Once the affidavit is completed and notarized, it must be filed with the county clerk's office in Tarrant County.
The deceased person's property may sometimes pass without the need for a formal court proceeding. Not all estates need to go through probate.
(a) All probate proceedings must be filed and heard in a court exercising original probate jurisdiction. The court exercising original probate jurisdiction also has jurisdiction of all matters related to the probate proceeding as specified in Section 31.002 for that type of court.
256.156. PROOF OF WILL NOT PRODUCED IN COURT. (a) A will that cannot be produced in court must be proved in the same manner as provided in Section 256.153 for an attested will or Section 256.154 for a holographic will, as applicable.
If the estate is small or simple, the probate court can often conclude the process within six months. However, there are many cases where probate can last for a year or longer. This is especially true where the original will is contested or is missing.
Under the Texas Constitution, jurisdiction over probate matters belongs to either the constitutional county court or to the district court. Probate matters include the administration of estates of deceased persons, Will contests, guardianship of minors and incapacitated persons, and mental illness matters.
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.
It must be filed in the county clerk's office where the property is located. This will help establish a clear chain of title and allow the heirs to sell the property. Courts often have specific rules about small estate affidavits. Make sure to check any local requirements before you apply.
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.
Make check out to Mary Louise Garcia, County Clerk • Mail to Probate Clerk, Tarrant County Courthouse, 100 W. Weatherford St., Rm. sign the small estate affidavit until the posted citation period is complete.