Travis County has two Probate Courts:
• Probate Court #1 (Judge Guy Herman) – 200 W. 8th St., 2nd Floor, Austin, TX 78701 | Phone: 512-854-9258
• Probate Court #2 (Judge Nicholas Chu) – 200 W. 8th St., 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701 | Phone: 512-854-5512

All probate filings go through the Travis County Clerk – Probate Division (Phone: 512-854-5958). The county uses an electronic docket system, and with growing caseloads, the addition of a second probate judge helps manage demand. The county is known for sometimes heavy dockets.

Several well-regarded firms in Austin specialize in estate planning, including:
• Willi Law Firm – Comprehensive estate planning services
• Law Office of Todd A. Wilson – Tailored estate planning solutions
• StoneMyers Law – Focuses on estate and business planning

If you have complex assets like investments or business interests, you’ll likely pay more for an estate plan. More detailed estate goals and requests often require sophisticated drafting, increasing costs.

For those with common assets, such as cars, a single property, and brokerage accounts, a simple will may be enough. Many attorneys charge a flat rate of around $3,900 for this service (Robbins Estate Law), though more affordable options are available.

For more complex estates, a revocable trust-based estate plan is often recommended for a smoother, more efficient asset transfer. These plans typically start between $4,900 and $5,900, with costs rising based on complexity.

BetterEstate offers a free, easy way to consult a digital estate expert and create a will for just 5–10% of the usual cost. Other online will creation services also provide solid options.

Austin residents can access several resources for estate planning:
• Austin Bar Association – Lawyer referral services
• Texas Legal Services Center – Legal aid and resources
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) – Free estate planning for low-income individuals
• Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) – Free will clinics in Austin
• TexasLawHelp.org – Free legal forms and guidance
• UT Law Pro Bono Wills Clinic – Free will drafting for qualifying individuals
• Workshops & Seminars – Various local organizations host estate planning events

Creating a will online can be an efficient and affordable option, but it’s essential to choose a platform that meets Texas legal requirements. Texas law currently requires a physical paper will with wet signatures, as fully electronic wills (digital-only execution) are not yet recognized.

Popular will maker platforms in Texas include:
• LegalZoom – Guided questionnaire for a Texas-compliant will
• Quicken WillMaker – Customizable will-drafting software
• Rocket Lawyer – Online will drafting with attorney consultations
• Trust & Will – Texas-specific will templates with signing instructions
• FreeWill – Generates a simple will PDF at no cost
• BetterEstate – Free digital consultation with flexible Texas will creation

For a full comparison, see our 2025 Will Maker Review.

Travis County is served by two statutory probate judges in Austin. Probate Court No. 1 is presided over by the Honorable Guy Herman, and Probate Court No. 2 is presided over by the Honorable Nicholas Chu. Notably, Judge Chu’s court (Court No. 2) is designated as the county’s mental health court, so he oversees cases like involuntary commitment hearings in addition to standard probate matters.

Both judges handle probate cases involving wills, estates, and guardianships, ensuring Austin families’ estate matters are properly heard and decided under Texas law. If you have a probate or estate proceeding in Austin, your case will be assigned to one of these two judges. A knowledgeable estate lawyer will be familiar with each court’s procedures and prepare accordingly.

The Travis County Clerk’s office offers a service to store original wills for safekeeping for a nominal fee (around $5). If you cannot afford court costs, Travis County allows filing an affidavit of inability to pay to waive fees, subject to Texas indigency rules.

Alternatively, if you create a will through BetterEstate, we can store it for you, encrypted and secure.

Texas mandates e-filing for most civil and probate cases, so attorneys file applications (e.g., an Application to Probate Will) electronically with the Travis County Clerk’s Probate Division. When a loved one dies with a will, the executor (usually through an attorney) files an Application for Probate in the Travis County Probate Court.

The filing fee for a standard probate application (e.g., Probate of Will and issuance of Letters Testamentary) in Travis County is about $360.

Uncontested probate hearings in Travis County are typically brief—the executor or attorney appears to prove up the will. The timeline from filing to the initial hearing is usually a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on court availability and required notice periods.

Once the will is admitted to probate, if independent administration is granted, the executor can handle most tasks without further court approval, needing only to file an inventory or affidavit.

Check out our in-depth blog post on estate planning in Texas, with a special focus on finding the right Austin will lawyer. We also have a detailed guide on how to make a will in Texas, covering key state-specific rules.