In Texas, the small estate affidavit must be filed with the court and the court must approve the affidavit. After the court has approved the affidavit, it can be presented to a bank, organization or person, which then has to release the assets to the person with the affidavit.
Where do I turn in a Small Estate Affidavit? SEAs must be filed in the court that has jurisdiction and venue over the estate. In Texas, this is usually the county where the decedent had a fixed place of residence and lived in at the time of death.
Procedures: Please e-file all appropriate documents for your case with the Bexar County Probate Clerk's office, including Proposed Orders, Judgments, Affidavits of Heirship, and Proof of Death for review.
At the initial court hearing, the probate judge reviews the will to validate it. The judge then officially appoints the executor named in the will to oversee administering the estate.
General Affidavits must be signed in front of a notary public. A notary must verify your identification before you sign the document. Make sure to bring ID (like a driver's license or other form of identification) for the notary before you sign the affidavit.
To contact the County Clerk's Probate Department, please call 210-335-2241. To search for court records please visit the Bexar County Odyssey Portal.
Small estate affidavit process in Texas. Each county has its own specific form for the small estate affidavit, so obtain the form from the website or office of the probate court in the county in which your loved one was a resident.
The Texas affidavit of heirship form must be filled out and filed on behalf of a decedent's heir and can not be completed by the heir. Instead, two disinterested parties who know the necessary details about a decedent's family life need to fill out the form.