Harris County has five Probate Courts:
• Probate Court No. 1, 201 Caroline St., 6th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, Phone 832-927-1401
• Probate Court No. 2, 201 Caroline St., Suite 680, Houston, TX 77002, Phone 832-927-1402
• Probate Court No. 3, 201 Caroline St., 7th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, Phone 832-927-1403
• Probate Court No. 4, 201 Caroline St., 7th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, Phone 832-927-1404
• Probate Court No. 5, 1115 Congress St., 5th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, Phone 832-927-1405

For more information, visit the Harris County Probate Courts' website.

Several well-regarded firms in Austin specialize in estate planning, including:
• Crain, Caton & James: A firm that's served local families for over a century.
• McCulloch & Miller, PLLC: Offers comprehensive estate planning services.
• The Galligan Law Firm: Focuses on estate and legacy 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.

Online will creation services offer more affordable options:
• LegalZoom: Starts at about $89.
• Trust & Will: Offers complete will packages for $199.
• BetterEstate: Provides a free digital estate concierge and charges $149 for a Texas will.

Houston residents can access several resources for estate planning:
• Houston Volunteer Lawyers: Offers free will clinics for low-income residents.
• TexasLawHelp.org: Provides free legal forms and guidance.
• Harris County Law Library: Offers resources and workshops on estate planning.

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.

Harris County is served by five statutory probate judges:
• Probate Court No. 1: Judge Jerry Simoneaux.
• Probate Court No. 2: Judge Pamela Medina.
• Probate Court No. 3: Judge Jason Cox.
• Probate Court No. 4: Judge James Horwitz.
• Probate Court No. 5: Judge Fransheneka "Fran" Watson.

The Harris County Clerk’s office offers a service to store original wills for safekeeping for a nominal fee. For more information, contact the Probate Department at (713) 274-8585.

Alternatively, services like BetterEstate can store your will securely.

In Harris County, probate applications are filed electronically with the County Clerk’s Probate Division. The filing fee for a standard probate application is approximately $360. For detailed procedures and fee schedules, contact the Probate Department at (713) 274-8585.

Uncontested probate hearings in Harris County are typically brief. The timeline from filing to the initial hearing usually ranges from 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 Houston will lawyer. We also have a detailed guide on how to make a will in Texas, covering key state-specific rules.