Legal Fees and Costs

Costs

Total Costs include court filing fees and other costs paid to finish the probate. Court costs are $400 to $450, depending on the county - generally a $360 court filing fee; $8 citation fee; and $20-$80 posting of the citation fee. Federal Express fees to obtain and send the original will to the court run about $70. Other misc. court fees for required filings, about $60. Except for Muniment of Title filings, most other filings require a newspaper notice to creditors publication, about $130.

Legal Fees

Probate of Will with Independent Powers

$1,150

Flat Legal Fee. With a valid self-proved will, with the Executor/Administrator acting independently, probate filed no later than 4 years after death.

Probate of Will as a Muniment of Title

$1,000

Flat Legal Fee. With a valid self-proved will, and the probate being filed no later than 4 years after date of death.

Small Estate Affidavit

$450

Flat Legal Fee. This also requires a court filing cost, but no publication, posting or publishing costs.

Affidavit of Heirship

$450

Flat Legal Fee. No court filing costs, but a cost to transmit to, and to record, the document in the county recorder's office.

Other actions not listed as flat fee actions.

$225/hr

Based on an hourly rate.

Disclaimer

In the actions shown above with a flat legal fee, if complications or matters arise that render the case different than originally described, then an hourly fee to handle the complications or additional matters applies.

Add a footnote if this applies to your business

Hill Country Probate Law Office