Probate in Lampasas County runs through the County Clerk (Probate Division): 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 Lampasas County, settling their estate runs through the County Clerk (Probate Division). 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.
Probate Court Record
Lampasas County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Accepted paymentCash, Check, Credit card. County Clerk page lists cash, check, or credit card accepted.
County Clerk ext. 203. Handles probate, civil, criminal, and guardianship matters. Courthouse at 501 E. 4th St. Documents received after 4:30 PM processed next business day. Recording cutoff 4:30 PM.
Verified July 4, 2026 · Source
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 Lampasas, probate runs through the County Clerk (Probate Division) at 409 S Pecan St, Suite 201, Lampasas.
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 Lampasas 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 Clerk (Probate Division) at 409 S Pecan St, Suite 201, Lampasas.
Texas charges $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 probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the County Clerk (Probate Division) (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.
If you're handling probate yourself in Lampasas County, Texas, you can file at the County Clerk (Probate Division) in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Lampasas County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the County Clerk (Probate Division) is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Lampasas County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Photo ID required for in-person document recording
Photo identification is required when recording documents. Documents received after 4:30 PM are processed the following business day.
SourceBefore You Go
Cash, Check, Credit card. County Clerk page lists cash, check, or credit card accepted.
To file at the County Clerk (Probate Division) 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.
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 Lampasas County are recorded with the County Clerk in Lampasas, TX 76550.
The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
Lampasas County
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $25 |
| Each additional page | $4 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.011(a)(2), § 118.0216, § 118.025
Verified July 14, 2026 · Source
Texas uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Lampasas 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 Lampasas County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the County Clerk (Probate Division), 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.
FirmTemple, TX
Central Texas estate planning firm with more than 95 years of combined legal experience. Attorneys provide estate planning, probate, tax preparation and consultation, and business law services to the Temple and greater Central Texas area.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningGuardianshipand 4 more
FirmKilleen, TX
Bell County probate practice in Killeen, where Jay R. Beatty personally handles each probate case from filing through closing — wills, intestate estates, contested estates, and muniment of title. Also builds revocable living trusts for clients who want property to pass outside probate. Hablamos espanol; serves Fort Cavazos families across Central Texas.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmKilleen, TX
Killeen firm serving Bell County and neighboring Coryell and Lampasas counties, founded in 1992 and one of the city's oldest continuously operating firms. Handles probate and probate alternatives including affidavits of heirship, plus wills, living trusts, medical and durable powers of attorney, and transfer on death deeds.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawPower Of Attorneyand 3 more
Solo PracticeRockwall, TX
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
FirmBeaumont, TX
Beaumont-headquartered Texas firm whose estate group serves Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties from its home office. Principals Christopher D. Leavins and Gary W. Coker advise executors, trustees, and beneficiaries on settling estates and managing trusts, handle guardianships, and litigate will contests and trust disputes. Offices in five Texas cities.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmAustin, TX
Texas firm whose Trusts & Estates group works from six offices statewide, including Austin, for families, family offices, and closely held businesses. Handles probate, trust, and guardianship administration, fiduciary advice to executors and trustees, and trusts and estates litigation, alongside wealth transfer, business succession, and charitable planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 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.
Data sourced from Texas statutes and official state code. How we research.
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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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Step-by-step tools for families in Lampasas, Texas.
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Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
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