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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Parker County, Texas
How probate works in Parker County: the County Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Parker County Probate Court
Parker County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:45 PM
Office
1112 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, TX 76086
Website
Files probate
Probate / Mental Health Division (County Clerk)
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.
Hearing schedule
- Probate docket on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month; hearings are in person in the Commissioners Courtroom.
County forms
- Small Estate AffidavitCourt small estate affidavit form for an intestate estate.
- Small Estate Affidavit ChecklistThe Parker County Probate Court's checklist for a small estate affidavit under Estates Code chapter 205.
- Uniform Standing Order Regarding Pro Se ApplicantsThe court's order on when an attorney is required in probate and guardianship cases.
Departments
- Probate / Mental Health Division (County Clerk)1-817-598-6018 · Takes probate filings · 1112 Santa Fe DriveThe County Clerk's probate office takes probate filings and original wills, by mail marked "Attn: Probate" or by hand; it closes from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.
- County Probate Court (County Judge)1-817-598-6148 · 1 Courthouse Square · probate@parkercountytx.comThe County Judge hears probate, guardianship and mental competency cases; hearings are in person, with video allowed for out-of-state applicants or a medical travel concern.
- County Probate Auditor1-817-598-6151The probate auditor sets the court docket and reviews each file before a hearing is set.
About the court
- Probate filings go to the County Clerk's probate office at 1112 Santa Fe Drive; the County Probate Court, presided over by the County Judge, sits at the courthouse on Courthouse Square.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Parker 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 Parker County, probate runs through the County Probate Court at 1112 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford.
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 Parker County
What probate costs in Parker 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 Probate Court at 1112 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Opening a probate costs $383: the $360 filing fee, an $8 citation and the $15 sheriff's posting fee.
The County Probate Court 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 Probate Court
Probate cases in Parker County, Texas are filed at the Probate / Mental Health Division (County Clerk) of the County Probate Court.
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 Parker County Self-Filing Assessment.
Parker County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Court Appearances
A hearing is set only after all pleadings, proposed orders, reports and documents are filed and the original will is with the clerk.
The probate docket closes at the end of the Wednesday before court. Pre-dated oaths are not accepted, and the attorney provides a death-verification letter or brings the death certificate for the court to inspect before the order is signed.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the County Probate Court: 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 Parker County
In Texas a death is registered locally, and in Parker County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by County Clerk, Records-Deeds Division and Vitals, Parker County as well as by Texas Department of State Health Services - Vital Statistics Section.
Vital Records Office Record
County Clerk
Parker County · County Clerk, Records-Deeds Division and Vitals
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:45 PM
Office
1112 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, TX 76086
Website
Order online
Local rule
- The online service orders only records of events in Parker County. A mailed request carries the sworn statement and a photocopy of a valid photo identification.
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
District Medical Examiner
Parker County · Parker County Medical Examiner, Tarrant County Medical Examiner District
Phone
Office
215 Trinity Street, Weatherford, TX 76086
Website
Serves this county
Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office (Tarrant County Medical Examiner District (Tarrant, Denton, Johnson and Parker Counties))
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Parker 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 Parker County are recorded with the County Clerk at 1112 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, TX 76086. Phone: 1-817-594-7461. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:45 PM.
The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Parker County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:45 PM
Office
1112 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, TX 76086
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 Parker 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 Parker County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the County Probate Court, 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.
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.
Fort Worth elder law and estate planning firm serving Tarrant County and North Central Texas. Handles probate after a death, including independent administration, heirship determination, the 90-day inventory, and creditor notice, plus guardianship, Medicaid and long-term care planning, and supplemental needs trusts. All of its attorneys belong to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
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.
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.
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.
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
- Parker County Probate Court, official page
- Parker County Clerk, official page
- Parker 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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