Estate Planning for Fort Bend County, Texas Property Owners

For most Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the County Court at Law No. 3. The two tools that keep a Fort Bend 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.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Fort Bend County property passes through the County Court at Law No. 3 — even simple Texas probates run 4+ months and start with $360 in 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 Fort Bend County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Fort Bend 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 Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a TexasTOD deed →Fort Bend Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Fort Bend County are recorded with the County Clerk in Richmond, TX 77469.

The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Fort Bend County comes to $29. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Fort Bend County

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$25
Each additional page$4
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.011(a)(2), § 118.0216, § 118.025

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Fort Bend County

FirmPearland, TX

Abii & Associates, PLLC

Serves 3 counties

Pearland firm serving Brazoria, Harris, and Fort Bend counties across every Texas probate track — court-supervised administration, muniment of title, small-estate affidavit, and ancillary probate for out-of-state property. Three attorneys draft wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, and represent executors and beneficiaries through estate administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionBusiness SuccessionTrusts

Office
3129 Kingsley Dr, #110Pearland, TX 77584

FirmHouston, TX

Davis & Willms, PLLC

Serves 3 counties

Serves Harris County and the surrounding Houston area from Timmons Lane near the Galleria. Represents executors and trustees through probating the will, administering the assets, filing a federal estate tax return where required, and distributing to individuals or trusts, and represents beneficiaries protecting their interests. Both partners are board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 5 more

Office
3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 1250Houston, TX 77027

Solo PracticeHouston, TX

Elliott Estate Law, PLLC

Serves 4 counties

Houston practice handling probate and estate administration in the Harris County probate courts, plus Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Galveston counties. John T. Elliott, board certified in estate planning and probate law since 2011, probates wills, opens independent and dependent administrations, determines heirship, and handles probate dispute litigation and guardianship administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship

Office
952 Echo Lane, Suite 330Houston, TX 77024

FirmHouston, TX

Fizer Beck Webster Bentley & Scroggins

Since 1979 · Serves 2 counties

Houston firm founded in 1979, serving Harris County families, closely held businesses, and institutions serving as fiduciaries. Handles probate and estate and trust administration for fiduciaries and beneficiaries alongside wills, lifetime trusts, business succession, and charitable structures. Co-founder Roger Q. Beck has been board certified in estate planning and probate law since 1988.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more

Office
5718 Westheimer, Suite 1750Houston, TX 77057

FirmHouston, TX

Harold "Hap" May, P.C. Attorneys at Law

Serves 2 counties

West Houston firm on S. Dairy Ashford handling probate alongside business and tax work. Probate services include will admission, contested wills, intestate heirship and dependent administration, muniment of title, trust litigation, and receivership. Founder Harold "Hap" May is a CPA with an LLM in tax law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 7 more

Office
1500 S. Dairy Ashford, Suite 325Houston, TX 77077

FirmHouston, TX

Hensley & Krueger, PLLC

Serves 5 counties

Houston firm on Kirby Drive representing executors, heirs, and beneficiaries through probate and trust administration, heirship determinations, intestacy, and creditor claims against estates, serving Harris County and surrounding counties. The attorneys carry over half a century of combined experience and take qualifying contested will cases with no upfront fees.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more

Office
5615 Kirby Drive, Suite 720Houston, TX 77005
Free consultation
See all 20 firms serving Fort Bend 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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

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

Texas Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for Texas.