What to Do When Someone Dies in Collin County, Texas
Probate in Collin County runs through the Statutory Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Collin County, settling their estate runs through the Statutory Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysWalk-ins acceptedSelf-filing allowed
County forms
Small Estate Affidavit — Collect a small estate without formal administration when no will exists and estate value is within statutory limits.
Departments
Russell A. Steindam Courts Building972-548-6461
Collin County Law Library972-548-4100
Statutory Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate cases, guardianship proceedings, and involuntary mental commitments. Uncontested cases often handled via Zoom. Metro phone: 972-424-1460. Probate email: eFile-probate@collincountytx.gov.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Collin County, probate runs through the Statutory Probate Court at 2100 Bloomdale Rd., Suite 12010, McKinney.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Texas intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Texas estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 4 monthsTex. Est. Code § 355.060 (121-day bar from a creditor's RECEIPT of the optional § 308.054 notice; § 403.055 is the identical bar in an independent administration); § 355.001 (claims may be presented any time before the estate closes when no § 308.054 notice is sent). Texas has NO claim period running from the § 308.051 published notice.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Collin County
What probate costs in Collin County, Texas comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Statutory Probate Court at 2100 Bloomdale Rd., Suite 12010, McKinney.
Probate matters are handled through Russell A. Steindam Courts Building and Collin County Law Library. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Collin County runs a probate self-help center (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM), which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 972-548-4100.
The Statutory Probate Court charges $360Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 133.151(a)(1) ($137 state consolidated), 135.102(a)(1) ($223 local consolidated); SB 41 (87th Leg., eff. 1/1/2022), amounts last amended by SB 1612 (88th Leg., eff. 1/1/2024). SB 1760 (89th Leg., eff. 9/1/2025) added only a $45 guardianship-transfer filing fee (Est. Code ch. 1023) and did not change the consolidated amounts. § 133.151(a)(1) ($137) and § 135.102(a)(1) ($223) re-confirmed verbatim 2026-09-08 against tcss.legis.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.133.htm and LG.135.htm (the codified-text backend; the canonical statutes.capitol.texas.gov page is a JS shell that serves zero statute text). Neither section carries an 89th Leg. (2025) amendment; both last amended by SB 1612 (88th Leg.), eff. 1/1/2024.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Statutory Probate Court (https://efile.txcourts.gov/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Texas are negotiated, typically 2.2%Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Texas requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Tex. Est. Code § 305.101Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Texas typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Statutory Probate Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Collin County, Texas, you can file at the Statutory Probate Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms.
Filings here are routed through Russell A. Steindam Courts Building and Collin County Law Library. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Collin County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
•Original wills (must be filed in person within 3 days)
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Statutory Probate Court is realistic. Collin County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
Collect a small estate without formal administration when no will exists and estate value is within statutory limits.
Before You Go
Walk-ins accepted
You can file in person without an appointment. Small estate affidavits and uncontested will probate without administration may be filed by self-represented individuals; uncontested probate and guardianship hearings are often handled by Zoom. Original wills must be filed with the Probate Clerk's Office within 3 days of e-filing; a hearing is generally not set until the original will is received.
What to Bring
To file at the Statutory Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Collin County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Collin County are recorded with the County Clerk in McKinney, TX 75071.
The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page.
Texas uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Collin County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Texas are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.2%Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Collin County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Statutory Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
North Dallas firm serving Dallas, Collin, and Denton counties, with founder Lorie Burch and two associate attorneys. Drafts wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and directives to physicians, handles probate, and runs a mobile notary service that brings document signings to clients at home or bedside. Initial calls are free of charge.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateLiving WillsPower Of Attorneyand 2 more
Serves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex from Plano, with a Mansfield office and an appointment-only Fort Worth office. Handles independent and dependent administration, muniment of title, determination of heirship, and small estate affidavits in Collin, Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton county probate courts. Planning is billed at a flat rate, probate hourly.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationGuardianshipand 4 more
Serves Dallas County and the surrounding North Texas area from 100 Crescent Court in downtown Dallas. Carries probate, estate administration, and trust administration alongside its planning work, with charitable, tax, and family business planning. All four attorneys are board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more
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
Lewisville estate planning and probate firm in historic Old Town serving the Dallas, Denton, and Fort Worth Metroplex. Partners Donna Roberts Hernandez and Kellie Fister Stokes guide clients through probate matters and draft wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and also handle small business formation and real estate transactions. Free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionBusiness Formationand 5 more
Dallas estate planning and probate firm in the Merit Tower serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. Attorney Steven C. Holman handles probate and estate administration, letters testamentary, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and long-term care and incapacity planning. Meetings available at the office, by phone, or by video conference.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawPower Of AttorneyRevocable Trusts
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
Enter estate details
Select your state and enter an estate value to see a detailed cost estimate.
Quick examples:
Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
$
Total probate assets (exclude beneficiary-designated accounts)
Can you self-file probate?
Enter your state and estate value to get a personalized recommendation with estimated cost savings.
Score-based assessment with reasoning
Cost comparison vs. hiring an attorney
This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Collin County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Collin County, Texas.
