Updated September 7, 2026. Quick answer: Harris County, Texas’s most populous, charges a flat $360.00 for probate of a will, administration, or heirship, regardless of estate size.
If a trust could save your estate this fee in Texas
A living trust avoids probate entirely in Texas, which means the estate skips the $360.00 above along with every other cost the court charges once a case is open. LawDepot builds a state-specific one.
Build a living trust at LawDepot
LawDepot pays us a commission if you buy through this link, it costs you nothing extra. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Affiliate Disclosure.
What Texas charges to open probate
Texas sets no single statewide figure for this fee; each county’s probate court sets its own schedule, so the exact amount depends on where the estate is opened.
| Probate of a will (Harris County) | $360.00 |
| Administration (Harris County) | $360.00 |
| Heirship (Harris County) | $360.00 |
Texas statutory/county probate courts set fees locally; Harris County (Houston) is shown as the largest-county example.
Where this money goes and who sets it
The authority for this figure is Harris County Clerk’s Office fee schedule (Tex. Gov’t Code Ch. 101, Subchapter C, enabling framework). In the source’s own words: “Probate Courts Fee Schedule – New Estates: Probate of a Will – associated court filing fees – $360.00; Administration – associated court filing fee – $360.00”
What this fee doesn’t cover
Because Texas leaves this to each county, the same estate could cost more or less to open depending on which county courthouse handles it. Either way, this is the court’s own charge just to open the file and issue letters, separate from what an attorney charges to actually handle the estate and separate from any state estate or inheritance tax the estate itself might owe.
Sources
Source: Harris County Clerk’s Office fee schedule (Tex. Gov’t Code Ch. 101, Subchapter C, enabling framework).