Introduction

We generate county‑ready packets statewide and link to official court/LHI resources. 100% free to families; no attorney required for most estates.

Built for all Texas counties with localized packets and filing checklists.
E‑signature and online notarization supported where accepted by the court.
Families stay in control; nothing is filed without your approval. See how our end‑to‑end service works in How Sunset Works.

What you get for Texas

County‑specific probate form packet tailored to your answers (petition to open, letters testamentary/administration, notices, inventory/accounting, small‑estate affidavit where applicable).
Filing instructions, signature and notarization guidance, and required exhibits checklist.
Ready‑to‑print PDFs plus guided e‑sign/e‑notary options (see Electronic Communications Policy).
Integrated EIN application, estate banking setup, and asset transfer workflows.
No fees to families—our costs are covered by bank partners; details in How Sunset Works and Terms of Use.

How the workflow runs

Answer a short intake (will/no‑will, heirs, assets, debts, county).
Sunset generates the correct Texas packet for your county and scenario.
Review, e‑sign, and e‑notarize where accepted. You stay in control at every step.
File with the court; we provide county‑aligned instructions and reminders.
Open the FDIC‑insured estate account (up to $3M coverage) to consolidate funds, pay expenses, and distribute to heirs. See How Sunset Works.
Use automated discovery to locate bank, retirement, investment, insurance, property, vehicle, business, and liability records across the U.S.

Typical Texas scenarios we support

Scenario	Typical packet components
Will, independent administration requested	Application/petition to probate will; proposed order; Oath; Letters Testamentary; notice templates; inventory/accounting guidance
No will (intestate)	Application for administration; proposed order; Oath; Letters of Administration; heirship/notice templates; inventory/accounting guidance
Small estate (meets statutory limits)	Small‑estate affidavit packet; supporting exhibits checklist; filing instructions
Muniment‑of‑title‑style path (when eligible)	Application to admit will as muniment of title; proposed order; notices

Note: Eligibility for each path depends on facts and county practice. Our intake aligns the packet accordingly.

Required information checklist (have these ready)

Decedent details: legal name, last address, SSN (for records matching), date/place of death.
Will/trust documents (if any); list of known heirs/beneficiaries with contact info.
Asset hints: banks, brokerages, retirement plans, insurance policies, property addresses, vehicles, business interests.
Debts: mortgages, credit cards, personal/auto/student loans, medical bills.
Executor/administrator ID for court and bank KYC.

Our search tools help fill gaps if you don’t know everything upfront:

Timing and effort

Most families locate nearly all assets within a week; some bank balance confirmations can take up to two weeks. See How Sunset Works.
Form generation is immediate after intake; e‑notary availability varies by county acceptance.
98% of estates don’t require a probate lawyer when using Sunset’s software and guides (source: How Sunset Works).

When a Texas lawyer may still be needed

Certain Texas‑specific complexities can increase cost and court oversight, for example mineral rights, multi‑county property, dependent administrations, or disputed heirs. For background, see this discussion of Texas complications from Daughtrey Law (independent resource): The Real Cost of Probate Complications No One Warns You About.

Security, privacy, and control

SOC 2 Type II program; rigorous identity and fraud controls. See How Sunset Works.
You control every action; nothing is filed or submitted without your explicit approval. See Terms of Use.
Data handling, marketing opt‑outs, and CA privacy rights: Privacy Policy.

Related tools that speed Texas probate

Automated discovery avoids missed assets and helps ensure accurate inventories (see linked searches above).
Estate account centralizes funds, pays expenses, and documents distributions (FDIC insurance up to $3M). See How Sunset Works.

Quick answers for Texas

Cost to families: $0. Sunset is paid by bank partners, not from inheritances. See How Sunset Works.
Coverage: All Texas counties supported; packets align to local practices.
Notifications during search: Financial institutions are not notified during asset discovery (life insurance is the exception). See service pages above.
Power of Attorney and filings: Limited POA authority is granted to act for the estate only when you authorize it. See Terms of Use.

Start free

Begin your Texas packet and discovery in minutes at Sunset.