About Probate Courts

What Do Probate Courts Handle?

Probate courts help people during some of life's most challenging moments. When you visit our court, you might be:

• Carrying out a loved one's final wishes after their passing
• Seeking protection for someone with intellectual disabilities
• Finding care solutions for a family member with Alzheimer's or similar conditions
• Pursuing justice in cases of wrongful death or serious injury
• Addressing concerns when an executor, guardian, or trustee isn't fulfilling their duties

Because death eventually touches every family and disability can affect anyone, probate courts serve our entire community—from all backgrounds and walks of life. That's why compassion is just as crucial as legal knowledge in a probate judge.

Harris County Probate Court 1: By the Numbers

Probate Court 1 is one of the busiest and most important trial courts in Texas:

• One of only 24 specialized probate courts in Texas (Harris County has five—more than any other county)
• Handles over 3,000 hearings and 70 trials annually
• Currently supervises approximately 1,700 active guardianships
• Oversees nearly 5,000 decedents' estates
• Operates with 13 staff members and a budget of nearly $2 million

The Highly Specialized Nature of Probate Courts

Texas has created only 24 specialized Probate Courts across its 254 counties, placing them exclusively in the 12 most populous counties. Harris County alone has five of these courts—more than any other county—highlighting the significant need for this specialized judicial expertise in the Houston area.

What sets Probate Courts apart is their extraordinary legal authority. Unlike any other court in our system, they wield dual jurisdiction—combining county court accessibility with district court powers. This unique authority extends so far that any case in any court that relates to a probate matter can be transferred to the probate court—and once ordered, other judges must comply with this transfer. This exceptional power exists because probate matters require both meticulous administrative oversight and the ability to resolve high-stakes litigation.

Experienced Judges Matter

The cases that come before these courts aren't just legally complex—they're deeply personal. Probate judges make decisions that determine the fate of family homes, life savings, and the care of vulnerable loved ones suffering from conditions like Alzheimer's or intellectual disabilities. With such profound responsibilities, these courts demand judges who already possess comprehensive expertise across multiple legal disciplines. For families navigating death, disability, or disputes, there simply isn't room for a judge who needs on-the-job training—they deserve someone who can handle these multifaceted matters correctly from day one.

Judge Simoneaux brings precisely this rare combination of specialized knowledge and compassionate innovation to the bench. His extensive experience in probate law—developed over decades of focused practice—coupled with his proven commitment to making justice more accessible, makes him uniquely qualified to continue serving our diverse community with the expertise these sensitive matters demand.