Estate Planning for Hood County, Texas Property Owners

For most Hood 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 Hood County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the County Court. The two tools that keep a Hood 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, Hood County property passes through the County Court — 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 Hood County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Hood 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 Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

Create a Texas TOD deed →Hood County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Hood County are recorded with the County Clerk at 201 West Bridge Street, Granbury, TX 76048. Phone: 1-817-579-3222. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 339, Granbury, TX 76048.

The County Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Hood County comes to $19. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Hood County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

201 West Bridge Street, Granbury, TX 76048

Open in Google Maps

Mail

P.O. Box 339 Granbury, TX 76048

Verified October 17, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Hood County

Solo PracticeWeatherford, TX

Gary F. Westenhover, Attorney at Law

Serves 8 counties

Weatherford solo practice on South Main Street with more than 40 years in the North Texas courts. Maintains an active probate litigation practice across Parker, Palo Pinto, Jack, Johnson, Tarrant, Wise, Hood, and Erath counties, and handles estate administration, guardianship, and wills and trusts. Gary F. Westenhover is board certified in estate planning and probate law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipLiving Trustsand 2 more

Office
101 South Main StreetWeatherford, TX 76086

FirmGranbury, TX

The Law Offices of Rob Christian

Serves 6 counties

Granbury firm serving Hood, Parker, Johnson, Bosque, and Erath counties, alongside a criminal defense practice. Handles probate, muniment of title for small estates, and out-of-court heirship affidavits, plus wills, trusts including special needs trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipPower Of Attorneyand 2 more

Office
1405 West Pearl StreetGranbury, TX 76048
Free consultation

Solo PracticeAbilene, TX

John O. Scott, PLLC

Serves 9 counties

Abilene attorney serving the Big Country and east to Weatherford, Granbury, and Fort Worth. Handles uncontested probate, heirship proceedings, affidavits of heirship, small estate affidavits, and muniment of title, plus wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and transfer-on-death deeds. Publishes flat-fee prices for each and offers a free 15-30 minute initial consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estateand 2 more

Office
104 Pine St, Ste 502Abilene, TX 79601
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmCedar Park, TX

Robbins Estate Law

Serves 5 counties

Estate planning and probate firm based in Cedar Park with six more offices across Austin, Round Rock, Bellaire, and Arlington. Handles probate administration and avoidance, muniment of title, small estate affidavits, trust administration, guardianship, will contests, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Eight attorneys split between planning and probate teams.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more

Office
13625 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Bldg 5, Ste 200Cedar Park, TX 78613
Free consultation

Solo PracticeMcAllen, TX

The Almaguer Law Firm

Serves 6 counties

Rio Grande Valley firm in McAllen serving Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties, with a second office in Dallas. Sharon Almaguer has practiced for more than 35 years and handles probate of wills, guardianship proceedings, elder law, and special needs planning. Virtual and in-person consultations are available by appointment in Edinburg, Brownsville, Port Isabel, and Harlingen.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 3 more

Office
801 E. Fern Ave, Suite 139McAllen, TX 78501
Virtual consultations

Solo PracticeRockwall, TX

The Cramer Law Group

Since 1994 · Serves the whole state

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
2255 Ridge Road, Suite 208Rockwall, TX 75087
Free consultation
See all 9 firms serving Hood 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.

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

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Texas

Free forms for planning your estate in Texas: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Texas.

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Last Will and Testament

In Texas, a will is signed before 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyTex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Codicil to a Will

In Texas, a codicil is signed before 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyTex. Est. Code §§ 22.034, 251.104Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Texas allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Health & Safety Code § 166.164Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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HIPAA Release

In Texas, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and genetic informationTex. Health & Safety Code § 81.103(a), (b), (d) (Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1; last amended Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1278, § 12); Tex. Occ. Code §§ 58.102, 58.104 (Added Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 14.001(a))Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.

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Financial Power of Attorney

Texas requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityTex. Est. Code § 751.0021Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryTex. Est. Code § 751.0021Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.

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Transfer on Death Deed

In Texas, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathTex. Estates Code 114.001 to 114.106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Lady Bird Deed

In Texas, a Lady Bird deed is recognized by court decisionsIn re Estate of Turner, No. 06-17-00071-CV (Tex. App.—Texarkana Dec. 8, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.)Verified Oct 23, 2026View source: the owner keeps a life estate and the power to sell or convey the property without the granteeIn re Estate of Turner, No. 06-17-00071-CV (Tex. App.—Texarkana Dec. 8, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.)Verified Oct 23, 2026View source.

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Vehicle Transfer on Death

Texas allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleTex. Transp. Code 501.0315; Tex. Estates Code ch. 115Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), through county tax assessor-collector offices using Form VTR-121.

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How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Texas, a will is signed before 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredTex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Texas recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedTex. Est. Code § 251.053Verified Sep 16, 2026View source; a will signed in Texas itself needs 2Tex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredTex. Est. Code § 251.051Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Texas, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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 the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Texas runs $4,130Estimate: 10 hours at $413, Clio's Texas Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,195Estimate: 15 hours at $413, Clio's Texas Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Does a Will Cost?

An attorney-prepared will in Texas runs $1,161Estimate: 3 hours at $387, Clio's Texas Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,322Estimate: 6 hours at $387, Clio's Texas Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $27,634Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

In Texas, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingTex. Est. Code §§ 1104.053, 1104.151–1104.160Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Tex. Fam. Code § 101.003Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Texas takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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 the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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