Sherman practice serving Grayson County and the Texoma region, in the community since the 1990s. Craig Watson is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation, with 30 years in estate planning, probate, and elder law and four earlier years as a CPA. Handles estate administration, will contests, guardianship, and nursing home Medicaid qualification.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Fannin County, Texas
How probate works in Fannin County: the County Court and County Court at Law record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Fannin County Court and County Court at Law
Fannin County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2225 North Center Street, Suite 100, Bonham, TX 75418
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 counterChecks are made payable to Fannin County Clerk. A refund of $10 or less is issued on request, after the check clears.
County forms
- Probate FAQsThe County Clerk's answers to common probate and guardianship questions
- Probate, Mental, Guardianship Filing Fees (updated January 3, 2025)The County Clerk's probate fee schedule
Fax
1-903-583-0315
Departments
- County Clerk main office1-903-583-7486 · 2225 North Center Street, Suite 200
About the court
- The County Clerk's Probate, Guardianship and Civil Department takes probate filings at the Fannin County Justice Center, Suite 100, and staff speak Spanish. The County Clerk is the clerk for the County Court and the County Court at Law, which both hear probate cases.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Fannin 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 Fannin County, probate runs through the County Court and County Court at Law at 2225 North Center Street, Suite 100, Bonham.
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 Fannin County
What probate costs in Fannin 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 County Court and County Court at Law at 2225 North Center Street, Suite 100, Bonham.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: The filing fee covers the filing only; each citation is $8 and posting of citation by the sheriff is $95, requested and paid by the filer.
The County Court and County Court at Law 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 County Court and County Court at Law
Probate cases in Fannin County, Texas are filed at the County Court and County Court at Law.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for County Clerk main office.
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 Fannin County Self-Filing Assessment.
Fannin 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
A self-addressed, stamped envelope goes with every filing unless the filer will pick up the original documents.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the County Court and County Court at Law: 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 Justice of the Peace in Fannin County
In Texas a death is registered locally, and in Fannin County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by County Clerk, Vital Statistics and Records Department, Fannin County as well as by Texas Department of State Health Services - Vital Statistics Section.
Vital Records Office Record
County Clerk
Fannin County · County Clerk, Vital Statistics and Records Department
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2225 North Center Street, Suite 200, Bonham, TX 75418
Website
Fees
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $21 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $4 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Justice of the Peace
Fannin County · Justices of the Peace
Website
Serves this county
The justice of the peace of the precinct where the death occurred
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Fannin 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 Fannin County are recorded with the County Clerk at 2225 North Center Street, Suite 200, Bonham, TX 75418. Phone: 1-903-583-7486. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Fannin County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2225 North Center Street, Suite 200, Bonham, TX 75418
Website
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 Fannin 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 Fannin County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the County Court and County Court at Law, 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.
Sherman solo practice serving Grayson County and the Texoma region. Todd Estes handles probate of wills, estate administration, determinations of heirship, affidavits of heirship, and small estate affidavits, and drafts wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and special needs trusts. Also forms limited liability entities for business owners.
Paris, Texas solo practice serving Lamar County and Northeast Texas with more than 25 years of experience. Handles estate planning — wills, living wills, powers of attorney, elder care, and farm, ranch and business transfers — alongside real estate and corporate work. Sydney Young is board certified in residential, commercial, and farm and ranch real estate law.
Paris law firm offering estate planning and probate, real estate, corporate and business representation, and appellate work for clients across Lamar County and Northeast Texas. Brad Hutchison and Don Biard practice from 38 First Northwest in Paris.
Paris firm practicing in Lamar County since 1893, working a five-county area that also takes in Delta, Red River, Fannin, and Hopkins counties. Assists executors and personal representatives through probate, including estate inventory, debt payment, tax filings, and asset distribution, and drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
Rockwall solo practice serving Rockwall, Dallas, Kaufman, and Collin counties, and Texas statewide since 1994. Michael Cramer drafts wills, revocable living trusts, and special needs trusts, handles trust administration, and litigates will and trust contests. Services are offered in English and Spanish, and the initial case evaluation is complimentary.
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
- Fannin County Court and County Court at Law, official page
- Fannin County Clerk, official page
- Fannin 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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