When Is Probate Necessary & Not Necessary in Texas?

If you recently lost a loved one and need to manage their final affairs, you may be wondering, When is probate necessary? Texas law requires probate when the deceased owned assets that do not pass automatically to someone else. Probate may not be required if the estate qualifies as a small estate, or if all property is non-probate and includes mechanisms to pass outside the probate process, like beneficiary designations and trusts.

At Lewis Law Firm, PLLC, we guide Texas families through estate and legacy planning with compassion, clarity, and strategic care. Our founder, Samantha Lewis, combines nearly a decade of legal experience with personal insight into the challenges of probate. Whether you are trying to avoid probate, simplify it, or navigate it after a loved one’s passing, we are here to help.

How Does Probate Work in Texas?

Probate is the legal process for settling a person’s estate after death. An estate includes everything someone owns when they pass away, like money, real estate, and personal belongings. In Texas, probate can involve proving the deceased person’s (decedent’s) will, if they had one, meets legal requirements, identifying assets, paying debts, and distributing property.

The county court where the deceased lived handles the probate process. Texas offers a relatively efficient probate process, allowing many estates to settle with little oversight.

When Is Probate Necessary?

When is probate required in Texas? The answer depends on the kinds of property the decedent owned, whether they had an estate plan, and, if so, what that plan included. Without specific planning to avoid it, probate is necessary for most estates.

Property Solely in the Decedent’s Name

When someone dies owning property, such as real estate, vehicles, or bank accounts titled only in their name, Texas courts must oversee probate to legally transfer that property. No one else can take control of it until the court grants it.

The Decedent Used a Will

Even when the deceased leaves a valid will, the court must confirm its validity to give it legal force. The court reviews the will and formally appoints the person named in it to carry out the instructions—the executor.

Once appointed, the executor inventories the deceased’s assets, settles any debts, and distributes property that does not automatically transfer to a beneficiary.

The Family Disagrees About the Estate

If the family cannot agree about the will’s meaning, who should inherit, or who should manage the estate, the probate court steps in to resolve those disputes. In these situations, working with an experienced probate litigation lawyer can make a significant difference in protecting your interests. Disagreements requiring probate court involvement may relate to will validity, concerns about fraud or coercion, or uncertainty over who someone’s legal heirs are.

The Decedent Died Without a Will

When someone dies without a valid will, called dying intestate, the law determines who receives their property. When disputes arise over heirship or distribution, a contested probate lawyer can help clarify rights and advocate in court. Texas courts require probate to determine the correct heirs and ensure proper handling of the estate.

The court appoints an administrator, rather than an executor, to manage intestate estates. The administrator performs the same duties as an executor and follows intestate succession laws to distribute assets.

The Estate Owes Debts

When the deceased had outstanding debts, the estate must settle those debts before anyone receives an inheritance. The administrator or executor must notify creditors about the probate case and allow them to make claims to recover from the estate.

When Is Probate Not Necessary in Texas?

Estates can avoid probate if the entirety of the decedent’s property is non-probate.

Non-probate assets pass automatically to someone else when the owner dies, like:

• Life insurance policies with named beneficiaries;
• Retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s with designated beneficiaries—if you’re wondering do 401ks and retirement accounts go through probate, these accounts typically bypass probate if beneficiaries are properly named;
• Bank or investment accounts with payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) instructions;
• Joint tenancy with right of survivorship provisions in property, where the surviving co-owner becomes the full owner;
• Lady Bird Deeds (enhanced life estate deeds), which allow the owner to keep full control of their property while alive and name someone to inherit the property after death;
• Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs), which name a beneficiary to receive the property automatically when the owner dies; and
• Property placed in a trust before the decedent died.

Many people use revocable living trusts to keep their property out of probate. A trust holds property and includes instructions for managing it in a trust instrument. The trust’s creator can change or cancel a revocable trust at any time during their life. When the person dies, the successor trustee, whom the decedent chooses in advance, manages and distributes the trust property without court approval.