Data sources & methodology
We're explicit about how our records are constructed. Title work demands provenance — you should know what you're certifying against.
Source categories
| Category | What it gives us | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| County clerk instrument indexes | Probate filings, affidavits of heirship, executor's deeds, wills filed for record | Texas + selected basins nationwide |
| State district-court probate dockets | Case-level probate data with parties, filings, hearings | States with electronic dockets |
| County clerk portals (direct ingestion) | Real-time filings where portals are available | Per-county; varies wildly |
| Obituary aggregators | Death notices for triangulation against intestate gaps | National |
| Appraisal district & CAD records | Property ownership context for the decedent's estate | Texas (full); other states (partial) |
| Contributor uploads | PDFs from working landmen and abstractors | Variable; growing |
Synthesis
Each decedent record is constructed by joining matches across the source categories above. Every record exposes its provenance so you can verify against the originals.
Quality scoring
Records carry a confidence score (0–100) based on:
- Number of independent corroborating sources
- Recency and completeness of the underlying filings
- Whether a certified copy has been produced
- Manual review status
Limitations
We do not have every probate. Counties without digital portals, recent filings still being indexed, and counties where contributors haven't uploaded yet may have gaps. The coverage page lists current status per county.
Updates
Live counties refresh nightly. Stub counties refresh as we onboard them. Contributor uploads are processed and indexed within 5 business days.