What Are My Personal Items Worth for Probate in Texas?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate in Texas. See how reporting accurate values instead of purchase prices affects your probate fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal property in Texas is valued at fair market value — what the item would sell for on the open market, not the original purchase price.Tex. Est. Code §§ 205.001/205.006 (small estate), 256.003 (4-year will filing deadline), 257.001 (muniment of title), 305.101 (bond), 308.051 (publication), 352.002 (executor commission; cash-flow base with § 352.002(b) exclusions and 5% gross-FMV cap), 352.051 (attorney fees), 355.001 (general claim presentment), 355.060 (121-day claim bar), 401.001-401.003 (independent administration); re-verified 2026-05-27 against statutes.capitol.texas.govVerified May 27, 2026 Most household items (furniture, electronics, clothing) lose 50-90% of their value. Professional appraisals are used for art, collectibles, jewelry, and other high-value items.
Yes. Texas probate fees are typically 2-4% of the estate value, which includes personal property.Tex. Est. Code §§ 205.001/205.006 (small estate), 256.003 (4-year will filing deadline), 257.001 (muniment of title), 305.101 (bond), 308.051 (publication), 352.002 (executor commission; cash-flow base with § 352.002(b) exclusions and 5% gross-FMV cap), 352.051 (attorney fees), 355.001 (general claim presentment), 355.060 (121-day claim bar), 401.001-401.003 (independent administration); re-verified 2026-05-27 against statutes.capitol.texas.govVerified May 27, 2026 Accurate fair market valuations — rather than purchase prices — keep the reported estate value lower. Use the Texas probate calculator to estimate total costs.
Estates with personal property under $75,000 in Texas may qualify for simplified probate, which avoids full probate.Tex. Est. Code §§ 205.001/205.006 (small estate), 256.003 (4-year will filing deadline), 257.001 (muniment of title), 305.101 (bond), 308.051 (publication), 352.002 (executor commission; cash-flow base with § 352.002(b) exclusions and 5% gross-FMV cap), 352.051 (attorney fees), 355.001 (general claim presentment), 355.060 (121-day claim bar), 401.001-401.003 (independent administration); re-verified 2026-05-27 against statutes.capitol.texas.govVerified May 27, 2026 Accurate valuation at fair market value can determine whether the estate falls below this threshold. Check eligibility with the Texas probate need checker.
High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles typically require professional appraisals. For typical household items — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing — fair market value can be estimated using comparable sales data. Texas probate courts require the executor to file an inventory with values for all personal property.Tex. Est. Code §§ 205.001/205.006 (small estate), 256.003 (4-year will filing deadline), 257.001 (muniment of title), 305.101 (bond), 308.051 (publication), 352.002 (executor commission; cash-flow base with § 352.002(b) exclusions and 5% gross-FMV cap), 352.051 (attorney fees), 355.001 (general claim presentment), 355.060 (121-day claim bar), 401.001-401.003 (independent administration); re-verified 2026-05-27 against statutes.capitol.texas.govVerified May 27, 2026
Total probate costs in Texas include attorney fees, executor fees, court filing fees, and publication costs. Personal property value is one component of the gross estate that determines fee calculations. The Texas probate calculator provides a complete cost breakdown.
Not necessarily. Items with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts), jointly held property, and assets in a trust bypass probate. Only personal property owned solely by the deceased passes through probate in Texas. The Texas probate need checker determines which assets require probate.
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