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Probate pro se policy in Ector County: a personal representative must be represented by a licensed attorney; a pro se applicant may probate a will as a muniment of title only when the listed conditions are met (including sole beneficiary and no unsecured debts); filing with the County Clerk's probate department, citation and the return date, setting a hearing, and the documents to present.
Texas > Seventh Administrative Judicial Region > Ector County > County Court at Law, County Court at Law No. 2.
PRO SE POLICY - PROBATE ECTOR COUNTY 1. The Court does not allow a personal representative, which includes an independent executor, dependent executor, independent administrator, temporary administrator or dependent administrator, of a decedent’s estate to be appointed unless represented by an attorney who is licensed to practice law in Texas. See Steele v. McDonald, 202 S.W.3d 926, 928-29 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006, no pet.). 2. Pro se representation in these circumstances is the practice of law without a license because these positions have a fiduciary duty to represent the best interests of all heirs or beneficiaries and legitimate creditors of the estate. 3. Pro se applicants are allowed to represent only themselves before the court. Pro se applicants are not allowed to represent other beneficiaries named in the Will because these acts involve the practice of law. 4. The Court allows a pro se applicant to probate a will as a Muniment of Title (no personal representative is appointed and no letters are issued) if all of the following circumstances are met: a. Four years have not elapsed since the decedent's death; b. The original Will is filed with the court; c. The Will was signed by the decedent and at least two witnesses; d. The Will has a valid self-proving affidavit; e. The applicant is the sole beneficiary under the Will; and f. There are no unpaid debts owed by the decedent other than debts secured by liens on real estate. 5. Prior to proceeding with an Application to Probate Will as Muniment of Title, you should contact each entity holding assets and verify that they will release the assets to you upon your presentment to them of a certified copy of the Will and the Order Admitting Will to Probate as Muniment of Title. Some entities, especially those holding stocks and bonds, will not release the assets without Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. If so, you should consult an attorney. 6. Please consult an attorney of your choice if you wish to be appointed as a personal representative or if your Will does not meet all of the requirements in item 4 above. If you do not know any attorneys who practice probate law, you may contact the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Service at (800)252-9690 or www.texasbar.com/LRIS. Be sure to ask for an attorney who specializes in probate law. 7. If you are the only beneficiary of a Will that meets all the requirements listed above in item 4 and you wish to probate the Will as a Muniment of Title, you may proceed by completing and filing an Application for Probate of Will as Muniment of Title. 8. The original Will and Application should be filed with the County Clerk, Probate Department, in Rm. 111 on the first floor of the Courthouse at 300 N. Grant. Please contact the County Clerk’s Office, Probate Department, for current filing fees at 432-498-4130. 9. After filing, the Clerk will issue citation which must be posted at the Courthouse until the next Monday to occur after 10 days from the date of filing. When you file your Application, the Clerk will write this "Return Date" on your receipt. 10. You must call the appropriate Court to set a personal hearing on your Application on the Return Date or on any day occurring after this Return Date. 11. At the hearing, you will be required to present the Proof of Death and Other Facts and the Order Admitting Will to Probate as Muniment of Title.
PRO SE POLICY - PROBATE ECTOR COUNTY 1. The Court does not allow a personal representative, which includes an independent executor, dependent executor, independent administrator, temporary administrator or dependent administrator, of a decedent’s estate to be appointed unless represented by an attorney who is licensed to practice law in Texas. See Steele v. McDonald, 202 S.W.3d 926, 928-29 (Tex.
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-25 (AJR-7 Seventh Region build, own-site layer) from BenchPath custody ajr7 corpus sources/documents/65eac3f4dbb2b15c-probate-pro-se-filing-without-an-attorney-policy-pdf.pdf (175,884 bytes, sha256 65eac3f4dbb2b15c2337a77cb772a7edad6a878c8c6aef6a11004ece54f53759; 2 page(s)) - the document the Ector County website posts (https://www.ectorcountytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/212/Probate-Pro-Se-Filing-Without-An-Attorney-Policy-PDF), not registered with the Office of Court Administration's TOPICs registry as of 2026-09-25: the digital text layer of the file, read against every rendered page and corrected by eye (paragraphs, list structure, signature blocks, fill-ins); signature, seal and file-stamp blocks bracketed. Signed: Undated; posted on the Ector County Probate Department page.
The Precinct 4 justice court's instruction letter: a plea of no contest or guilty makes the fine and costs due, a not-guilty plea brings a mailed court date, remittances by money order or cashier's check only (personal checks returned), juveniles 16 and under must contact the court with a parent or guardian before the appearance date, and payment online or by phone.
3 verbatim requirements from Checklist.