Finding a will or probate case in Texas
Who holds it: County Clerk (clerk of the county court/statutory probate court) in the county where the decedent resided.1
On this page
Fees
County court clerk: certified papers $5.00 certificate plus $1.00 per page; letters testamentary/of administration $2.00; will deposit $5.00.2
More details
- Will deposit
- A testator may deposit a will for safekeeping with the county clerk of the county of residence.3
- Deadline
- Generally a will may not be admitted to probate after the fourth anniversary of death (exceptions).4
Related records in Texas
- Courts: court system
- Not unified: each court keeps its own records. District Clerk keeps district court files (felony, civil, family/divorce); County Clerk keeps county court, county court at law and probate files; justice and municipal courts keep their own.5
- Courts: statewide case search
- re:SearchTX (research.txcourts.gov/CourtRecordsSearch) for civil cases from participating district, county and probate courts (free subscription plan; full documents may cost); TAMES Case Search (search.txcourts.gov/CaseSearch.aspx) for the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and courts of appeals.5
- Courts: fees
- District clerk: certified copy $5 (certificate and seal) plus $1 per page; noncertified $1 per page; $5 to search for a cause without a docket number. County court clerks: same $5 + $1/page certified, $1/page noncertified.6
- Death certificates: who holds it
- DSHS Vital Statistics Section; local registrars/county clerks where the death occurred.7
- Death certificates: fee
- $20.00 first certified copy; $3.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; verification $20.00 (DSHS).8
How Texas handles it
- Two different clerks: District Clerk (district courts, divorces, felonies) vs County Clerk (deeds, marriage, probate, county courts, misdemeanors A/B)5
- Statutory probate courts in large metro counties handle probate exclusively9
Probate and wills in Texas counties with a full guide
The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.
| County | Office | Search online | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | Anderson County Clerk10 | — | — |
| Angelina County | Angelina County Clerk12 | Search11 | — |
| Atascosa County | County Clerk13 | — | — |
| Bastrop County | Bastrop County Probate Court14 | — | — |
| Bell County | Bell County Clerk - Civil/Probate Court Records16 | Search15 | — |
| Bexar County | Bexar County Clerk - Probate Department17 | — | — |
| Bowie County | County Clerk18 | — | — |
| Brazoria County | County Clerk - Civil/Probate19 | — | — |
| Brazos County | Brazos County Clerk, Probate Department20 | — | — |
| Burnet County | Burnet County Clerk, Civil & Probate21 | — | — |
| Caldwell County | Caldwell County Clerk — Court Division22 | — | — |
| Cameron County | Cameron County Clerk – Probate Department23 | Search23 | — |
| Chambers County | Chambers County Clerk, probate24 | — | — |
| Cherokee County | Cherokee County Clerk25 | — | — |
| Collin County | Collin County Clerk – Probate Department26 | — | — |
| Comal County | County Court at Law Clerk's Office27 | — | — |
| Coryell County | Coryell County Clerk - Probate Division28 | Search28 | — |
| Dallas County | Dallas County Clerk – Probate Courts Division30 | Search29 | — |
| Denton County | Denton County Probate Court No. 1 and No. 232 | Search31 | — |
| Ector County | County Clerk Probate Department33 | Search33 | — |
| El Paso County | El Paso County Clerk - Probate-Civil Division34 | — | Letters/certificate $2.00; copy $1.00 per page; certification $5.00; search to locate a cause number $5.0035 |
| Ellis County | Ellis County Clerk – Probate Division37 | Search36 | — |
| Fort Bend County | County Clerk, Courts Division39 | Search38 | — |
| Galveston County | Galveston County Probate Court41 | Search40 | — |
| Grayson County | County Clerk probate records 1846-present; online search link; copy requests by form with fees42 | — | — |
| Gregg County | Gregg County Clerk - Probate43 | Search43 | — |
| Guadalupe County | Guadalupe County Clerk44 | — | — |
| Hardin County | Hardin County Clerk45 | — | — |
