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Probate Court Information

Contact Court Coordinator, Sharrion Threadgill at SThreadgill@wilco.org to schedule hearings. All matters pertaining to probate matters must be set for hearing and cannot be handled on the uncontested docket.

Individuals without an attorney, see Pro Se Policy

 
Probate Court Documents
 
Pro Se Policy
Under Texas law, individuals applying for letters testamentary, letters of administration, determinations of heirship, and guardianships of the person and/or estate must be represented by a licensed attorney. The rule follows from the requirement that only a licensed attorney may represent the interests of third-party individuals or entities. The only time a pro se applicant may proceed in court is when truly representing only himself or herself.
 
Pro Se FAQ

As a pro se, what proceedings can I do on my own?

The only proceedings that you can handle as a pro se are those in which you truly would be representing only yourself. For example, a pro se may apply to probate a will as a muniment of title when he or she is the sole beneficiary under a will and there are no debts against the estate other than those secured by liens against real estate. This procedure can be a viable option in some situation, but not in others. Whether a muniment of title is the correct probate procedure for a particular situation is a legal decision that is best made by a lawyer. Note that anyone falsely swearing that the estate has no creditors is subject to a perjury charge.

Can I still serve as an executor, administrator, or guardian even though I'm not a lawyer?

Yes. One need not be a lawyer to serve as an executor, administrator, or guardian.
However, the executor, administrator, or guardian must be represented by counsel.

If I get the paperwork from a law library or the Internet, can I fill it out and file it? Isn’t that what lawyers do?

Lawyers don’t just fill out forms. Lawyers (1) determine what method of probate or guardianship is appropriate in a particular situation, (2) create or adapt any necessary paperwork, and (3) advise the client about the ongoing responsibilities of a fiduciary. Unless you are a lawyer, you’re creating legal pleadings while acting as a fiduciary would constitute the unauthorized practice of law.

What is a pro se?

A pro se is an individual who has not retained a lawyer and appears in court to represent himself and no other person or entity.