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In response to recent orders issued by the City of Austin, Travis County, and the State of Texas, all hearings at the Probate Court will be by video through Zoom or telephonically if video is unavailable. Until further order of this Court, there will be no in-person hearings for probate or guardianship matters held at the Probate Court. If you have a hearing that has been previously scheduled, the Court will contact you to confirm whether the hearing can be done by video through Zoom.
Please review the new administrative order signed by Judge Herman on March 25, 2020, updating the temporary changes to probate court proceedings in response to COVID-19.
The Honorable Guy Herman
Information for Prospective Jurors
The probate court is a statutory probate court headed by an elected judge, the Honorable Guy Herman. The probate court is also served by Associate Judge Dan Prashner and Associate Judge Tom Ruffner.
In general, the probate court probates the wills of deceased persons, declares the heirs of deceased persons who die without a will, establishes guardianships for incapacitated persons and minors, supervises court-ordered involuntary mental health commitments, and administers all eminent domain cases initiated in Travis County.
The probate court also has jurisdiction to hear lawsuits related to an estate of a decedent or ward as well as actions by or against a personal representative of a decedent’s or ward’s estate. These ancillary cases cover a wide range of topics, from products liability to fiduciary litigation to medical malpractice to family law.
Probate Court News
The Court no longer requires case information sheets to be filed with all new cases. The Supreme Court of Texas repealed the requirement effective December 11, 2018.
Also see update information by other links on the website. The Probate page, especially, has many updates following the 2019 Legislative session.
- Regular Docket Hearing Request Form (updated 05/31/2018)
Information about the Probate Court’s e-courtroom technology is available on this site
Free CLE at the Probate Court
The Probate Court sponsors several CLE sessions each year
From the Clerk's Office
For questions please contact the Civil and Probate Division of County Clerk's office.
Probate Court Local Rules
- Probate Court Local Rules
- Probate Court E-Courtroom Local Rules
- Travis County E-Courtroom Use Agreement
- Probate Court Recording & Broadcasting Local Rules
- How do you get documents to the Court for review? (updated 10/01/2019)
- Submitting Paperwork for Will Prove-Ups and Heirships (updated 10/01/2019)
- Administrative Order 2019-4 Regarding the Filing of Annual and Final Accounts (updated 02/25/2019)
- Uncontested Guardianship Docket Procedures (updated 10/01/2019)
General Documents
Documents are also available on the Probate, Guardianship, and Mental Health pages.
- Court Policy Regarding Pro Se Applicants Information for the non-lawyer (updated 01/04/2019)
- Travis County Probate Court No. 1 List of Attorneys ad Litem (updated 06/18/2019)
- Attorney's Fees in Probate Court (updated 1/23/2018)
- Travis County Probate Court Hearing Schedule, non-jury weeks
- Setting Hearings in Travis County Probate Court No. 1 (updated 10/01/2019)
- Filing Instructions for Probate and Guardianship, including Related and Ancillary Matters (updated for 02/19/2019)
- Seniors & the Law, Texas Young Lawyers Association (updated 1/1/2014)
- Las Personas Adultas Mayores y la Ley, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- Materials from Probate Court Legal Assistant Program (updated 02/27/2020)
Probate Court
Travis County Courthouse
1000 Guadalupe
Room 217
Austin, TX 78701
Mailing address
P.O. Box 1748
Austin, TX 78767
(512) 854-9258
Fax: (512) 854-4418
Hours: M-F, 8:00-12:00 & 1:00-5:00
