Brentwood estate planning and estate administration firm serving Williamson, Davidson and the rest of Middle Tennessee. For executors and trustees it probates wills, prepares affidavits of heirship, collects and values estate assets, and handles will contests. Russ Cook was the first attorney recognized as an estate planning specialist by the Tennessee Board of Certification and Specialization.
Probate in Davidson County
Probate Court Record
Davidson County Probate Court
Davidson County · 20th Judicial District
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How to file probate in Davidson County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Davidson County? →Settling an estate in Davidson County →
Probate Firms Serving Davidson County
Franklin probate and estate practice serving Williamson, Davidson and Rutherford counties. Shanone Emmack assists executors in administering estates under court supervision and litigates will contests, executor and beneficiary conflicts, breach of fiduciary duty claims and partition of inherited property. She also handles conservatorships, including emergency conservatorships.
Patterson Bray has offices in Memphis and Brentwood, serving Shelby County and Nashville-area clients. Its estate attorneys handle probate and post-death administration of estates and revocable living trusts, and its estate litigators take on will contests, undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Lindsay Jones is President of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Memphis.
Vinson & Coffinberry is an Erin firm serving Houston, Stewart, Humphreys, Dickson, Montgomery, Hickman, Cheatham and Davidson counties. Its attorneys probate wills, open estates with or without a will, handle small estate administration, and take conservatorships and guardianships from appointment to termination. W. Sidney Vinson III has practiced in Erin since 1975.
Harris Shelton keeps a Covington office in Tipton County beside its Memphis, Brentwood and Oxford, Mississippi offices. Its trusts and estates group represents fiduciaries and families after a death in probate administration, fiduciary and estate tax compliance, will contests, estate and trust litigation, and conservatorships.
Mason & Associates practices from Gallatin in Sumner County, serving clients throughout Tennessee and Kentucky in elder law and estate planning only. It handles probate and trust administration, with a free 30-minute probate consultation by phone, in person or by video, and conservatorship petitions. Jake Mason is board-certified in both elder law and estate planning.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Tennessee
Free Tennessee forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Tennessee.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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 to plan or settle an estate in Tennessee: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Tennessee.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Tennessee costs an estimated $24,527T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (reasonable compensation to the personal representative's counsel, a first-priority cost of administration); § 30-2-606; no statutory percentageVerified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.7%Modeled estimate under T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (reasonable compensation to the personal representative's counsel, a first-priority cost of administration); § 30-2-606; no statutory percentage: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%Modeled estimate under T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (reasonable compensation to the personal representative's counsel, a first-priority cost of administration); § 30-2-606; no statutory percentage: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Tennessee: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysTenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-301Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsT.C.A. §§ 30-2-306, 30-2-307, 30-2-310, 30-2-314, 30-2-317Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Tennessee pays executors reasonable compensationT.C.A. § 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
Do I Need Probate?
In Tennessee, estates with personal property of $50,000T.C.A. § 30-4-101Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less qualify for the Small Estate Probate Act PetitionT.C.A. § 30-4-101Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 45 daysT.C.A. § 30-4-101Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court procedure short of full probate.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Tennessee, creditors have 4 monthsT.C.A. § 30-2-306(b) cl. (1)(A) (4 months from first publication or posting), cl. (1)(B) (60 days from actual notice), cl. (2) and § 30-2-310(a) (12-month bar from death); § 30-2-307(a)(1); § 30-2-321Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
