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The joint policy of Probate Courts Nos. 1 and 2 (Rev. 10/2024; signed by Judge Christopher J. Everett and the Associate Judge): consistent with the unauthorized-practice statutes, the courts do not permit a self-represented litigant to represent estates or other persons — named or applying executors, administrators and applicants for guardianship must act through a licensed attorney, the courts take no action on filings without an attorney of record, and a representative who discharges counsel and falls out of compliance must re-employ counsel; a person may represent only his or her own interest (examples: a sole beneficiary in a muniment of title, a non-corporate creditor, a non-corporate party in an ancillary civil action, a guardian of the person filing the § 1163 annual report); self-represented litigants must follow Local Rule 1.3, the TRCP, the Rules of Evidence, the Estates Code and appellate rules on pain of fine or punishment; the FAQ explains the fiduciary rationale; for a self-represented muniment all beneficiaries must be applicants and testify, each must swear on personal knowledge that there are no debts other than real-estate liens (perjury warning), the court reviews prove-up documents before the hearing, additional documents are required for a copy of a will, a non-self-proved will or probate more than four years after death, the will and redacted death certificate are filed with the application with the TRCP 57 contact information, and within 24 hours of setting the hearing the proposed order and unsigned proof (and any additional proposed testimony) are e-mailed in Word to the court's coordinator with the hearing date and decedent's name in the subject, additional signed pleadings filed at least one week before the hearing.
Texas > Denton County > Probate Courts Nos. 1 and 2 — applicants, fiduciaries and self-represented persons in probate and guardianship cases.
"1. Required Retention of Attorney — Consistent with requirements of applicable law, including the statutes prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law, the Denton County Probate Courts do not permit a 'Self-Represented Litigant' to represent estates or other persons in Probate and Guardianship cases. Named Executors, Administrators or persons applying as such will be required to act through legal counsel. Additionally, individuals applying for guardianships of persons, estates or both will also be required to obtain legal counsel. Although an individual may present documents to the clerk of the Probate Courts for filing, the Probate Courts will take no action on the documents unless there is an attorney of record in the case. … An individual who has retained counsel may open a probate or guardianship proceeding and thereafter discharge their attorney. If this occurs and the representative fails to comply with all the requirements of the Texas Estates Code, that individual will be required to once again employ legal counsel for subsequent hearings related to such non-compliance. … 2. Self-Represented Applicants (Applicants without an Attorney) — … a self-represented litigant may not represent the interest of others. … Denton County Probate Courts Local Rules Section 1.3 provide that a self-represented litigant will be expected to read and follow the Local Rules and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Civil Evidence, the Texas Estates Code and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure as may be appropriate in the particular case. A self-represented litigant who fails to comply with the applicable rules may be subject to fine or other punishment. The following are examples of when a person may represent themselves: 1. A sole beneficiary in a Muniment of Title action 2. A non-corporate creditor of a probate or guardianship estate 3. A non-corporate party in an ancillary civil action 4. Texas Estates Code §1163 permits the guardian of the person to complete and file the §1163 annual report of the person without the assistance of an attorney … [Muniment of title as a self-represented applicant:] • All beneficiaries. In a self-represented litigant application to probate a Will as a muniment of title, all beneficiaries under the Will must be applicants, and all beneficiaries must testify at the hearing. • Must swear no debts. … each applicant must be able to swear on personal knowledge that there are no debts against the estate other than those secured by liens against real estate … Anyone falsely swearing that the estate has no creditors is subject to a perjury charge. • Needed documents. The Court reviews all documents for Will prove-ups before the hearing. … Note there are additional procedural requirements with additional necessary documents in the following cases: (1) the Will is not the original Will, (2) the Will is not self-proved, or (3) you are probating the Will more than four years after the decedent's death. … At the time you file the application in the Denton County Clerk's Office, also file (1) the Will and (2) the death certificate (cross out the social security number). Rule 57 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure requires that you include the following information for each applicant in the application: name, address, phone number, email address, and fax number (if available). Within 24 hours after you set the hearing: • Email the proposed order and the proposed (unsigned) proof of death and other facts in Word format to: Jessica.sierra@dentoncounty.gov (for Probate Court No. 1), or Nydia.godinez@dentoncounty.gov (for Probate Court No. 2). • If you have additional proposed testimony that is required because the Will is a copy, is not self-proved, or is being probated more than four years after decedent's death, also email that proposed (unsigned) testimony. • Put the date of the hearing and decedent's name in the subject line of the email. • If you do not have access to email, deliver these documents to the Court, with the date and time of the hearing on a cover sheet. At least one week before the scheduled hearing, file with the Denton County Clerk's Office any additional signed pleadings required because the Will is a copy, the Will is not self-proved, or the Will is being probated more than four years after decedent's death."
"1. Required Retention of Attorney — Consistent with requirements of applicable law, including the statutes prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law, the Denton County Probate Courts do not permit a 'Self-Represented Litigant' to represent estates or other persons in Probate and Guardianship cases. Named Executors, Administrators or persons applying as such will be required to act through lega
Reviewer note: Own-site document (text layer, 4 pp, 8,374 chars) read in full 2026-09-06; the policy and procedural requirements quoted verbatim, the FAQ summarized; dated 'Rev. 10/2024' and signed by Judge Christopher J. Everett (Probate Court No. 2) and the Associate Judge of the Probate Courts (signature block OCR-damaged); one joint instrument of both statutory probate courts → one county-level probate rule (court-less). Composed benchpath-ajr8-denton (own-site lane).
In justice-court eviction cases: the citation sets a personal-appearance trial day not less than 10 nor more than 21 days after the petition is filed; a written answer is permitted but NOT required (appearing on the trial day is what matters); no trial may be held until 4 days after service; and an appeal must be perfected within 5 days after the judgment is signed.
Policy Regarding Pro Se Applicants — Harris County Probate Courts (Probate Court No. 1 posting) — posted on the court's own website — the court-procedure tier (standing procedures, policies, and preferences the court itself publishes), distinct from the TOPICs-registered local-rules tier (TRCP 3a registration applies to local rules). Operative requirements quoted verbatim; the posted document is the controlling text.