Probate in Texas is the court-supervised process of validating a deceased person’s will and administering their estate, governed by the Texas Estates Code. Texas offers several administration pathways, including independent administration, dependent administration, and the Muniment of Title procedure for qualifying simple estates where no debts other than real property liens exist.
1. Spencer, Johnson, & Harvell, PLLC
Founder: R. Kevin Spencer
Founded: 2007
Headquarters: Dallas, TX
Phone: (214) 965-9999
Website: https://www.dallasprobate.com
Office Locations:
- Dallas: 500 N Akard St, Suite 2150, Dallas, TX 75201 | (214) 965-9999
Practice Areas: Probate litigation, trust litigation, estate administration, will contests, trust contests, guardianship litigation, fiduciary liability
Firm Size: At least 4 attorneys
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Spencer, Johnson, & Harvell, PLLC was founded in 2007 by R. Kevin Spencer, an attorney with approximately 30 years of experience in estate and trust litigation, and has been operating for 19 years. The firm focuses exclusively on probate, trust, fiduciary, and guardianship litigation, as well as estate administration, and practices in all Texas courts including the more than 20 Statutory Probate Courts located in larger Texas counties such as Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, and Harris. Founding attorney Kevin Spencer holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, the highest peer rating standard for legal knowledge and ethical conduct. The firm has four named attorneys, including R. Kevin Spencer, Zachary E. Johnson, Brendan P. Harvell, and Blake O. Spencer, with multiple attorneys recognized on the Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. The firm represents clients in will contests, trust disputes, contested guardianships, and fiduciary breach claims across all 254 Texas counties.
2. McCulloch & Miller, PLLC
Managing Partner: Thomas W. McCulloch
Founded: Not publicly specified
Headquarters: Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 333-8900
Website: https://www.mcmfirm.com
Office Locations:
- Houston: 1900 Saint James Place, Suite 425, Houston, TX 77056 | (713) 333-8900
Practice Areas: Probate and estate administration, estate planning, elder law, public benefits planning, Medicaid and veterans benefits planning, trusts, wills, special needs trusts, tax planning
Firm Size: At least 3 attorneys
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: McCulloch & Miller, PLLC is a Houston law firm that integrates probate and estate administration with elder law and long-term care planning. Founding partner Thomas W. McCulloch is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in addition to being an attorney, providing clients with legal and financial perspectives on estate matters. The firm reports over 40 years of combined experience in all aspects of wills, trusts, and probate law. In addition to standard probate administration, the firm assists clients with Medicaid eligibility planning and veterans benefits access, which is particularly relevant for clients whose estates include the costs of long-term care. The firm serves clients throughout the Houston metro area, including Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.
3. Silberman Law Firm, PLLC
Founder: Philip Silberman
Founded: 2008
Headquarters: Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 255-4422
Website: https://silblawfirm.com
Office Locations:
- Houston: 950 Echo Lane, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77024 | (713) 255-4422
- Dallas: 7920 Belt Line Road, Suite 670, Dallas, TX 75254 | (214) 307-2840
- Fort Worth: 777 Main Street, Suite 600, Fort Worth, TX 76102 | (817) 953-8826
- Austin: Austin, TX | (512) 501-4148
- San Antonio: San Antonio, TX | (210) 714-6999
Practice Areas: Probate, estate planning, guardianship, elder law, real estate, business law, corporate law, intellectual property, litigation
Firm Size: Not publicly specified
Fee Structure: Flat-rate pricing available for many services; free initial consultations offered
Languages: English
About the Firm: Silberman Law Firm, PLLC was founded in 2008 by Philip Silberman and has been operating for 18 years. Founder Philip Silberman holds a B.B.A. in finance from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, combining legal and financial knowledge in his approach to probate and estate matters. The firm operates from five Texas locations including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, giving it broad geographic reach across the state. The firm is known for offering flat-rate pricing on many of its legal services, making probate administration and estate planning accessible for individuals and families who need cost-predictable legal help. Services span from routine probate of wills and intestate estates to guardianship proceedings and elder law matters.
4. Hensley & Krueger, PLLC
Founded: Not publicly specified
Headquarters: Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 850-9700
Website: https://probatetexaslawyers.com
Office Locations:
- Houston: 5615 Kirby Dr, Suite 720, Houston, TX 77005 | (713) 850-9700
Practice Areas: Probate, probate litigation, estate planning, business formation, business litigation, real estate
Firm Size: 2 to 5 attorneys
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Hensley & Krueger, PLLC is a Houston boutique firm focused on probate law, estate planning, and related business and real estate matters. The firm reports over 50 years of combined attorney experience in probate, estate, and trust law across its practice team. Attorneys at the firm include Cory Krueger, Richard S. Murad, Camille M. Tankersley, Kristina M. Munoz, and Elissa Silguero. The firm handles both uncontested probate administration and contested probate litigation. It is located in the Greenway Plaza area of Houston and has been recognized on the Texas Super Lawyers list. As a small firm, Hensley & Krueger emphasizes personal client attention alongside its technical legal knowledge.
5. Ford + Bergner LLP
Managing Partner: Don D. Ford III
Founded: 1999
Headquarters: Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 843-7796
Website: https://fordbergner.com
Office Locations:
- Houston: 700 Louisiana St, Floor 48, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 843-7796
- Dallas: 901 Main Street, 33rd Floor, Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 389-0887
- Austin: Austin, TX | (512) 610-1100
Practice Areas: Probate, estate planning, trust administration, guardianship, fiduciary litigation, appellate law
Firm Size: Approximately 10 attorneys
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Ford + Bergner LLP is a boutique Texas firm established in 1999 that has been operating for 27 years, dedicating its entire practice to probate, estate, trust, and guardianship matters. Managing Partner Don D. Ford III holds board certification in Estate Planning and Probate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than 3% of Texas-licensed attorneys. The firm handles both uncontested and contested probate matters, including fiduciary litigation and appeals in Harris and Dallas County Statutory Probate Courts. Attorney J. Crispin Clarke has also been recognized on the Texas Super Lawyers list. With offices in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, the firm serves clients across the three largest Texas metropolitan areas.
Texas probate is governed by the Texas Estates Code, which provides two primary forms of administration: independent administration and dependent administration. Independent administration, the more commonly used method, allows a court-appointed executor to administer an estate and pay debts without court approval for each action after the initial court hearing. Dependent administration requires court approval for each significant step and is used when independent administration is not available or appropriate. For qualifying estates, the Muniment of Title procedure offers a streamlined alternative that allows real property to be transferred to heirs through a court order without a full probate proceeding, provided the estate has no debts other than liens secured by real property. Texas also allows small estate affidavits for estates that meet specific value thresholds and have no pending probate proceedings. Executors and administrators in Texas have a fiduciary duty to the estate’s beneficiaries, and contested probate matters may be brought before Statutory Probate Courts in larger counties.
The firms listed on this page represent a selection of probate practices operating across Texas. Each firm’s details, including office locations, phone numbers, practice areas, and background information, are based on publicly available data verified at the time of publication. Inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Individuals seeking legal representation should conduct their own research, verify current attorney licensing through the State Bar of Texas, and schedule consultations to determine the right fit for their specific situation.