Settling an estate, step by step
Probate & Estate Administration
Guidance for executors, administrators, and heirs across Texas — settling an estate with less stress, and often with less court involvement than families expect.
Probate and Estate Administration in Texas
Probate begins at one of life’s hardest moments — the loss of someone close. It is the legal process for settling that person’s estate: paying debts, gathering assets, and passing property to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries. Texas offers some of the most efficient probate procedures in the country, and many estates move through with far less court involvement than people expect. But the procedures still have to be followed precisely, which is where guidance matters most.
Which Route Fits the Estate
The right path depends on the will, the assets, and whether the heirs agree.
When a will authorizes it — or the heirs agree — an independent administration lets an executor settle the estate with minimal court supervision. It is the most common and efficient route in Texas. When closer oversight is needed, often because of disputes among heirs or creditors, a dependent administration proceeds with the court approving major actions along the way. Some estates never need a full administration at all: a muniment of title can transfer property under a valid will when the only remaining debts are secured by real estate, and for modest estates that meet statutory limits, a small estate affidavit may be enough.
When There Is No Will
Texas law decides who inherits — through a proceeding to determine heirship.
When there is no will, the estate passes under Texas’s laws of intestate succession, usually beginning with a proceeding to determine heirship that formally identifies who inherits. We help families establish heirship and move the estate forward when no will is in place.
How We Help
Carmona Hull Law Group represents executors, administrators, heirs, beneficiaries, and families throughout the probate process in Texas — often during a difficult and emotional time. We help our clients:
- Handle independent and dependent administrations from application through closing.
- Transfer property by muniment of title when a full administration is unnecessary.
- Resolve intestate estates and establish heirship when there is no will.
- Use small estate procedures for qualifying estates.
- Address creditor claims, distributions, and disputes among interested parties.
Settling an estate takes diligence, precision, and compassion. Our job is to carry the legal weight so families can focus on what matters, confident the estate is handled correctly from first filing to final distribution.
Facing probate after a loss?
A consultation is a gentle first step. We will explain what the estate needs, in plain language, and guide you through each stage — in English or Spanish.
Schedule a ConsultationThis page is a general overview and is educational in nature. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.