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County courts and appraisal districts: where families go in DFW
Short answer: Families dealing with an inherited house usually deal with three kinds of county offices: the probate court and clerk (the estate case), the appraisal district (property records and values), and the tax assessor-collector (property taxes). Each county runs its own, so always confirm the current address, hours and process with the office.
The probate court and clerk
This is where the estate case is filed and where the court record is kept. The clerk's office can explain how to look up a case and what filing fees and forms apply. Your attorney handles the legal filings.
The appraisal district
The central appraisal district keeps property records, ownership, and appraised values, and it handles exemptions. Families may check the district's records to confirm the legal description, the owner of record, and the current value.
The tax assessor-collector
This office sends the property tax statements and collects the payments. It is a commonly overlooked office in an estate. Check for due dates, and ask about any past-due balances early, so there are no surprises.
The title company
A title company can search the record, check for liens, and often provides a tax accounting. This is useful before any sale.
Where can you read more?
I wrote a county-by-county guide for Dallas-Fort Worth. See the DFW county probate guide on my own site. Always confirm details with each office.
This page is general, educational information. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk to your own attorney, CPA, or broker about your situation.
Try this week
- Make a one-page list of the offices for your counties.
- Confirm addresses, hours and online portals this month.
- Add the list to your client handout.
Questions people ask
Do all counties work the same way?
No. Each county has its own procedures. Always confirm with the office.
Where do I look up property taxes?
The tax assessor-collector's office for your county.
Who can explain the legal side?
The family's probate attorney.
Example: the DFW county probate guide. This links to my own site, Cities Real Estate.
Want to talk it through?
Book a short, free call. Everything here is educational. No payment is requested or offered in exchange for referrals.
This page is general, educational information. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk to your own attorney, CPA, or broker about your situation. I'm a GGMS customer, and I receive a discount from GGMS.