Access McKinney Probate Court Records
McKinney probate court records are kept at the Collin County level. McKinney is the county seat of Collin County, so the clerk's office and courthouse are right in town. If you need to search for a will, estate case, guardianship order, or heirship filing, the Collin County Clerk handles all of those records. The county has a strong online search system through its Judicial Records portal where you can look up probate cases going back to 1984. You can also visit the clerk's office in person for copies, filings, and more detailed record requests.
McKinney Overview
McKinney Probate Court Records Filing
McKinney is the county seat of Collin County. That means the Collin County Clerk's office is located right in McKinney. Under Texas Estates Code Chapter 51, probate must be filed in the county where the deceased last lived. For anyone who lived in McKinney, the filing goes to the Collin County Clerk.
The County Clerk has offices in McKinney and Plano. The main McKinney office handles probate filings, assumed names, birth and death certificates, land recordings, marriage licenses, and more. The probate division has its own e-filing contact at (972) 548-6495. You can also reach them by email at eFile-probate@collincountytx.gov.
| Office | Collin County Clerk (Probate Division) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2300 Bloomdale Road, Suite 2104 McKinney, TX 75071 |
| Phone | (972) 548-4185 (main) (972) 548-6495 (probate e-filing) |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Collin County Clerk |
The District Clerk is at a separate location: 2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12132, McKinney, TX 75071. Phone: (972) 548-4320. Both offices are in McKinney, which makes it easy for local residents to handle probate business.
Search McKinney Probate Records
Collin County has one of the better online search systems in the state. The Judicial Records portal lets you search for probate cases by name, case number, or court type. Civil and probate cases from County Courts at Law go back to 1984. The portal is free and open to the public.
You can use the smart search to enter a name or case number quickly. The advanced search lets you filter by court type, location, and date range. Select "County Courts at Law & Probate" from the court type options to narrow your results to probate cases. The Collin County probate records page also has useful info about what you can find.
The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Collin County filings too. For McKinney probate court records, the county portal is usually the best bet since it has the most complete data.
For search, you should have at least one of these:
- Full name of the deceased person
- Case number
- Name of executor or administrator
McKinney Probate Records Resources
The Texas State Law Library has guides on probate law that cover every county in the state, including Collin County.
The library offers free research guides on estates, wills, guardianships, and other probate topics. They can help you understand the process before you file in McKinney.
McKinney Probate Fees
Filing fees for McKinney probate court records are set by the Collin County Clerk. The fees follow the standard Texas schedule. The County Clerk at (972) 548-4185 can give you the current amounts for your case type.
Copy fees at the Collin County Clerk are $1 per page for physical copies. Electronic copies cost $1 for the first 10 pages, then $0.10 per page after that. Certified copies are $5 per document. If the clerk has to search for your case, that is $5. CD copies cost $20 each.
E-filing through eFileTexas adds a $30 state fee for new cases and $2 per filing envelope. The Collin County online payment system takes credit cards for convenience.
Fee waivers are available for those who can't pay. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The form is at txcourts.gov. Income below 125% of the federal poverty line usually qualifies.
Probate Case Types in McKinney
McKinney probate court records cover a range of matters. Wills filed for probate are the most common. Under Texas Estates Code Chapter 256, a will can be probated as a muniment of title when no administration is needed. The Collin County Probate Court also handles independent administration under Chapter 257, which is the standard route for most estates in Texas.
Heirship cases under Chapter 304 come up when there is no will. Wills become public record once admitted for probate, but you have four years from the date of death to file. Small estate affidavits under Section 205 are for estates under $75,000. All heirs sign the affidavit and two witnesses are needed.
The Collin County Probate Court also handles guardianship cases, involuntary mental health commitment actions, and conservatorships. Records involving minors may be restricted from public view. Confidential guardianship details may also be sealed.
Legal Help for McKinney Probate
The Collin County Bar Association can refer you to a local probate attorney. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas serves the McKinney area and may take probate cases for people who qualify based on income.
For self-help, the Texas State Law Library has research guides. TexasLawHelp has step-by-step forms. All official court forms are at txcourts.gov. Self-represented parties can file in person at the County Clerk's probate division in McKinney. Original wills must always be filed in person or by mail.
Note: Clerk staff can help you find forms but they cannot give legal advice.
Nearby Cities
McKinney is in the north part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Several nearby cities also have probate court records pages.
Allen • Frisco • Plano • Denton • Richardson
Collin County Probate Court Records
McKinney is the county seat of Collin County. All probate filings for the McKinney area go through the Collin County courts. For a full look at the county probate system, fee details, and online search tools, see the Collin County page.