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 No. 1
The Honorable Guy Herman
Probate Court No. 2
The Honorable Nicholas Chu
Probate Court Local Rules
- Probate Court Local Rules (effective 06/2024 & posted on the TX OCA website)
- Standing Pretrial Scheduling Order for Jury Trials (Including Use of Electronic Media)
- Administrative Orders Regarding the Filing of Annual and Final Accounts
- Filing Instructions for Probate and Guardianship, including Related and Ancillary Matters (updated 02/2019)
- Attorney's Fees in Probate Court (updated 10/2023)
Probate Court Procedures & Documents
- How to Get Documents to the Court
- Probate Court No. 1's Uncontested Guardianship Docket Procedures (updated 04/2024)
- Probate Auditors Information Handout (08/2024)
- Court Policy Regarding Pro Se Applicants Information for the non-lawyer (updated 10/2024)
- Travis County Probate Courts List of Attorneys ad Litem (updated 11/2024)
Documents are also available on the Probate, Guardianship, and Mental Health pages.
County Clerk, Probate Division Information
For questions, please contact the Probate Division of County Clerk's office (512) 854-5958
Online Record & E-Filing Resources
- Search online probate case data and documents Travis County Case Management System (Odyssey) Portal
- re:SearchTX provides an online platform to access public court records from Texas courts
- To e-file a document, use your Electronic Filing Service Provider. If you have not yet selected a provider, go to www.efiletexas.gov to start e-filing now.
