Arlington Probate Court Records
Arlington probate court records are filed through Tarrant County. Arlington does not have its own probate court. Residents who need to file a will for probate, open an estate administration, or start a guardianship case must go through the Tarrant County Probate Courts in Fort Worth. The courthouse is about 20 minutes west of Arlington. You can search for Arlington probate cases online through the Tarrant County Odyssey Portal, or visit the Probate Clerks office in Room 233 at the county courthouse. Arlington is one of the largest cities in Texas, so a good number of Tarrant County probate cases come from here.
Arlington Overview
Where Arlington Probate Cases Are Filed
Arlington is in Tarrant County. There is no separate probate court in Arlington. All probate matters go to the Tarrant County Probate Courts in Fort Worth. Under Texas Estates Code Chapter 51, probate is filed in the county where the person who died last lived.
Tarrant County has two statutory probate courts. Probate Court 1 is at (817) 884-1200 in Room 260A. Probate Court 2 is at (817) 884-1415 in Room 150. The Probate Clerks are in Room 233 at 100 West Weatherford Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196.
| Office | Tarrant County Probate Clerks |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 West Weatherford Street, Room 233 Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Filing Info | (817) 884-1770 |
| Copy Info | (817) 884-1069 |
Arlington residents can e-file probate documents through eFileTexas without having to drive to Fort Worth. E-filing is required for attorneys. Self-represented parties can also e-file but are not required to. Original wills must still go to the clerk by hand or mail.
Note: There is no branch office of the Tarrant County Probate Court in Arlington, so in-person visits require going to Fort Worth.
Search Arlington Probate Records
You can search for Arlington probate court records through the Tarrant County Online Searches page. The Odyssey Portal lets you look up cases by party name or case number. There is also a Probate Court Public Browse feature.
The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Tarrant County too. Use it as a backup if the county portal does not have what you need. The Tarrant County probate court info page has details on what case types are searchable.
For certified copies or older records not in the online system, call the Copy Information line at (817) 884-1069. Staff can help you figure out what is available and how to get it.
Arlington Probate Case Types
Arlington probate court records include the same case types as all Tarrant County filings. Independent administration under Texas Estates Code Chapter 257 is the most used path. For simple estates, muniment of title under Chapter 256 skips the need to appoint an executor.
Small estate affidavits under Section 205 work for estates under $75,000 when the person died without a will. Heirship proceedings under Chapter 304 help determine legal heirs when there is no will. Guardianship cases and mental health filings also go through the Tarrant County probate courts.
The four-year deadline to offer a will for probate applies. After four years, you need to show good cause for why it was not filed sooner. If the estate has debts (other than a mortgage), full administration may be needed rather than muniment of title.
Arlington Probate Resources
The Texas Judicial Branch Court Activity Database tracks probate filings statewide, including Tarrant County where Arlington is located.
This database shows how many probate cases are filed and disposed each year. It goes back to 1992 and is useful for understanding the volume of cases the Tarrant County courts handle.
Official probate forms are at txcourts.gov. TexasLawHelp has guides for self-represented parties. The Texas State Law Library offers free research tools online. The State Bar referral line at (800) 252-9690 can help connect you with a probate attorney who practices near Arlington.
Fees for Arlington Probate Cases
Tarrant County charges about $360 to file a new probate case. That covers will probates, administrations, guardianships, and small estates. Certified copies are $5 per document plus $1 per page. The search fee is $5.
E-filing adds $30 per new case and $2 per envelope. The county has an online payment portal for paying fees remotely. If you cannot afford the fees, a waiver form is available at txcourts.gov.
Nearby Cities
Cities near Arlington with probate court records pages:
Fort Worth • Grand Prairie • Mansfield • Dallas • Irving
Tarrant County Probate Court Records
Arlington is in Tarrant County. All probate filings go through the county's two probate courts in Fort Worth. See the full county page for details.