Estate Planning for Willacy County, Texas Property Owners

For most Willacy 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 Willacy 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 Willacy 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 $360 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 Willacy County

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

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Willacy County are recorded with the County Clerk at 576 West Main Avenue, Room 153, Raymondville, TX 78580. Phone: 1-956-689-2710. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 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 Willacy County. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Willacy County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

Office

576 West Main Avenue, Room 153, Raymondville, TX 78580

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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 Willacy County

FirmHarlingen, TX

Ezell & Ezell, PLLC

Serves 4 counties

Father-daughter practice on East Van Buren Avenue in Harlingen, serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Starr counties. Michael R. Ezell and Julie Ezell-Perez handle probate and estate and trust administration alongside wills, trusts, elder law, guardianship, and special needs planning. Over 50 years of combined experience; hablamos espanol.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 7 more

Office
312 East Van Buren AvenueHarlingen, TX 78550

FirmBrownsville, TX

Hamilton & Lucio, P.C.

Serves 3 counties

Brownsville firm serving the Rio Grande Valley in probate, trust, and guardianship proceedings, including contested will and trust matters and challenges to an executor or trustee. Judith P. Lucio is board certified in estate planning and probate law and also prepares wills, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney. Free consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrust LitigationGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
805 Old Port Isabel RoadBrownsville, TX 78521
Free consultation

FirmHarlingen, TX

McCullough & McCullough

Serves 3 counties

Harlingen firm on E. Jackson Street serving Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley. Gene McCullough, licensed in Texas since 1995, handles wills, trusts, and probate alongside the firm's real estate work.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal EstateTrustsWills

Office
323 E Jackson StHarlingen, TX 78550

Solo PracticeMcAllen, TX

The Almaguer Law Firm

Serves 6 counties

Rio Grande Valley firm in McAllen serving Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties, with a second office in Dallas. Sharon Almaguer has practiced for more than 35 years and handles probate of wills, guardianship proceedings, elder law, and special needs planning. Virtual and in-person consultations are available by appointment in Edinburg, Brownsville, Port Isabel, and Harlingen.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 3 more

Office
801 E. Fern Ave, Suite 139McAllen, TX 78501
Virtual consultations

Solo PracticeEdinburg, TX

The Law Office of Aurelio Garza PLLC

Serves 4 counties

Serves the Rio Grande Valley from South Business Highway 281 in Edinburg, covering Hidalgo County and neighboring Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties. Aurelio Garza takes families through settling an estate — distributing assets and carrying out the decedent's intentions — and drafts wills and trusts. Complimentary planning session.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 4 more

Office
3009 S. Bus. Hwy. 281Edinburg, TX 78539
Free consultation

FirmMcAllen, TX

Villeda Law Group

Serves 4 counties

McAllen firm serving Hidalgo County and the Rio Grande Valley, led by attorney-CPA Antonio Villeda with more than 40 years of practice. Guides families through probate after a death and handles business and probate litigation, wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and asset protection. Fluent in Spanish.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax Planningand 5 more

Office
6316 North 10th Street, Building BMcAllen, TX 78504
Free consultation
See all 11 firms serving Willacy 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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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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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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