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Travis County Probate Court

Probate Court Staff...

See the list below for whom to call when you have a question for the Probate Court or download our one-page list of whom to call (PDF file). Please call the Court Coordinator when you’re not sure about the right person to call.

Please note that Court staff can tell you about the services of the Court and can answer questions about how the Court works. But Court staff cannot give legal advice or answer legal questions.

If you need someone to research the law and give you legal advice, you should hire an attorney.

For questions about fees, filings, and the status of filings, call the County Clerk at (512) 854-5958. Inventories, attorneys’ fees, Small Estate Affidavits, and routine applications are held at least 10 days before review, so wait at least 11 days before calling the Clerk to ask if an order has been signed.

Court Coordinator:

Tanya Scanlon
(512) 854-9258

Call the Court Coordinator:

  • when you want to schedule (or change) a hearing or jury-trial setting
  • when you’re not sure about the right person to call
  • when you have a question about . . .

    • Judge Herman’s calendar
    • Judge Prashner's calendar
    • procedure for ad litem appointments
    • condemnation proceeding
  • email Tanya.Scanlon@co.travis.tx.us to register for a First Friday CLE program

Staff Attorney (Law Clerk to Judge Herman):

Daniel Goldstein
(512) 854-9283

Call the Law Clerk with questions about:

  • the Uncontested Probate Docket
  • uncontested procedural issues related to hearings other than guardianships (but not strategy questions)

Court Investigator (Attorney)

Tom Ruffner
(512) 854-4978

Call the Court Investigator with questions about:

  • anything involving potential guardianships / current investigations
  • § 867 or § 887 applications
  • any legal issues in ongoing guardianships of the person

Guardianship Coordinator (Social Worker)

Michael Gianotti
(512) 854-4359

Call the Guardianship Coordinator with questions about:

  • the Uncontested Guardianship Docket
  • any non-legal issues in ongoing guardianships of the person except annual reports
  • the Court Visitor program

Guardianship Legal Assistant (Paralegal)

Melinda Griffith
(512) 854-9359

Call the Guardianship Legal Assistant with all questions about annual reports, such as:

  • due dates
  • needed forms
  • how to answer a question on the form
  • Representative Payee reports
  • bond issues
  • the compliance docket for annual reports
  • or any other question about a Guardians’ annual “report on the condition and well-being of a ward”

Court Auditor:

Jana Cotton
(512) 854-9731

Attorneys (and their staff) may call the Court Auditor with questions about:

  • accountings, including § 867 trust accountings
  • applications for successor trustees
  • bonds
  • safekeeping agreements
  • commissions
  • applications and orders to close and discharge
  • compliance and show-cause hearing issues (except annual report or § 128A compliance)

Court Administrator:

Christy Nisbett
(512) 854-9559

Call the Court Administrator:

  • before you set a hearing for a temporary administration or temporary guardianship
  • with questions about . . .
    • general Court policy
    • § 128A compliance docket
    • a County-paid service, including questions about vendor numbers
    • the Court’s website

Court Reporter:

Melissa Voigt
(512) 854-9086

Call the Court Reporter when you need a hearing transcript.

Associate Judge:

Dan Prashner
(512) 854-9258

Attorneys only may call Judge Prashner with:

  1. in contested cases: only uncontested procedural questions about the following matters:
  2. in non-contested cases: procedural or substantive questions about the following matters:
    • inventories
    • attorneys’ fees
    • monthly allowances
    • the Sales Docket
    • the Dismissal Docket
    • Small Estate Affidavits
    • emergency funeral and burial expenses
    • access to safety deposit boxes
    • settlement agreements
    • applications to partition
    • applications for partial distribution
    • miscellaneous motions sent to the Court on submission including motions to substitute or withdraw

Mental Health Public Defenders for Civil Commitment Proceedings:

Stan Kerr
(512) 419-2720

Krista Chacona
(512) 617-5555


Last Modified:
Friday, October 7, 2011 12:52 PM

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