Patricia Burns, the Republican candidate for Tarrant County Probate Court-at-Law Judge, Court 1, collected 294,253 votes with no opponent on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to unofficial results from Tarrant County Elections.
What was at stake
Tarrant County Probate Court No. 1, created by state statute in 1957, handles wills, estate administrations, guardianships, trusts and involuntary mental health commitments, according to the county's court page. The court also hears lawsuits tied to estates and wards, covering topics that range from fiduciary disputes to medical malpractice.
Burns was the only candidate on the ballot. She ran unopposed in the March Republican primary as well, according to NBC 5.
A little history
Burns already presides over Probate Court No. 1. The Tarrant County Commissioners appointed her in 2025 to replace a retiring judge, according to her campaign biography. Before that appointment, she served as associate judge of Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2 in 2024.
She practiced law for 25 years, focusing on probate, estates, guardianship and mental health cases. She founded her own firm after graduating from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in Fort Worth, then joined Decker Jones P.C., where she became a shareholder in 2010.
What's next
The results remain unofficial until the canvass is complete. For county races, the local canvass must be held no earlier than Friday, Nov. 6, and no later than Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to Election Advisory No. 2026-28 from the Texas Secretary of State. Late domestic mail ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 may still be counted if they arrive by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Overseas and military ballots may arrive as late as Monday, Nov. 9.
Election results: Tarrant County Probate Court-at-Law Judge - Court 1 (Texas General Election, 2026-11-03)
Candidate | Party | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
Patricia Burns | REP | 294,253 | 100.0% |
Total |
| 294,253 |
|
Source: Tarrant County Elections. Results current as of Nov. 3, 2026, 7:06 p.m. CST. Reporting: 0 of 864. Unofficial results; the count is not complete.
