What you need to know
Statutory Probate Courts / County Courts · Texas Estates Code
Where Probate Is Handled in Texas
The court that handles probate depends on the county. Some Texas counties have specialized probate courts, while others handle probate through county courts or county courts at law. Families therefore may encounter different court structures depending on where the estate is being administered.
The Texas Small Estate Affidavit
A Small Estate Affidavit may be available for certain estates without a will. The qualifying estate must be $75,000 or less after excluding homestead and certain exempt property. This procedure is specifically for qualifying estates without a will, and certain property is excluded from the calculation.
Muniment of Title
When there is a will, Texas has a separate option called Muniment of Title. This can allow the court to approve the will and transfer property to the people named in it without appointing an executor or going through a full estate administration. It may be available when there are no unpaid estate debts other than debt secured by real estate, or when the court otherwise determines that a full administration is not needed. The Small Estate Affidavit and Muniment of Title are therefore different options that apply in different circumstances.
If There Is No Will
Texas law determines who inherits probate assets when someone dies without a valid will. Because Texas is a community-property state, the result can depend on whether property was community or separate property and on the person's family structure. Understanding the type of property involved can therefore be particularly important in a Texas estate.
Independent and Dependent Administration
Texas estates can differ significantly in the amount of court supervision involved. Independent administration can allow an executor or administrator to handle many estate tasks without asking the court for approval each time. Dependent administration involves more court supervision. The type of administration can therefore affect how frequently the estate needs to return to court during the process.
Executor and Administrator Compensation
Texas uses a state-set compensation formula for qualifying executors and administrators. The calculation depends on money received and paid out during the estate process and includes exceptions. Compensation therefore depends on the estate activity covered by the formula rather than simply one percentage of the estate's total value.
Rights of a Surviving Spouse
Texas is a community-property state, so a surviving spouse may already own part of the couple's property. Texas also has protections that can apply to the family home and other property. These rules can affect what property actually becomes part of the estate and how the remaining property is handled.
Creditor Claims
Texas does not have one standard deadline that applies to every creditor. The deadline can depend on the type of debt and the notice the creditor receives. Creditor timing in Texas therefore cannot accurately be reduced to one universal claim period.
Texas Estate and Inheritance Taxes
Texas does not have a state estate or inheritance tax. Families therefore do not have a separate Texas estate or inheritance tax to account for as part of the state probate process.
Key things to know
The essentials for a Texas estate.
Worth knowing
The probate court structure varies by county.
Worth knowing
The $75,000 Small Estate Affidavit is for qualifying estates without a will and excludes certain property from the calculation.
Worth knowing
Texas has a separate Muniment of Title option for certain estates with a will.
Worth knowing
Independent administration can reduce the amount of ongoing court supervision.
Worth knowing
Texas is a community-property state.
Worth knowing
Texas creditor deadlines vary rather than following one universal claim period.
Worth knowing
Texas does not have a state estate or inheritance tax.
Compare to other states
Probate rules shift meaningfully once you cross a state line.
General information as of 2026-09-17, not legal advice for a specific estate. Dollar thresholds are indexed and change over time — confirm current figures before relying on any of them.