About This Template
Probate can be a complex and lengthy process, but Texas allows for simplified procedures in certain cases. This template provides a foundational Petition for Informal Probate in Texas, designed for when a deceased individual's estate meets the criteria for a streamlined court process. This efficiency tool can help probate firms quickly initiate the administration of a Texas estate, saving time and costs for the client by utilizing the less-intensive court path when applicable.
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD IN:
Clio Draft
Microsoft Word
Jurisdiction Notes
This template is specific to the Texas Estates Code (TEC). Attorneys must ensure the case meets the statutory requirements for the particular "informal" or simplified procedure being utilized. For instance, a Small Estate Affidavit has strict value limits, and a Muniment of Title generally requires no outstanding debt. Compliance with all notice and filing requirements of the local Texas probate court is mandatory. Informal probate is not a term used in every state, so this template requires specific knowledge of the TEC.
What is this template?
This is a formal pleading filed with a Texas statutory probate court or a county court at law, seeking to administer an estate using one of the simplified or "informal" procedures available under the Texas Estates Code. The specific type of informal proceeding the Petition for Informal Probate addresses (e.g., muniment of title, small estate affidavit, or an independent administration with a will) will be determined by the facts of the case. The template includes all necessary jurisdictional and factual allegations regarding the decedent, the will (if applicable), and the beneficiaries.
Disclaimer
This template and the information on this page are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. They are not a substitute for consulting with a qualified legal professional. The use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Customize in Clio Draft
Autofill client data
Populate the fields of any legal document template with client and matter details from your Clio account. Reduce manual entry and cut errors.
Clause library
Build a reusable clause library and insert the right language every time. Keep templates current without hunting through old files.
E-signature
Send documents for secure e-signature, track status, and file the signed copy back to the matter automatically.
How to Customize
With Clio Draft
If this template is available in your region, you can activate it in your Clio Draft account. It will then be pre-filled with information from your contacts and matters, helping you save time.
- Click Request Template, and complete the Request Information form.
- Open the activation email to activate the template in Clio Draft.
- In Clio Draft, go to Library and select the Court forms subtab.
-
Select a category to view all the court forms associated with that
category.
- Find the form that you need. You can use the search bar to search by form number or form title.
- Optional: To preview the form, click the Actions dropdown and then select Preview.
- Click the Actions dropdown and then select Create form template.
-
At this stage, you can configure any fields on the template that will
remain consistent across multiple matters and specific practice areas.
- Purple fields: These fields are highlighted in purple because they are connected to linked fields that will automatically insert information entered on the Populate page. If you fill in a purple field, the data in that field will always populate when you draft a document from this form template and will not be overwritten by text entered on the populate page.
- Blue fields: These fields are highlighted in blue because they are unique to a specific matter. You will enter this information after you generate the form template, on the Populate page.
For detailed instructions for drafting form templates and more information about Clio Draft, see Clio Draft: Form Templates and Clio Draft: Draft and Manage Documents.
Without Clio Draft
You can download this template as a Microsoft Word document. You can also learn more about how Clio Draft can automate your document workflows and request a demo.
- Click Request Template.
- Open the email from Clio and download the Microsoft Word template.
- Set up Word document templates. This allows you to edit relevant merge fields in the document.