Estate Planning for San Augustine County, Texas Property Owners

For most San Augustine 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 San Augustine 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 San Augustine 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.

Skipping this planning step means the County Court decides who receives the property: a simple Texas probate takes 4+ months and opens with $412 in court 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 San Augustine County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives San Augustine 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 →San Augustine County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for San Augustine County are recorded with the County Clerk at 106 South Broadway, San Augustine, TX 75972. Phone: 1-936-275-2452. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.

The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $29 to record in San Augustine County. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

San Augustine County

Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM

Office

106 South Broadway, San Augustine, TX 75972

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Fees

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$25
Each additional page$4
Transfer tax on a TOD deedNo transfer tax applies to TOD deeds

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

Verified October 17, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving San Augustine County

Solo PracticeLufkin, TX

Jason S. Armstrong, PLLC

Serves 7 counties

Lufkin sole practitioner serving Angelina County and the surrounding East Texas counties in probate and estate administration, guardianship, and elder law. Jason S. Armstrong drafts wills and trusts and handles long-term care and special needs planning; licensed in Texas since 1995 and board certified in estate planning and probate law since 2005.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
104 W Lufkin AvenueLufkin, TX 75904

FirmLufkin, TX

Skelton Slusher Barnhill Watkins Wells PLLC

Serves 7 counties

Serves Angelina, Nacogdoches, and neighboring East Texas counties from Lufkin, with offices in Nacogdoches and Livingston. Handles probate of wills, estate administration including claims by and against the estate, determination of heirship, small estate affidavits, trust administration, and guardianship. Partner Aimee C. Slusher is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
1616 S Chestnut StLufkin, TX 75901

FirmLufkin, TX

The Law Offices of Longino & Walton

Serves 6 counties

Downtown Lufkin firm serving Angelina County and deep East Texas, handling probate administration for families after a death alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives. Also takes family law, civil litigation, real estate, and business formation work.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawCivil Litigationand 4 more

Office
101 S. First StreetLufkin, TX 75901
Free consultation

FirmNacogdoches, TX

Weatherly & Burns, Attorneys at Law, PLLC

Since 1979 · Serves 5 counties

Nacogdoches firm serving East Texas since 1979. Manages probate from the initial application through final distribution, handles intestate administrations, and helps out-of-state families administer East Texas real estate, alongside wills, trusts, special needs planning, and Medicaid and long-term care work. W. Albert Weatherly is board certified in estate planning and probate law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more

Office
412 North St, Suite HNacogdoches, TX 75961

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

FirmBeaumont, TX

Germer PLLC

Serves the whole state

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

Office
550 Fannin, Suite 400Beaumont, TX 77701
See all 8 firms serving San Augustine 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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Legal Sources

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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Free tools for planning your estate in Texas: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Texas and read its answer.

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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