What to Do After a Death in Presidio County, Texas
The first weeks after losing someone involve time-sensitive tasks. Here's what to prioritize and what can wait.
If you've been named executor of an estate in Presidio County, several tasks need attention right away. Before you contact the District Court / County Court at Law about probate, focus on protecting assets and getting certified death certificates.
Certified death certificates are needed at nearly every step—the District Court / County Court at Law, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies all require originals. Ordering extra copies through Presidio County vital records early saves time later.
1. Order Death Certificates
Use this tool to figure out how many certified copies you need:
2. Estate Settlement Checklist
Keep track of what's done and what's next:
Once appointed as personal representative, Texas law requires filing an inventory of estate assets with the District Court / County Court at Law within 90 daysTex. Estates Code § 309.051; as amended by HB 3421, 89th Leg. (eff. 9/1/2025)Verified May 1, 2026. The inventory includes identifying and valuing all property owned at the time of death—real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Texas requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper. Creditors then have 4 monthsTex. Est. Code § 355.060 (121-day bar triggered by optional § 308.054 notice); § 355.001 (no fixed deadline without such notice)Verified May 1, 2026 to file claims against the estate.
The most urgent tasks involve protecting assets and stopping automatic payments. Notify Social Security (1-800-772-1213) to prevent benefit overpayments, secure the residence, and begin collecting mail so nothing is missed.
Contact banks and credit card companies immediately to freeze accounts and prevent unauthorized transactions.
When you're ready to start the probate process, contact the District Court / County Court at Law at 432-729-4812 to confirm what documents you'll need. You can file in person or by mail—families handling probate themselves don't need to use e-filing.
File any life insurance claims promptly with known carriers—these proceeds may be needed for estate settlement expenses or will transfer directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate.
An attorney may be worth the cost when the estate involves contested assets or complex valuations that Probate Jurisdiction District Court at the District Court / County Court at Law will need to rule on.
Attorney fees in Texas typically range from 2%Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified May 1, 2026 to 4%Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)Verified May 1, 2026 of estate value, with many Marfa-area attorneys offering flat-rate arrangements for straightforward estates without disputes.
If the estate is large enough to trigger tax filing requirements, involves unusual assets, or creates potential liability for the executor, professional guidance can prevent costly mistakes.
Legal Sources
- Tex. Est. Code § 352.051 (reasonable and necessarily incurred fees; no statutory percentage)
- Tex. Est. Code § 355.060 (121-day bar triggered by optional § 308.054 notice); § 355.001 (no fixed deadline without such notice)
- Tex. Estates Code § 309.051; as amended by HB 3421, 89th Leg. (eff. 9/1/2025)
Data sourced from Texas statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before anything court-related, handle three things: get the doctor or coroner to sign the death certificate, secure the home and any valuables, and locate the will. Only then does probate planning make sense.
Plan on 8–12 certified copies. Each financial institution, title company, insurer, and the Presidio County probate court will ask for an original. Ordering too few is the most common delay families run into. Use the Texas death certificate calculator for a personalized count.
Texas does not set a strict filing deadline for opening probate, but delay has costs: the creditor claim period is 4 months, assets stay frozen until probate opens, and some banks refuse to act without letters. Most families file within 30–60 days.
Funeral homes typically report the death to Social Security. Bank and brokerage notifications are on the executor — accounts freeze on notification, so timing matters. The Texas estate settlement checklist walks through the order.
Yes. A revocable living trust keeps the estate out of Presidio County probate entirely — no filing, no hearings, no public record. Families who plan ahead settle in weeks instead of months. Create a revocable trust online before the next generation has to go through what you're handling now.
District Court / County Court at Law
Presidio County
300 N. Highland Avenue
Marfa, TX 79843
Phone:
432-729-4812Fax:
432-729-4313
Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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