Explainer
Harris County probate property leads, explained.
What a probate property lead is, where it comes from, and how Estate Roster builds its weekly report for real estate investors, wholesalers and agents.
What a probate property lead is
When someone dies owning a home or land, a family member or the named executor usually opens a probate case at the Harris County Clerk. The case is a public record: it names the decedent, the applicant (usually the executor), the attorney of record and the type of case, such as probate of a will, an independent administration, an heirship or a small estate affidavit.
A probate property lead is one of those new cases matched to a parcel the decedent owned on the Harris Central Appraisal District roll, with the address, property type and appraised value. Heirs often decide to sell, keep or rent the property while the estate is settled, which is why investors and agents follow new filings.
Why weekly
Most estates take months to settle, so a few days make little difference to a family's timeline. A weekly batch lets us run every match through our checks and hold doubtful ones back. Each Monday you get the filings from the 7 days before, so every estate reaches you within about a week of filing.
How matching works
- We collect every new probate case filed in Harris County that week. In our four test weeks (Sep 28 to Oct 25, 2026) that averaged 153 new estates a week.
- We search the appraisal roll for each decedent's name and keep a match only when one owner fits and nothing conflicts.
- Each kept row is labeled High or Medium. High rows often have a second sign, such as the applicant living at the property, the applicant being a co owner, or the owner already shown as an estate. Medium rows are likely but need a look at the case file.
- Before delivery, a random sample of High matches is checked against the case file and the appraisal record.
- Properties are sorted into four zones by ZIP code, and each zone's report goes to three subscribers at most.
What is left out
- Estates with no Harris County property, and names we cannot confirm.
- Properties sold after the filing.
- Owners whose records the appraisal district keeps confidential by law.
- Phone numbers and the executor's street address. We give the applicant's name and city and the attorney of record from the case.
- Montgomery, Fort Bend and other counties, which are not covered yet.
We do not sell to attorneys or law firms, and the report may never be used for credit, insurance, employment or tenant decisions.
Respect for families
Every row is a family that has just lost someone. Seats are capped at three per zone so families are not flooded with calls. Subscribers agree to follow federal and Texas calling, texting, email and mail laws and to stop contacting a family the moment they ask. If you are a family member and see a relative's record, email [email protected] with the case number and we remove it from future reports.