May 15 MCAD Property Tax Deadline & Your Estate Plan

Every May, Montgomery County homeowners receive their property tax appraisal notices from the Montgomery Central Appraisal District. The deadline to file a formal protest is typically May 15 — or 30 days after the notice date, whichever is later. While most homeowners are focused on reducing their tax bill, very few connect this annual event to something equally important: whether their estate plan still reflects their home’s current value.

At Griffin & Cain, Attorneys at Law, we help families in The Woodlands, Conroe, and Montgomery County think about property not just in terms of tax exposure, but in terms of what happens to it when they are gone. If your appraisal notice just arrived and you have not updated your estate plan in more than two years, this is your reminder to do both.

Why the MCAD Appraisal Matters Beyond Your Tax Bill

The Montgomery Central Appraisal District assigns a market value to every property in the county. That value determines your property tax bill — but it also functions as a snapshot of your home’s worth. For families with an estate plan built around specific dollar thresholds, a significant increase in appraised value can shift the math on several fronts.

If your will or trust distributes assets in percentage terms — 50% to one child, 50% to another — a higher home value changes the dollar amount each beneficiary receives. If your plan includes specific bequests (“I leave the house to my daughter and my investment account to my son”), a rising home value can create an unintentional imbalance.

For homeowners whose property is held in a revocable living trust, recent Texas legislative changes require specific language in the trust document to preserve both the homestead property tax exemption and the homestead creditor protection. If your trust was drafted before these changes took effect, you may be exposed without realizing it.

How to File a Protest with MCAD

Filing a protest is straightforward, and you do not need a lawyer to do it — though some homeowners hire property tax consultants for contested values. Here is the basic process:

Log in to the Montgomery Central Appraisal District website or submit a written protest by the deadline, typically May 15. You can protest based on unequal appraisal (your home is valued higher than comparable properties), market value (you believe the appraised value exceeds what you could sell for), or errors in the property record (wrong square footage, missing exemptions).

After filing, you will receive a hearing date before the Appraisal Review Board. Bring comparable sales data, photos of any condition issues, and a copy of your notice. If the ARB rules against you, you can appeal to district court.

The homestead exemption in Montgomery County reduces your taxable value by the general $100,000 school district exemption plus any over-65 or disabled exemptions you qualify for. If you have not filed for your homestead exemption, do so before protesting — it is free and permanently reduces your taxable base.

Five Estate Planning Documents Every Homeowner Should Refresh

Whether you protest your appraisal or not, the annual notice is a good trigger to review these five documents:

Your will

Does it still reflect who you want to receive your home? If you have remarried, had additional children, or if a named beneficiary has passed away, your will may distribute your home in ways you did not intend. Under Texas intestacy law, if you die without a will, your community property home passes in a way that can create co-ownership disputes between your surviving spouse and your children from a prior marriage.

Your trust

If your home is in a revocable living trust, confirm that the trust language complies with the updated Texas Tax Code and Property Code requirements for homestead protection. The 89th Texas Legislature clarified that the language needed for the property tax exemption differs slightly from the language needed for creditor protection — your trust needs both.

Transfer-on-death deed

Texas allows homeowners to execute a transfer-on-death deed that passes real property to a named beneficiary outside of probate. If you recorded a TOD deed and your home’s value has changed substantially, review whether the beneficiary designation still aligns with your overall estate plan. A TOD deed that conflicts with your will can create confusion and litigation.

Power of attorney

A statutory durable power of attorney allows your designated agent to manage your property if you become incapacitated. If your POA does not specifically authorize real property transactions — including the ability to sell, refinance, or protest property taxes on your behalf — it may be too narrow. Updated POAs should include broad real property authority.

Medical directive and HIPAA authorization

While not directly related to your home’s value, the annual appraisal review is a natural reminder to confirm that your advance directives are current, your named agents are still appropriate, and your doctors have copies on file.

The $15 Million Estate Tax Exemption: Why Most Texas Families Still Need a Plan

The federal estate tax exemption rose to $15 million per individual in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effectively removing estate tax concerns for the vast majority of Texas families. But estate planning is about far more than tax avoidance. Even if your Montgomery County home and total assets fall well below the exemption threshold, you still need a plan to:

Avoid probate — which in Texas requires court filings, executor appointments, and public records. Control distribution timing — especially if you have minor children or beneficiaries who are not ready to manage an inheritance. Designate guardians for minor children — without a will naming a guardian, a judge in Montgomery County Probate Court will decide who raises your kids. Protect assets from creditors, divorcing spouses, and irresponsible spending by beneficiaries through properly drafted trust provisions.

If your estate plan was drafted before the OBBBA passed, any formula clauses designed to capture the “maximum exemption amount” may need revision. Plans built under the assumption that the exemption would sunset to $7 million could create unintended tax or distribution outcomes under the new $15 million permanent threshold.

Local Context: Property Values in Montgomery County Are Still Rising

Montgomery County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas for over a decade. The Woodlands, Magnolia, Willis, and the Lake Conroe corridor have seen particularly strong appreciation. Homes purchased for $350,000 five years ago may now appraise at $500,000 or more. For families with multiple properties — a primary residence in The Woodlands and a lake house on Lake Conroe — the combined value can push total estate assets into a range where thoughtful planning pays for itself.

If you own investment property, rental properties, or a small business in addition to your home, the interaction between your estate plan, your business structure, and your property tax strategy becomes even more important. Our attorneys regularly work with clients who need their business entity structure and estate plan to work together.

Start with a Free Consultation Before the May 15 Deadline

The May 15 MCAD protest deadline is a fixed date. Your estate plan does not have a deadline — but the longer you wait, the longer your family is exposed to unnecessary probate costs, intestacy defaults, and outdated provisions.

Call Griffin & Cain at (936) 441-2999 to schedule a free consultation. We offer flat-fee estate planning services for Montgomery County families who want clear, predictable pricing. Our Conroe office serves The Woodlands, Magnolia, Willis, Huntsville, and the Lake Conroe area.

Griffin & Cain, Attorneys at Law, PC

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