Probate in Dallas County runs through the Statutory Probate Courts (3): 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 Dallas County, settling their estate runs through the Statutory Probate Courts (3). 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 attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCheck. Checks payable to the Dallas County Clerk. Probate Division filing counter: George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce St., 7th Floor Suite 400, open 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday.
Dallas County has 3 statutory probate courts with exclusive jurisdiction (Suites 100, 200, 300 of the George Allen Courts Building per the county probate page). County Clerk Probate Division handles filings at 600 Commerce St., 7th Floor, Suite 400. For copies: 214-653-7424. For filings: 214-653-7422. For citations: 214-653-7573. Local Probate Rules revised August 2025. Virtual hearings available via Zoom.
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 Dallas, probate runs through the Statutory Probate Courts (3) at 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Dallas. The court sits in the Probate Courts 1, 2, and 3.
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 Dallas County
What probate costs in Dallas 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 Courts (3) at 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Dallas. The court is part of the Probate Courts 1, 2, and 3.
Probate matters are handled through Probate Courts Division (County Clerk), Probate Court No. 1, Probate Court No. 2, and Probate Court No. 3. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Personal representatives must file instruments timely or face fine up to $1,000 and removal. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Dallas County runs a probate self-help center (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 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 214-653-7481.
The Statutory Probate Courts (3) charge $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 Courts (3) (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 Courts (3)
If you're handling probate yourself in Dallas County, Texas, you can file at the Statutory Probate Courts (3) in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the Probate Courts 1, 2, and 3.
Filings here are routed through Probate Courts Division (County Clerk), Probate Court No. 1, Probate Court No. 2, and Probate Court No. 3. 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 Dallas 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 Courts (3) is realistic. Dallas County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
Chart showing intestate distribution of a Texas estate
Before You Go
Accepted payment
Check. Checks payable to the Dallas County Clerk. Probate Division filing counter: George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce St., 7th Floor Suite 400, open 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday.
What to Bring
To file at the Statutory Probate Courts (3) 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 Dallas 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 Dallas County are recorded with the County Clerk in Dallas, TX 75202.
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 Dallas 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 Dallas County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Statutory Probate Courts (3), 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.
Serves Tarrant and Dallas counties from Commerce Street in Fort Worth. Its Probate, Trust and Estate Administration section handles administration of estates and trusts after a death, including postmortem tax planning, and its fiduciary litigators represent beneficiaries, trustees, executors, and guardians in will contests, heirship determinations, and breach of fiduciary duty cases.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 8 more
Office
301 Commerce Street, Suite 2500Fort Worth, TX 76102
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
Fort Worth solo practice in the Fort Worth Club Building handling independent and dependent probate administration, contested and uncontested matters, and guardianship for Tarrant County families. Catherine Goodman is board certified in estate planning and probate law and takes will contests and trust and fiduciary litigation as well as drafting wills and directives.
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
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.
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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.
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