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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Dallas County, Texas
How probate works in Dallas County: the Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3 record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Dallas County Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3
Dallas County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75202
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Attorney of record required
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys must e-file probate cases through eFileTexas; self-represented filers may e-file or file on paper. When an application to probate a will is e-filed, the original will goes to the clerk within three business days. On paper: Original wills: filed with the clerk on paper within three business days after the application is e-filed.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCheck, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.The Probate Division accepts money orders, personal checks and credit or debit cards. Checks and money orders are made payable to the Dallas County Clerk as named on the division's fee schedule.
Self-help center
- George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Suite B40, Dallas, TX 752021-214-653-7481 · lawlibrary@dallascounty.org · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PMThe Dallas County Law Library offers reference help, Westlaw, Lexis, public computers, printing, copying and fax. Staff guide research but do not do research for patrons or give legal advice.
County forms
- Small Estate Affidavit (required form)The probate courts' required form for collecting a small estate without administration.
- Small Estate Affidavit ChecklistChecklist of what a small estate affidavit filing needs.
- Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs (bilingual)Sworn statement asking to proceed without paying court costs.
- Descent and Distribution ChartChart of who inherits a Texas estate when there is no will.
Departments
- Probate Court No. 11-214-653-7236 · 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 100Hearings are set by the court's docket coordinator at 214-653-7541.
- Probate Court No. 21-214-653-7138 · 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 200Hearings are set by the court's docket coordinator at 214-653-7012.
- Probate Court No. 31-214-653-6166 · 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 300Hearings are set by the court's docket coordinator at 214-653-6813. All mental illness cases are assigned to this court.
- Probate Service (citations, postings, publications)1-214-653-7573 · probate.service@dallascounty.org
- Filing questions1-214-653-7422
- Letters and copies1-214-653-7424 · dcopenprobaterec@dallascounty.orgLetters, certified copies and exemplified copies can be requested with payment by e-file, by mail or at the Probate Division office.
About the court
- Dallas County has three statutory probate courts on the 7th floor of the George Allen Courts Building; probate filings go to the County Clerk's Probate Division on the same floor. The courts hold virtual hearings by Zoom and post their virtual-hearing instructions on the probate forms page.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Dallas County
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 Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3 at 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 400, Dallas.
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. 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 a claim, counted from the written notice the representative sends them, not from publication.
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 Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3 at 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 400, Dallas.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: A new application is charged the $360 base fee; the posted notice fee ($20) and citation fee ($8 each) are added as optional services when the application is filed.
The Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3 charges $360Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 133.151(a)(1), 135.102(a)(1) (consolidated filing fees); SB 41 (87th Leg., Acts 2021, ch. 472)Verified Oct 17, 2026 to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Texas are negotiated, 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Texas allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payTex. Est. Code §§ 352.002, 352.003Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Texas requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under 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 Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3
Probate cases in Dallas County, Texas are filed at the Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate Court No. 1, Probate Court No. 2, Probate Court No. 3, and Probate Service (citations, postings, publications).
The Dallas County Law Library offers reference help, Westlaw, Lexis, public computers, printing, copying and fax. Staff guide research but do not do research for patrons or give legal advice.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Dallas County Self-Filing Assessment.
Dallas County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
New cases are assigned to the three probate courts in random order; a case refiled after a nonsuit or dismissal for want of prosecution goes back to the court that had it.
SourceDocument Requirements
An affidavit of heirship is filed with the County Clerk's Recording Division, not the Probate Division.
SourceCourt Appearances
No motion in a contested matter is filed or set for hearing without a certificate of conference; counsel for the movant first makes at least three attempts, on two business days, to confer with opposing counsel.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3: Application to admit the will to probate and/or for letters testamentary or of administration (Tex. Est. Code ch. 256 / ch. 301; contents per § 301.052) — drafted by counsel, no statewide form; Original will and any codicils, filed with the application (Tex. Est. Code ch. 256); Certified copy of the death certificate / proof of death; Citation issued by the county clerk and served — by posting where the will is produced in court — before the court may act on the application, and proof of that service (Tex. Est. Code §§ 258.001, 258.003; §§ 256.151(4), 301.151(4))Tex. Est. Code ch. 256 (probate of wills / application; § 256.052 contents; § 256.003 four-year limit to admit a will), ch. 301 (application for letters testamentary or of administration; § 301.052 contents; § 301.002 four-year deadline to apply for letters), ch. 305 (qualification & bond), ch. 306 (granting & issuance of letters); ch. 401-404 (independent administration)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Dallas County
In Texas a death is registered locally, and in Dallas County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Vital Records Division, County Clerk, Dallas County as well as by Texas Department of State Health Services - Vital Statistics Section.
Vital Records Office Record
County Clerk
Dallas County · Vital Records Division, County Clerk
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
Order online
City registration districts
- Dallas · Vital Statistics, Office of Community Care1-214-670-3092 · 1515 Young Street, 1st Floor, Dallas, TX 75201 · Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Local rule
- The County Clerk holds death certificates for deaths in Dallas County outside the City of Dallas, which registers its own. A request by mail carries a notarized copy of the applicant's government-issued identification.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $21 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $4 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Dallas County · Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences
Phone
Office
2355 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207
Website
Release of remains
1-214-920-5900 · Investigations, including release status · (option 1)
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Mail and offices
Death Certification
1-214-920-5900 (option 3)
Records
1-214-920-5900 (option 4)
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
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 at 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: 1-214-653-7099. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page.
Dallas County accepts electronic recording.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Dallas County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $25 |
| Each additional page | $4 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.011(a)(2), § 118.0216, § 118.025
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Dallas County
Texas allows independent administrationTex. Est. Code §§ 401.001 (testate/will), 401.002 (testate/agreement), 401.003 (intestate/agreement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Texas are based on reasonable compensation, 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 Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- Tex. Est. Code §§ 352.002, 352.003
- Tex. Est. Code §§ 401.001 (testate/will), 401.002 (testate/agreement), 401.003 (intestate/agreement)
- Tex. Est. Code ch. 256 (probate of wills / application; § 256.052 contents; § 256.003 four-year limit to admit a will), ch. 301 (application for letters testamentary or of administration; § 301.052 contents; § 301.002 four-year deadline to apply for letters), ch. 305 (qualification & bond), ch. 306 (granting & issuance of letters); ch. 401-404 (independent administration)
- Tex. Estates Code §§ 308.051-308.056, 355.001-355.004, 355.060, 355.064, 355.102
- Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 133.151(a)(1), 135.102(a)(1) (consolidated filing fees); SB 41 (87th Leg., Acts 2021, ch. 472)
- Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.011(a)(2), § 118.0216, § 118.025
- Dallas Probate Courts No. 1, 2 and 3, official page
- Dallas County Clerk, official page
- Dallas County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Texas statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Texas
Free tools for settling an estate in Texas: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Texas.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Texas happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteTex. Prop. Code § 111.001 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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.
Get the Answer
Hire a Texas Probate Attorney
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