Houston Probate Court and Filing Guide

Harris County has five statutory probate courts. Courts 1 through 4 publish locations at 201 Caroline, while Court 5 publishes its location at 1115 Congress in downtown Houston.1

The Harris County Clerk Probate Department handles the filing, docket, copies, citations, notices, Letters, and records connected to the case. The clerk accepts and maintains the court record, while the judge decides petitions, appointments, contested issues, and requests that require a court order.1

Do not rely on a courthouse name alone. Confirm the county, the filing office, the court assignment, and the current hearing instructions before you travel or submit a document.

Attorneys file through eFileTexas. A copy of the will is attached to the electronic application, and the original will must reach the Harris County Clerk within three business days after submission.13

The correct venue generally depends on your loved one's domicile and the Texas Estates Code, not simply where a family member lives or where one asset is located. A local court can reject or transfer a filing when the venue or case type is wrong.

Before filing, confirm whether you have the original will, who is asking to serve, whether an administration is needed, and whether another proceeding is already open.

• Confirm venue and case type
• Use the current filing code and fee schedule
• Deliver the original will as required after an electronic filing
• Keep the filing confirmation, cause number, and accepted documents together

The clerk opens the case after accepting the application and payment. Citation, posting, service, or publication may follow, depending on the request and the people who must receive notice.

The assigned court reviews the application and supporting documents. If the court grants the request, the proposed executor or administrator may still need to complete an oath, bond, or other qualification before the clerk issues Letters.

Letters show banks and other institutions that the appointed representative has authority. They do not replace the remaining work: collecting assets, handling claims, maintaining property, addressing taxes, keeping records, reporting when required, and completing distribution.

1. File the correct applicationMatch the pleading, filing code, attachments, original-will handling, and local requirements.
2. Complete notice and hearing workTrack citation, posting, service, publication, settings, and any court-specific documents.
3. Qualify and obtain LettersComplete the oath, bond, and other conditions stated in the order.
4. Administer and close the estateConnect the court file to the accounts, property, creditors, taxes, beneficiaries, and final records.

The Harris County Clerk publishes forms for service, oaths, inventories, claims, muniment of title, and the Affidavit of Distributees / Small Estate With Judge's Order of Approval. Each assigned court also publishes its own checklists and hearing procedures.12

Search the Harris County Clerk probate portal by name or cause number. Unofficial electronic documents can be viewed online; plain copies, certified copies, and current Letters use the clerk ordering process.12

Use the official form or instruction page for this county rather than a saved packet from another county. Texas law is statewide, but each court publishes its own checklists, proposed orders, hearing instructions, and fee information.

Alix manages Houston estate settlement from start to finish, with legal support included. Your Estate Settlement Specialist owns the broader plan across accounts, property, bills, taxes, records, and beneficiary updates.

A licensed attorney handles the legal work required for Houston probate, including advice, filings, hearings, and court responses. The court work and the operational work stay on one plan, so an accepted filing does not leave you to manage the rest of the estate alone.

You stay involved in the decisions only you can make. Alix handles the institution follow-up, property work, creditor records, tax documents, beneficiary communication, and closing work needed after the court grants authority.

For a Houston case, Alix tracks the Harris County filing, court assignment, notice work, Letters, and local court requests alongside the accounts, property, creditor, tax, and family work.