Houston Probate Court Records
Houston probate court records are kept at the Harris County level, not by the city. If you need to find a will, estate case, or guardianship order filed in Houston, the Harris County Probate Courts are where those records live. Harris County has five statutory probate courts that serve the Houston area and all of the towns and communities in the county. You can search for open cases through the court's online docket or visit the County Clerk's office in person to look at case files. Certified copies of probate documents are also on hand at the courthouse for those who need them for legal or property matters.
Houston Overview
Houston Probate Court Records Filing
Houston does not have its own probate court. Texas law says probate goes through the county, and for Houston that means Harris County. Under Texas Estates Code Chapter 51, probate cases must be filed in the county where the person who died last lived. So if they lived in Houston, you file in Harris County.
Harris County runs five statutory probate courts. Each one handles a full range of probate matters including wills, estate administration, guardianships, and mental health cases. Cases get split between the five courts on a rotation basis. The main courthouse is at 201 Caroline Street in downtown Houston. Probate Court No. 5 sits at 1115 Congress Street on the 5th floor.
| Office | Harris County Probate Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 Caroline St., 6th & 7th Floors Houston, TX 77002 |
| Phone | (832) 927-1401 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | probate.harriscountytx.gov |
The five probate judges are Jerry Simoneaux (Court 1), Pamela Medina (Court 2), Jason Cox (Court 3), James Horwitz (Court 4), and Fransheneka Watson (Court 5). Each court has its own hearing schedule. Court 1, for example, hears will probates on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 1:30 PM. Heirship and administration matters go on Wednesdays.
Harris County also has a Public Probate Administrator, Brandon Cofield, who handles estates when there is no one else to serve. You can reach that office at (832) 927-1422. The administrator's office is at 201 Caroline St., Suite 607.
Search Houston Probate Records
There are a few ways to search for Houston probate court records. The fastest is the Harris County Probate Courts website, which lets you look up cases by docket number or party name. You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX system run by the Texas Office of Court Administration.
The Harris County Clerk's office maintains the actual probate documents. Their Document Portal lets you view filed papers once you create a free account. Case data goes back years and most documents filed since the mid-2000s are available as digital images. The County Clerk's probate division is on the 4th floor at 201 Caroline Street, Suite 460.
To search Houston probate court records, you will need at least one of these:
- Full name of the person who died
- Name of the executor or administrator
- The case or docket number
In-person visits let you look at the full case file. Staff can pull records and make copies on the spot. Call ahead at (713) 274-8600 to ask what you need to bring. The Law Library at 1019 Congress in Houston is also open to the public for legal research if you need help reading the records.
Houston Probate Records Resources
The Harris County Probate Courts portal at probate.harriscountytx.gov shows all five courts and their contact details in one place.
The Texas Judicial Branch also tracks probate case filings and dispositions for every county in the state, so you can see how many cases move through Harris County each year.
Probate Fees in Houston
Filing fees for probate court records in Houston are set by the Harris County Clerk. The base filing fee for a new probate case is $360. This applies whether you are filing to probate a will, open an administration, file a small estate affidavit, or start a guardianship.
Other costs come up along the way. A citation costs $8 each time one is issued. Letters testamentary or letters of administration run $2 per set. If you need certified copies, those are $5 per document plus $1 for each page. A plain copy costs $1 per page. The search fee is $5 if you need the clerk to look up a case for you.
If you can't pay, Texas lets you ask for a fee waiver. You file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. If your income is below 125% of the federal poverty line or you get government benefits, you generally qualify. The Texas Courts forms page has the waiver form. E-filing through eFileTexas adds a $30 state fee for new cases and $2 per filing envelope.
Note: Fees can change, so check with the Harris County Clerk before filing.
Probate Record Types in Houston
Houston probate court records cover several kinds of cases. The most common involve wills. When someone dies with a will, the executor files it with the Harris County Clerk under Texas Estates Code Chapter 256. If the estate is simple and no full administration is needed, the will may be probated as a muniment of title only.
Independent administration under Texas Estates Code Chapter 257 is the most common way probate works in Texas. The court gives the executor or administrator the power to manage the estate with very little court oversight. Most Houston estates go through this route.
Other record types in the Harris County probate courts include guardianship orders, heirship determinations under Chapter 304, small estate affidavits for estates under $75,000 per Section 205, and mental health commitments. Wills can also be deposited for safekeeping with the County Clerk for a $5 fee under Estates Code Section 252.001. The application to probate a will must be filed within four years of the person's death.
Legal Help for Houston Probate
Several groups in Houston offer legal help with probate matters. Some serve people with low income for free. Others can connect you to a probate lawyer at a reduced rate.
The Houston Bar Association runs a referral service that can match you with a probate attorney. Lone Star Legal Aid at lonestarlegal.org serves the Houston area and may take probate cases for people who qualify. Houston Volunteer Lawyers can be reached at (713) 228-0732 for free legal clinics.
If you want to handle probate on your own, the Texas State Law Library has research guides on estates and probate. The TexasLawHelp website has step-by-step guides and forms. All official court forms are at txcourts.gov. Self-represented parties do not have to e-file. You can bring your papers to the clerk in person. Original wills must be filed in person or by mail even if you e-file the application.
Note: The court staff can help you find the right forms but they cannot give legal advice.
E-Filing Houston Probate Cases
Attorneys in Houston must e-file probate cases through eFileTexas.gov. This has been required since January 1, 2014. You pick an Electronic Filing Service Provider, prepare your documents, and submit them through the system. Most filings show up online within minutes of being accepted.
One thing to know: original wills cannot be e-filed. You must file the original will with the Harris County Clerk within three business days after you submit the probate application online. A copy of the will should be attached to the electronic filing as a placeholder. The clerk's probate division at 201 Caroline St., 4th Floor, Suite 460 handles the original wills.
Nearby Cities
Houston is the largest city in Texas. Several nearby cities also have pages with probate court records info for their areas.
Pasadena • Baytown • Pearland • Sugar Land • League City • Missouri City • Conroe
Harris County Probate Court Records
Houston sits in Harris County. All probate filings for Houston go through the Harris County courts. For a full look at the county probate system, fee schedules, and search tools, see the Harris County page.