firm in the Bent Tree Green building, established in 1994, whose partners are board certified in estate planning and probate law. Handles probate and estate administration in the Dallas and Collin county courts, estate and gift tax planning, and business succession for closely held companies, and resolves estate and trust conflicts.
Location
17300 Dallas Parkway, Suite 2050Dallas, TX 75248
Phone
(972) 392-1123
Established
1994
Service Area
4 counties
Small Austin estate planning and probate firm handling probate administration, trust administration, will contests, mediation, and document preparation for clients in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. Glenn Karisch is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the 2024 recipient of the Bill Pargaman Distinguished Probate Attorney Lifetime Achievement Award.
Location
9111 Jollyville Road, Suite 225Austin, TX 78759
Phone
(512) 328-6346
Service Area
3 counties
Partners certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with more than 30 years of collective experience. Located in the Galleria area with free on-site parking.
Location
5851 San Felipe Street, Suite 925Houston, TX 77057
Phone
(713) 783-7444
Service Area
3 counties