Protect estate property
Keep assets secure, preserve records, and avoid informal distributions before the debt and probate path are clear.
The executor's duty starts with protecting the estate and proving the facts.
Texas executors need to organize records, understand whether court authority is required, and keep a clean trail before distributions happen.
Start the questionnaireDocument decisions
Receipts, notes, photos, statements, and notices help explain what happened if a beneficiary, creditor, or court asks later.
Use court authority when needed
Letters Testamentary may be needed before an executor can work with banks, title companies, or other institutions.
Core executor duties
- Find and protect the original will.
- Keep estate property safe until someone with authority can act.
- Gather asset, debt, tax, insurance, and property records.
- Track expenses paid for the estate and keep receipts.
Duties before distribution
- Confirm who the beneficiaries or heirs are before property leaves the estate.
- Review debts, taxes, and secured loans before dividing assets.
- Use county and probate-path facts to decide which filing may fit.
- Document communications with beneficiaries so expectations stay clear.
Review note
Updated June 28, 2026. Legacywyse links to Texas court, statute, tax, and county sources when a guide discusses filing, authority, taxes, or local probate process. The content is general information, not legal advice.
Supported Texas counties
Dallas County
Dallas County Probate Courts in Dallas
Tarrant County
Tarrant County Probate Courts in Fort Worth
Collin County
Collin County Probate Court 1 in McKinney
Denton County
Denton County Probate Courts in Denton
Harris County
Harris County Probate Courts in Houston
Travis County
Travis County Probate Courts in Austin
Bexar County
Bexar County Probate Courts in San Antonio