Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Tennessee
Free Tennessee forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Healthcare Power of Attorney
Tennessee allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-1805; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-36-.13Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
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Financial Power of Attorney
Tennessee requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityT.C.A. §§ 34-6-101 to 34-6-112; §§ 66-22-101, 66-24-101, 66-26-101, 66-26-103Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementT.C.A. §§ 34-6-101 to 34-6-112; §§ 66-22-101, 66-24-101, 66-26-101, 66-26-103Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.
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Last Will and Testament
In Tennessee, a will is signed before 2T.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyT.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Tennessee
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Tennessee: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Tennessee runs $3,150Estimate: 10 hours at $315, Clio's Tennessee Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,725Estimate: 15 hours at $315, Clio's Tennessee Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $903Estimate: 3 hours at $301, Clio's Tennessee Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,806Estimate: 6 hours at $301, Clio's Tennessee Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Tennessee, four years at a public university cost about $85,116NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 8% below the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source;no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo Tennessee death tax is payable. The inheritance tax (Tenn. Code Ann. Title 67, ch. 8, pt. 3) remains codified but is switched off: § 67-8-318 (Acts 2012, ch. 1057, § 3) — "This part does not apply in the case of any decedent who died in 2016 or in any subsequent year"; TN DOR — "The inheritance tax is no longer imposed after December 31, 2015. Please DO NOT file for decedents with dates of death in 2016 or after." The separate Tennessee estate tax (Title 67, ch. 8, pt. 2, § 67-8-204) is a federal-credit pickup keyed to the credit "allowable ... by § 2011 of the Internal Revenue Code" (§ 67-8-202(1)); 26 U.S.C. § 2011 was repealed (Pub. L. 113-295 § 221(a)(95)(A)(i)), so that tax computes to $0. The gift tax (pt. 1) likewise does not apply to gifts made on or after Jan. 1, 2012 (§ 67-8-118).Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Tennessee costs an estimated $24,527T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $50,000T.C.A. § 30-4-101Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Tennessee takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Tennessee does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceTenn. Code Ann. § 32-1-202 (wills only)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
The Stiles Law Firm is James Stiles's Memphis practice on Wheelis Drive, serving Shelby County, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville and Cordova. For executors, administrators and families it files probate with or without a will, values and distributes estate assets, sends notices to heirs and creditors, and prepares small estate affidavits. It also handles TennCare and VA benefits planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid Planningand 2 more
Waldrop & Hall practices from downtown Jackson in Madison County and traces its founding to 1926. Partner Hailey H. David assists executors with inventories, debts and notices, using small estate procedure, affidavits of heirship and muniment of title where they fit. She also litigates will and trust contests and fiduciary-breach claims, and handles conservatorships.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 6 more
Office
112 South Liberty Street, Suite 321Jackson, TN 38301
Waters Law is a Cookeville firm in Putnam County limited to estate planning, probate and trust administration, and elder law. It guides personal representatives and trustees through opening probate, paying creditors, notifying TennCare and distributing assets. Most estate administration is billed at a flat rate, with hourly billing where court approval is required.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more