| Harris County | Harris County Clerk – Probate Courts Department46 | Search46 | — |
| Harrison County | Harrison County Clerk, probate47 | Search47 | — |
| Hays County | Hays County Clerk, Courts Division48 | — | — |
| Hidalgo County | Hidalgo County Clerk - Probate Department49 | — | — |
| Hood County | County Judge50 | — | — |
| Hunt County | County Clerk keeps probate and guardianship cases; probate matters are heard in the County Courts at Law51 | — | — |
| Jefferson County | Jefferson County Clerk - Probate52 | — | Paper copy $1.00/page; certification $5.00; name search without cause number $5.0053 |
| Johnson County | County Clerk Court Section; case search on the Tyler court records portal54 | — | — |
| Kaufman County | Kaufman County Clerk – Probate Division56 | Search55 | — |
| Kendall County | Kendall County Probate57 | — | — |
| Kerr County | Kerr County Clerk – Probate Department59 | Search58 | — |
| Lamar County | County Clerk61 | Search60 | — |
| Liberty County | Liberty County Clerk - Probate and Guardianship62 | — | — |
| Lubbock County | Lubbock County Clerk - Probate / Guardianship63 | — | Copies $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification64 |
| Maverick County | Maverick County Clerk65 | — | — |
| McLennan County | McLennan County Clerk - Probate66 | — | — |
| Medina County | Medina County Clerk - Probate/Guardianship67 | — | — |
| Midland County | Probate filed with the County Clerk68 | — | — |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery County Probate Court No. 170 | Search69 | — |
| Nacogdoches County | Wills and probate recorded by the County Clerk; probate filing fee $36071 | — | — |
| Navarro County | Navarro County Clerk73 | Search72 | — |
| Nueces County | Probate cases are heard in the County Courts at Law74 | — | — |
| Orange County | Orange County Clerk75 | — | — |
| Parker County | Parker County Clerk, Probate77 | Search76 | — |
| Polk County | Polk County Clerk78 | — | — |
| Potter County | Potter County Clerk79 | — | — |
| Randall County | County Clerk handles probate and guardianship filings (fee schedule PDF is scanned)80 | — | — |
| Rockwall County | Rockwall County Clerk - Probate Department82 | Search81 | — |
| Rusk County | Rusk County Clerk83 | — | — |
| San Patricio County | San Patricio County Clerk, probate84 | — | — |
| Smith County | Smith County Clerk - Probate Department85 | — | — |
| Starr County | Starr County Clerk86 | — | — |
| Tarrant County | County Clerk Probate Clerks; case info on Tarrant County Court Record Search; copies by calling 817-884-106987 | — | — |
| Taylor County | Taylor County Clerk89 | Search88 | Plain copies $1.00 per page; certified add $5.00; written request by mail with check or money order88 |
| Tom Green County | Tom Green County Clerk, Civil/Probate Department90 | — | — |
| Travis County | Travis County Probate Court No. 1 and No. 292 | Search91 | Copies $1.00/page; certification $5.00 per document plus $1.00/page91 |
| Val Verde County | County Clerk93 | — | — |
| Van Zandt County | Van Zandt County Clerk - Probate95 | Search94 | — |
| Victoria County | County Clerk96 | — | — |
| Walker County | Walker County Clerk - Probate Department97 | Search97 | Copy $1.00; clerk certification $5.00; search $5.00; will for safekeeping $15.0098 |
| Waller County | Waller County Clerk - Probate99 | Search99 | — |
| Webb County | Webb County Clerk100 | — | $5.00 certificate plus $1.00 per page (county clerk certified papers)101 |
| Williamson County | County Court at Law No. 4103 | Search102 | — |
| Wilson County | County Clerk104 | — | Certified copy fee: $1.00/pg. + $5.00 cert.105 |
| Wise County | Wise County Clerk - Court Department106 | — | — |
| Wood County | Wood County Clerk108 | Search107 | $1 per copy page; $5 clerk's certification per document (2022 schedule)109 |
For any other county, see the county list on the Texas guide.
Official copies vs look-alike sites
A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Texas office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.
Rules in other states: probate records and wills in every state. Everything else in Texas: Texas public records guide.
Sources
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.
