Sometimes not, and we will tell you that for free rather than open a file you do not need. Jointly held property, payable-on-death accounts, retirement plans and insurance with living beneficiaries, and trust-held assets generally pass outside probate. We review how everything is titled first.

Very little. Our team handles the filings, the notices, the inventory, and the communication with beneficiaries. Executors who work with us typically sign documents, make decisions, and let us manage the rest.

Yes. We regularly ask Tarrant County courts to determine heirs when someone died without a will, and Texas community property rules affect how that division works. These proceedings often depend on testimony from people who knew the family, which is one reason to begin sooner.

In Tarrant County, generally yes. The County Clerk’s own probate guidance states that you may not file to probate a relative’s will without an attorney, because an executor represents the beneficiaries and the estate rather than only themselves. Narrow exceptions exist, including a small estate affidavit and a sole-beneficiary muniment of title. Beyond the requirement, the role carries fiduciary duties, and a missed notice usually costs more to repair than a probate attorney costs in the first place.

Usually when communication has already broken down. An heir who cannot get an accounting, an executor accused of self-dealing, or a will whose validity is questioned are the situations that escalate. We first focus on dispute resolution for your Colleyville family, because a resolved matter preserves estate value that a contested one consumes.

That depends on which route your estate needs and whether anyone contests it. We discuss fees openly in the free consultation, before you commit to anything, so you are not guessing.