Educational content only. Not legal, financial, tax, or medical advice. Plan Your Passing is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created here. Estate, probate, tax, and inheritance laws differ by country, state, and county. You are responsible for confirming what applies to you. Always consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read or generate on this site.
Estate planning in Austin, TX
Austin's tech-influx and double-digit appreciation mean inherited basis is the dominant tax issue.
Why this matters in Austin
The local angle
Austin home prices doubled between 2015 and 2022. Families inheriting homes bought 20+ years ago are sitting on enormous unrealized capital gains — step-up basis at death effectively wipes that gain. Documenting the date-of-death FMV with a contemporary appraisal is non-negotiable.
Local nuance
Travis County probate court is efficient and the local bar has a high concentration of independent estate attorneys serving the tech population. Independent administration is the norm.
Top concerns for Austin families
- Step-up basis on appreciated Austin real estate
- Tech-equity estate planning
- Out-of-state property (many transplants)
- Texas community property in second marriages
Texas state law
At a glance
Austin estate work is governed by Texas state law. Here's what every family should know.
$2,000–$5,000 typical, often less with independent administration
Small estate affidavit + muniment of title
No inheritance tax
Spousal rights
Community property state — spouse owns 50% of community assets automatically
Common pitfalls
- Texas has 'muniment of title' procedure for some estates — fast and cheap
- Independent administration (vs dependent) skips most court supervision
- Homestead protections among strongest in US
Free AI tools for Austin families
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Also serving
Other Texas cities
Houston, TX
Independent administration makes Texas probate fast and cheap — but community property rules trip up blended families.
San Antonio, TX
Multigenerational family ranches and homesteads make Texas probate uniquely about land transfer.
Dallas, TX
Texas probate efficiency + booming real estate = step-up basis is the single most valuable estate-planning tool here.