What to Do When Someone Dies in Travis County, Texas
Probate in Travis County runs through the Statutory Probate Courts (2): 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 Travis County, settling their estate runs through the Statutory Probate Courts (2). 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.
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Departments
Probate Court No. 1512-854-9258
Probate Court No. 2512-854-5512
Probate Division (County Clerk)512-854-9188Clerk of the probate courts. Mailing: Travis County Clerk, P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Travis County has 2 statutory probate courts with exclusive jurisdiction. Courts mailing address: P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767. Filings go through the County Clerk Probate Division (5501 Airport Blvd.): 512-854-9188.
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 Travis County, probate runs through the Statutory Probate Courts (2) at 200 W. 8th St., Austin. The court sits in the Probate Courts 1 and 2.
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 Travis County
What probate costs in Travis 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 Statutory Probate Courts (2) at 200 W. 8th St., Austin. The court is part of the Probate Courts 1 and 2.
Probate matters are handled through Probate Court No. 1, Probate Court No. 2, and Probate Division (County Clerk). Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Travis County runs a probate self-help center, which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 512-854-8677.
The Statutory Probate Courts (2) charge $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 a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Statutory Probate Courts (2) (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.
How to File Probate at the Statutory Probate Courts (2)
If you're handling probate yourself in Travis County, Texas, you can file at the Statutory Probate Courts (2) in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the Probate Courts 1 and 2.
Filings here are routed through Probate Court No. 1, Probate Court No. 2, and Probate Division (County Clerk). Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Travis County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
•Original wills (must be filed in person within 3 days)
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Statutory Probate Courts (2) is realistic. Travis County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
To file at the Statutory Probate Courts (2) 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.
Transferring Property in Travis 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 Travis County are recorded with the County Clerk in Austin, TX 78701.
The County Clerk charges $25 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page.
Texas uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Travis 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 Travis County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Statutory Probate Courts (2), 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.
Founded in 1993, Sergi & Associates handles estate planning and probate administration for individuals in Hays County and the surrounding Central Texas counties. Prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives, helps executors and administrators settle estates, and handles will contests.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationPower Of AttorneyTrusts
Austin firm on W. 16th Street working primarily in Travis, Hays, and Williamson counties, and case by case across Central Texas and the major metros. The attorneys handle dependent and independent administrations, intestate estates, heirship determinations in probate court, muniment of title, affidavits of heirship, and annual accountings. Two partners are also CPAs.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 8 more
Austin firm off South Mopac serving the greater Austin area and courts across Texas. The attorneys advise executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries through opening probate, gathering assets, notifying creditors, responding to claims, filing tax returns, and distributing. Founding partners Craig Hopper and D'Ana Mikeska are both board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 7 more
Office
901 South Mopac Expressway, Barton Oaks Plaza II, Suite 570Austin, TX 78746
Small Austin family firm serving Central Texas from Travis County. Represents independent executors and dependent administrators through will admission, creditor and beneficiary notices, the estate inventory, claims, accountings, and the Form 706 return, and also handles trust administration, estate and trust disputes, problem-trust fixes, and mediation.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more
Austin firm on South MoPac serving Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Blanco, and Caldwell counties. Handles probate administration — including flat-fee uncontested probate and probate by Zoom or submission — trust administration, and will and trust contests, alongside wills, trusts, and special needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 5 more
Office
4425 S Mopac Expy, Bldg II Ste 201Austin, TX 78735
Round Rock firm concentrating in Williamson and Travis counties, with an Austin office by appointment. Handles probate and estate administration and guardianships of the person and estate, plus wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and marital property agreements. Wesley Prewitt has been board certified in estate planning and probate law since 2012.
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.
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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Travis County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Travis County, Texas.
