Cooke County Probate Lawyers

Cooke County is not Tarrant County. That is stating the obvious. But it is a point that only lawyers who regularly practice in the red river area counties understand. Lawyers from Dallas and Fort Worth have cars and can buy maps. But that does not mean they know Cooke County. We are based in a Red River county next door and understand the difference between our region and the Metroplex. Our attorneys have tried cases in Cooke County.

The County Court at Law handles both routine and contested estates. The County Court at Law has adopted local rules to govern both probate and other types of cases. The court is located in Gainesville, the County Seat.

Like most of North Texas, Cooke County is growing. The population in 1990 was just over 30,000. Now it is over 42,000. Major employers include Zodiac (Safran) Seats, North Texas Medical Center, and Winstar Casino across the Oklahoma border. The regional economy has been thriving, with a rise in industries such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. According to the  Appraisal District, the average market value of homes in the county increased by 8.2% between 2020 and 2021, while commercial properties saw an average increase of 6.7%. This trend is expected to continue. 

Many disputes include the transfers of land through a will. But there may also be disputes regarding the validity of transfers via deeds, pre-death. Common forms of deeds include warranty deeds, gift deeds, Lady Bird deeds, and statutory TODD (Transfer on Death) Deeds.  Like wills, a court my find deeds invalid because of technical deficiencies, lack of mental capacity or undue influence. 

Appeals from Cooke County courts are heard by the Fort Worth Court of Appeals. Appeals are based primarily on issues of law decided by the trial court.

Our law firm has decades of experience experience in representing clients in contested estates and beneficiary disputes.  We typically do not handle routine estate planning or probate administrations. Instead, we handle will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and land and real estate disputes. We both defend and sue executors.  Every case is different. We tailor legal advice to clients to best protect their rights as the dispute requires.  And we structure our services and fees to best fit our clients and the needs of the case. 

Call us so we can review the details of your situation.