Shelbyville firm directly across the street from the Bedford County Courthouse, serving Bedford County since 1934. Its probate attorneys qualify a personal representative, probate a will or administer an estate left without one, handle creditor claims and negotiate debts with creditors, and distribute the remaining assets. The firm also drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney and living wills.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Bedford County, Tennessee
How probate works in Bedford County: the Chancery Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Bedford County Chancery Court
Bedford County · 17th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
108 North Creek Drive, Suite 155, Shelbyville, TN 37160
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Clerk and Master posts probate forms, among them petitions to admit a will or for administration, a small estate affidavit, an estate inventory, accountings and waivers. A small estate affidavit not prepared by an attorney is completed by the affiant on the office's Small Estate Affidavit Form.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCheck.Fees and costs are paid in advance unless otherwise specified, and checks are payable to Chancery Court of Bedford County. The notice to creditors is added to the filing fee, while service and agency charges take separate checks.
Fax
1-931-680-0144
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Bedford County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Bedford County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 108 North Creek Drive, Suite 155, Shelbyville. The court sits in the 17th Judicial District. The same 17th Judicial District also serves Lincoln, Marshall and Moore.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Tennessee intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Tennessee estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Bedford County
What probate costs in Bedford County, Tennessee comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Chancery Court at 108 North Creek Drive, Suite 155, Shelbyville. The court is part of the 17th Judicial District.
Tennessee charges $275Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401(c)(1) (as enacted by Pub. Ch. 486, HB 487, 114th Gen. Assemb., eff. 1/1/2026)Verified Oct 17, 2026 to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Tennessee are negotiated, typically 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Tennessee allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payT.C.A. § 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Tennessee requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under T.C.A. § 30-1-201(a) (bond required unless the will excuses it, the PR is the sole beneficiary, the adult beneficiaries consent, or § 45-2-1005 excuses a bank); § 30-1-201(a)(2) (penal sum)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Tennessee typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Chancery Court
Probate cases in Bedford County are filed at the Chancery Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 17th Judicial District.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Tennessee has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Bedford County Self-Filing Assessment.
Bedford County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Common form petitions must be accompanied by a Probate Information Sheet
Before the hearing, all common form petitions must be accompanied by a "Probate Information Sheet," a copy of the will to be probated (if applicable), and any other affidavits, waivers, or proposed exhibits. If a surety bond is required, the Clerk & Master determines the amount and the bond must be on file before Letters are granted.
SourceOther Requirements
Clerk and Master staff cannot give legal advice or say which forms to file
The office cannot give legal advice, which includes saying which forms to file, how to fill them out or how to proceed with a case. The same rules of court apply whether a case is filed by an attorney or by a person without legal training.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Chancery Court: Verified petition for letters with the contents required by Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 (petitioner, decedent, heirs/devisees, value estimate unless bond waived); Original will and any codicils, attached to the petition as an exhibit and lodged for probate (if testate); Proof of will (self-proving affidavit, or affidavit/testimony of an attesting witness) where the will is not self-proving; Oath of the personal representative for faithful performance (before the judge, clerk, or notary) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-111); Order admitting the will to probate / granting lettersTenn. Code Ann. §§ 30-1-101 (letters required), 30-1-102 / 32-2-101 (venue), 30-1-106 (intestate priority), 30-1-111 (oath), 30-1-117 (verified petition contents)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Bedford County
In Tennessee a death is registered locally, and in Bedford County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Bedford County Health Department as well as by Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Bedford County · Bedford County Health Department
Phone
Hours
8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
200 Dover Street, Suite 200, Shelbyville, TN 37160
Website
Fees
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Bedford County · Bedford County Medical Examiner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
850 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216
Website
Serves this county
Middle Tennessee Regional Forensic Center
Mail and offices
Fax
1-615-743-1890
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Bedford County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Bedford County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 100 West Side Square, Suite 303, Shelbyville, TN 37160. Phone: 1-931-684-5719.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Bedford County
Phone
Office
100 West Side Square, Suite 303, Shelbyville, TN 37160
Website
Fax
1-931-685-2086
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 2 pages) | $10 |
| Each page beyond 2 | $5 |
| Register's Data Processing FeeRequired with most deeds | $2 |
| Additional Instrument Fee | $5 |
| Electronic Filing (eFile) Submission Fee | $2 |
| Transfer Tax Receipt FeeRequired with most deeds | $1 |
Tenn. Code Ann. 8-21-1001(b)(3)-(5), (c), (j); 67-4-409(a), (d)(3)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Bedford County
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Bedford County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Tennessee are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Bedford County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Chancery Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Tullahoma firm on West Grundy Street that has practiced since 1976, serving Tullahoma, Manchester, Winchester and Shelbyville. Its trust and estate work covers probate administration alongside wills, testamentary and living trusts, living wills, powers of attorney and business succession plans. The firm also handles real estate closings, title services and business law.
Manchester practice serving Coffee County and the neighboring Franklin, Grundy, Warren, Cannon, Bedford, Moore and Rutherford counties. Its probate work runs from the initial petition through the asset inventory, creditor claims, final accounting and closing of the estate, and it handles contested wills. The firm also takes criminal, family law and personal injury cases.
Higgins Estate Group works from Hart Street in Nashville and appears regularly in the Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner probate courts. It handles full and small estate administration, muniment of title and creditor claims, with no upfront probate costs for qualified estates, and litigates will contests, executor misconduct and partition actions.
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.
Mobley & Gontarek practices from Nashville and serves clients throughout Tennessee. It settles complex estates and trusts, prepares federal and state estate tax returns, handles estate tax audits, and litigates will contests, undue-influence and elective-share claims and trust disputes for fiduciaries and beneficiaries. Jeff Mobley is an ACTEC Fellow and co-author of the Pritchard wills treatise.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(8)·
- T.C.A. § 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- T.C.A. §§ 30-2-306, 30-2-307, 30-2-310, 30-2-314, 30-2-317
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401(c)(1) (as enacted by Pub. Ch. 486, HB 487, 114th Gen. Assemb., eff. 1/1/2026)
- Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 30-1-101 (letters required), 30-1-102 / 32-2-101 (venue), 30-1-106 (intestate priority), 30-1-111 (oath), 30-1-117 (verified petition contents)
- Tenn. Code Ann. 8-21-1001(b)(3)-(5), (c), (j); 67-4-409(a), (d)(3)
- Bedford County Chancery Court, official page
- Bedford County Register of Deeds, official page
- Bedford County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Tennessee statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Tennessee
Free tools for settling an estate in Tennessee: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Tennessee.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Tennessee happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeTenn. Code Ann. § 35-15-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysTenn. Code Ann. § 35-15-813(b); § 35-15-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Tennessee has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Get the Answer
Hire a Tennessee Probate Attorney
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