Estate Planning for Blanco County, Texas Property Owners

For most Blanco County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Blanco County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the County Court. The two tools that keep a Blanco County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the County Court decides who receives the property: a simple Texas probate takes 4+ months and opens with $438 in court filing fees. Texas also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Blanco County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Blanco County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Texas transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

Create a Texas TOD deed →Blanco County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Blanco County are recorded with the County Clerk at 101 East Cypress Street, Johnson City, TX 78636. Phone: 1-830-868-7357. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 65, Johnson City, TX 78636.

The County Clerk charges $20 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $24 to record in Blanco County. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.

Blanco County accepts electronic recording through CSC and ePN.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Blanco County

Hours

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

Office

101 East Cypress Street, Johnson City, TX 78636

Open in Google Maps

Mail

P.O. Box 65 Johnson City, TX 78636

Verified October 17, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Blanco County

FirmAustin, TX

Law Office of Todd A. Wilson

Serves 6 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
4425 S Mopac Expy, Bldg II Ste 201Austin, TX 78735
Free consultation

FirmFredericksburg, TX

Schoessow Law Firm, PLLC

Serves 6 counties

Fredericksburg law firm handling estate planning, probate, real estate, and business matters in the Texas Hill Country. Chris C. Schoessow is board certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization; Gayle D. Schoessow also practises with the firm.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estate

Office
1325 E. Main StreetFredericksburg, TX 78624

FirmSeguin, TX

Texas Horizons Law Group PLLC

Since 2019 · Serves 5 counties

Established in 2019, Texas Horizons Law Group offers estate planning and probate services on a flat-fee basis from offices in Seguin and New Braunfels. Over 80 years of combined legal experience in estate planning, probate, real estate, business, and oil and gas law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness SuccessionPower Of AttorneyTrusts

Office
536 E. Court St.Seguin, TX 78155
Free consultationVirtual consultations

Solo PracticeFredericksburg, TX

The Parker Law Firm

Since 2005 · Serves 6 counties

Fredericksburg law firm focused on estate and business planning, business and real estate transactions, and probate and trust administration. Attorney Eric Parker is board certified in estate planning and probate law and has served the Texas Hill Country since 2005.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
905 S. Adams StreetFredericksburg, TX 78624

FirmDallas, TX

Ford+Bergner LLP

Serves 4 counties

Boutique estate-law firm whose Dallas office sits downtown on Main Street, with Houston and Austin offices and fourteen attorneys. Handles probate administration, fiduciary services, contested guardianships, and estate, trust, and guardianship litigation, and says it has worked in 112 of Texas' 254 counties. Free consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
901 Main Street, 33rd FloorDallas, TX 75202
Free consultation

FirmSan Antonio, TX

Hailey-Petty Law Firm, PLLC

Serves 7 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipLong Term Care Planning

Office
17721 Rogers Ranch Parkway, Suite 130San Antonio, TX 78258
Free consultation
See all 15 firms serving Blanco County →

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Texas statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Texas

Free forms for planning your estate in Texas: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. 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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Codicil to a Will

In Texas, a codicil is signed before 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyTex. Est. Code §§ 22.034, 251.104Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Texas allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Health & Safety Code § 166.164Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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HIPAA Release

In Texas, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and genetic informationTex. Health & Safety Code § 81.103(a), (b), (d) (Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1; last amended Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1278, § 12); Tex. Occ. Code §§ 58.102, 58.104 (Added Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14.001(a))Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.

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Financial Power of Attorney

Texas requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityTex. Est. Code § 751.0021Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryTex. Est. Code § 751.0021Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.

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Transfer on Death Deed

In Texas, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Lady Bird Deed

In Texas, a Lady Bird deed is recognized by court decisionsIn re Estate of Turner, No. 06-17-00071-CV (Tex. App.—Texarkana Dec. 8, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.)Verified Oct 23, 2026View source: the owner keeps a life estate and the power to sell or convey the property without the granteeIn re Estate of Turner, No. 06-17-00071-CV (Tex. App.—Texarkana Dec. 8, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.)Verified Oct 23, 2026View source.

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Vehicle Transfer on Death

Texas allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleTex. Transp. Code 501.0315; Tex. Estates Code ch. 115Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), through county tax assessor-collector offices using Form VTR-121.

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How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Texas, a will is signed before 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredTex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Texas recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedTex. Est. Code § 251.053Verified Sep 16, 2026View source; a will signed in Texas itself needs 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredTex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Texas, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Texas runs $4,130Estimate: 10 hours at $413, Clio's Texas Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,195Estimate: 15 hours at $413, Clio's Texas Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Does a Will Cost?

An attorney-prepared will in Texas runs $1,161Estimate: 3 hours at $387, Clio's Texas Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,322Estimate: 6 hours at $387, Clio's Texas Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $27,634Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

In Texas, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingTex. Est. Code §§ 1104.053, 1104.151–1104.160Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Tex. Fam. Code § 101.003Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Texas takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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