- Texas Estates Code Chapter 33, VenueTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Local Government Code Chapter 118, Fees Charged by County OfficersTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Estates Code Chapter 252, Safekeeping and Custody of WillsTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Estates Code Chapter 256, Probate of Wills GenerallyTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Court Records (research guide)Texas State Law Librarychecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Government Code Chapter 51, ClerksTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Death RecordsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Judicial Branch / Office of Court Administrationchecked November 4, 2026
- Anderson County ClerkAnderson County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- Angelina County Judicial Web Search (Tyler Odyssey Public Access)Angelina County / Tyler Technologieschecked November 7, 2026
- County ClerkAngelina Countychecked November 7, 2026
- Atascosa County homepageAtascosa Countychecked November 7, 2026
- County ClerkBastrop Countychecked November 5, 2026
- Bell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Bell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk ServicesBexar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Site MapBowie Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Search and Request Court Cases - Civil/ProbateBrazoria County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Probate Forms and Information (former site)Brazos County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Civil & Probate | Burnet County, TXBurnet County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Court DivisionCaldwell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Probate DepartmentCameron County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkChambers County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkCherokee Countychecked November 7, 2026
- County Court at Law Clerks: ProbateCollin County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Court at Law Clerks Office | Comal County, TXComal Countychecked November 4, 2026
- ProbateCoryell County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- Dallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Dallas County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkDenton County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County CourtsDenton County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk | Ector County, TXwww.ectorcountytx.govchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkEl Paso County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)El Paso County Clerk (Delia Briones)checked November 4, 2026
- Online Record SearchEllis Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Probate DivisionEllis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Court Records Research | Fort Bend CountyFort Bend Countyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
- Fees | Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County Clerkarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
- Tyler's Public Access Software End of SupportGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- Galveston County home pageGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Probate RecordsGrayson Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Gregg County home pageGregg Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Probate - Home (County Judge's Probate)Guadalupe County Judgechecked November 4, 2026
- Home | Hardin County, TexasHardin County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Probate CourtsHarris County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkHarrison County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Public OfficesHays Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk's OfficeHidalgo County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County JudgeHood County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkHunt Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Jefferson County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Jefferson County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Search Online RecordsJohnson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County Court at Law 2Kaufman Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Probate and GuardianshipKaufman Countychecked November 4, 2026
- ProbateKendall Countychecked November 7, 2026
- Kerr County ClerkKerr Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Kerr County Probate CourtKerr Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Useful Links | Lamar County, TexasLamar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkLamar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Liberty County, Texas home pageLiberty Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkLubbock County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk - Probate / GuardianshipLubbock County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkMaverick County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- McLennan County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk | Medina County TXMedina County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Probate Case InformationMidland Countychecked November 4, 2026
- District ClerkMontgomery County District Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Probate Court No. 1Montgomery County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk (former county website)Nacogdoches County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkNavarro Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Navarro County, Texas - HomeNavarro Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Records ServicesNueces County Information Technologychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Probate FeesOrange Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkParker County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- County Probate CourtParker County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- Elected OfficialsPolk County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- County ClerkPotter Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkRandall Countychecked November 4, 2026
- CourtsRockwall Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County OfficesRockwall Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkRusk Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkSan Patricio County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Smith Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Starr County, Texas homeStarr County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Probate CourtsTarrant County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Search Probate RecordsTaylor County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Site MapTaylor Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Civil/ProbateTom Green Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Probate Search + Copies of RecordsTravis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Probate CourtsTravis County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Probate CasesVal Verde Countychecked November 8, 2026
- County ClerkVan Zandt County, Texaschecked November 6, 2026
- Van Zandt County, Texas - HomeVan Zandt County, Texaschecked November 6, 2026
- County Courts at LawVictoria Countychecked November 7, 2026
- Probate DepartmentWalker County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- Probate Fee Schedule (PDF, document center id=3599)Walker County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- County ClerkWaller County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Elected GovernmentWebb Countyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Local Government Code Chapter 118, Fees Charged by County OfficersTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Williamson County Attorneychecked November 4, 2026
- Williamson Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Wilson County homeWilson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Probate court fee scheduleWilson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Probate / GuardianshipWise County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- Online ServicesWood County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Local Vital Record Offices - WTexas DSHSchecked November 4, 2026
- Wood County Clerk Probate/Civil FeesWood County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026