Dallas County Probate Court Information

Maps and Contact Information

Decorum

Requirement for Attorney

Maps and Contact Information

Dallas County Probate Court No. 2
Judge Robert E. Price
Records Building, 2nd Floor
500 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75202
214.653.7138

Dallas County Probate Court No. 3
Judge Michael E. Miller
Records Building, 2nd Floor
500 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75202
214.653.6166

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
REGARDING THE 
PROBATE COURTS

          Turn off all cell phones and pages BEFORE entering the courtroom.  Any cell phone or pager that goes off while court is in session will be confiscated by the bailiff.

Dallas County Probate Court Filing Fee Schedule

Text of Notice of the Requirement for an Attorney issued by the Dallas County Probate Court Judges:

NOTICE

REQUIREMENT FOR ATTORNEY

          Consistent with requirements of applicable law, including the statutes prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law, the Dallas County Probate Courts will not permit "Pro Se" litigants to represent estates of other persons in most Probate and Guardianship cases.  Named Executors, Administrators or persons applying as such must be represented by legal counsel.  Any individual applying for guardianship of persons, estates or both must also be represented by legal counsel.  Although the clerk will accept documents for filing, the Court will take no action on the documents unless there is an attorney of record in that case.

          Only a licensed attorney may represent a third person or entity in a Judicial proceeding in the State of Texas.  In most probate or guardianship cases, an individual applicant is not truly representing himself; rather he is attempting to represent another person or persons such as beneficiaries, heirs or the estate itself.  Unless that individual is a licensed attorney, this constitutes the unauthorized practice of law and will not be allowed by the Court.

EXCEPTIONS

          There are situation when a person may, without the assistance of the court or court staff, proceed without legal counsel.  For example, the individual is:

1. the sole beneficiary offering a will for probate as a Muniment of Title;

2. a non-corporate creditor of a probate or guardianship estate;

3. a non-corporate party in an ancillary civil action; or

4. other actions at the discretion of the Judge.

          In certain cases, a person may open a probate or guardianship proceeding with the assistance of legal counsel and then terminate the employment of that attorney.  If this occurs and the court appointed representative fails to comply with all the requirements of the Texas Probate Code, that representative will be required to employ legal counsel.  It is recommended that a representative have an attorney until the case is closed.

          Any questions should be directed to the administrative assistant of the court in which the case is filed.

              /signed/                               /signed/                            /signed/
Judge Nikki DeShazo          Judge Robert E. Price          Judge Joe Loving

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Disclaimer: This website is designed for general information only.
The information presented should not be considered or construed to be legal advice.
Moreover, this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
The attorney responsible for this site is Michael A. Duran, a Dallas Probate Attorney.
The Duran Firm's principal office is located in Dallas, Texas.