Tarrant County, TX Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Tarrant County, TX Consumers

Texas Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Texas PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Tarrant County: Key information about your local probate court (Circuit Court in Texas) for Tarrant County.
• How Probate Works in Texas: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Tarrant County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Texas probate forms from the Texas probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Texas: Learn how to use Texas's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • You can use an Affidavit in Illinois for estates with less than $100,000, not counting liens or encumbrances (like a mortgage).

    755 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/25-1 and following.

    You can use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the probate estate is less than $100,000. All heirs and benefiaries must consent in writing. 

    755 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/9-8 and following.

• Texas Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Illinois imposes an estate tax on property owned in Illinois. If you are inheriting property from the state of Illinois, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $4,000,000.

• Avoiding Probate in Texas. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Texas Wage & Hour Law

• Texas Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Illinois is $14 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Illinois must be paid at least $14 an hour.  

    Tarrant County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Tarrant County is $14 an hour, the state minimum wage. Texas law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage. 

    Fort Worth Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Fort Worth, Texas, is $14 an hour, the state minimum wage. Texas law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage.

  • Learn more about the minimum wage law in Illinois at https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/FAQs/Pages/minimum-wage-overtime-faq.aspx.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Texas and whether they apply to you.

  • If you work more than 40 hours in a workweek, your employer must pay you 1-1/2 times your regular hourly wage for each overtime hour you work, unless you are exempt. See the Minimum Wage/Overtime FAQ page on the Illinois Department of Labor website for more information on overtime rules and exemptions in Illinois. 

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Texas. 

  • The Illinois Department of Labor has posted an information page with links to its wage claim form on its website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Texas.

  • In Texas, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of no less than $8.40 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Texas law from the Illinois Department of Labor. 312-793-2800

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Texas Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Texas: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Texas, unemployment benefits range from $51 per week to $578 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Illinois, your weekly benefit amount is 47% of your wages in the two highest paid quarters of the base period, divided by 26. You can find your benefit amount on the Table of Weekly Benefit Amounts. 

  • Duration:

    In Illinois, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks.

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Texas.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Texas MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Tarrant County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Texas BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Texas law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Texas BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in Texas 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Texas Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Tarrant County: Tarrant County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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Texas Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Texas!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Texas? Learn about whether Texas imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Tarrant County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In Texas, Tarrant County, Fort Worth 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Tarrant County, TX.
• Gerrymandering in Texas: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

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Find a Lawyer in Tarrant County, TX

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid in Texas:
  • Illinois Legal Aid Online 
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