Probate in Texas

A straightforward estate with a clear will and few assets is often resolved within six to twelve months. Larger estates involving real estate, multiple heirs, or a contested will can take longer, depending on court scheduling and how quickly documents are filed.

In Texas, assets titled solely in the deceased's name generally must pass through probate. This can include real estate, bank accounts, and personal property. Assets in a living trust, accounts with payable-on-death designations, or jointly owned property typically pass outside of probate.

In some cases, yes. Tools like revocable living trusts, beneficiary designations, and joint ownership can allow certain assets to pass directly to heirs without court involvement. Whether this is an option depends on how the estate is structured and how assets are titled.

Probate and estate administration are closely related but not quite the same thing. Probate is the court process that validates a will (or confirms there isn't one) and gives an executor or administrator legal authority to act. Estate administration is the broader work that follows: gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to heirs or beneficiaries. In Texas, most estates go through both, one after the other, as part of the same overall process.

When there's no will, the estate passes through intestate succession, and Texas law determines who inherits based on family relationships. This often means a longer, more complex probate process and can lead to outcomes the deceased may not have intended.