What to Do When Someone Dies in Davidson County, Tennessee
Probate in Davidson County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Davidson County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Probate Court
Davidson County · 20th Judicial District
Address
1 Public Square, Suite 302Nashville, TN 37201Mailing: P.O. Box 196300, Nashville, TN 37219-6300
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCash, Credit card, Debit card. Cash, major cards, and Tap to Pay (Apple Pay / Google Pay) accepted; a 2.25% card service fee applies. Personal checks and money orders are not accepted for petition filing fees. Online payment available via the clerk Fee Payment System (circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate-court-fee-payment-system-fps/).
Probate in Davidson County is handled by the Seventh Circuit Court - Probate Division, clerked by the Circuit Court Clerk (not the Chancery Court Clerk & Master).
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 Davidson County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville. The court sits in the 20th Judicial District. Davidson County uses efile.nashville.gov for probate e-filing, while most Tennessee counties file through go.tybera.net.
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. The 4 monthsT.C.A. § 30-2-306(b) cl. (1)(A) (4 months from the date of first publication or posting); § 30-2-306(b) cl. (1)(B) (60 days from receipt of actual notice, where actual notice arrives within 60 days of the 4-month date); § 30-2-306(b) cl. (2) and § 30-2-310(a) (12-month outer bar from the date of death); § 30-2-307(a)(1) (claims barred unless filed within the period prescribed in the § 30-2-306(b) notice); § 30-2-321 (that period is computed from the date of first publication). Verified 2026-09-08.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Davidson County
What probate costs in Davidson 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 Probate Court at 1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville. The court is part of the 20th Judicial District.
Davidson County runs a probate self-help center (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM), which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call (615) 862-5207.
The Probate Court charges $275Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401(c)(1) (as enacted by Pub. Ch. 486, HB 487, 114th Gen. Assemb., eff. 1/1/2026). Re-verified 2026-09-08 against the enrolled act at publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0486.pdf, whose "FILING FEES IN COURTS ADMINISTERING ESTATES" table reads "Probate estates (including general administrations, small estates, insolvent estates, and muniment of title); conservatorships; or guardianships — $275 [as of January 1, 2026] / $300 [2027] / $325 [2028]", and whose SECTION 9 reads "This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it." No later act amends the section: all 1,142 published public chapters of the 114th Gen. Assemb. were downloaded and scanned 2026-09-08 (positive control "Tennessee Code Annotated" matched 1,136 of 1,142; nonsense control 0) — the only chapters mentioning § 8-21-401 are Pub. Ch. 268 and Pub. Ch. 1115, both of which merely CROSS-REFERENCE it (expunction clerk fees; victims assistance assessment) rather than amend it. Corroborated by Davidson Co. (Nashville) Probate Court 2026 fee schedule ($334.50 total = $275 base + state litigation tax).Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Probate Court accepts e-filing (https://efile.nashville.gov/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Tennessee are negotiated, 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Tennessee requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%T.C.A. § 30-1-201(a) (bond required unless the will excuses it, the PR is the sole beneficiary, all adult beneficiaries consent, or the PR is a bank excused under § 45-2-1005); § 30-1-201(a)(2) sets the penal sum at not less than the value of the estate subject to administration and not more than double it. Verified 2026-09-08.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 Probate Court
Probate documents in Davidson County can be filed in person at the Probate Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 20th Judicial District. Electronic probate filing sets Davidson County apart — only 20 Tennessee counties accept it, with the rest filing on paper.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
•Documents that the Local Rules require to be conventionally filed in paper form must still be filed with the Clerk; the e-filing system webpage lists those filings
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic. Davidson County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Probate filings go to the Probate Court Clerk (Seventh Circuit Court, Probate Division), not Chancery Court
The Seventh Circuit Court - Probate Division holds exclusive jurisdiction in Davidson County over estate administration and will probate, plus concurrent jurisdiction over guardianships and conservatorships. The division is clerked by the Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk, so estate petitions are filed with the Probate Court Clerk at 1 Public Square, not with the Chancery Court Clerk & Master.
Source: Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk - Probate (https://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate/)
Document Requirements
Clerk publishes "Guidelines for Closing a Solvent Decedent's Estate" and a full probate forms library
The Probate Court Clerk publishes local rules, e-file tutorials, closing guidelines for solvent estates, and pro se / miscellaneous probate forms on the clerk website.
Source: Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk - Probate (https://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate/)
Before You Go
Accepted payment
Cash, Credit card, Debit card. Cash, major cards, and Tap to Pay (Apple Pay / Google Pay) accepted; a 2.25% card service fee applies. Personal checks and money orders are not accepted for petition filing fees. Online payment available via the clerk Fee Payment System (circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate-court-fee-payment-system-fps/).
Hearing schedule
Probate dockets are published at circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate-dockets/; remote (Zoom) participation is available for some hearings.
What to Bring
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Davidson 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 Davidson County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 300 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37201. Phone: (615) 862-6790. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 196398.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Davidson 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 — 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's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Davidson County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate 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.
Cook Tillman Law Group in Brentwood is a boutique law firm that exclusively handles estate planning, probate, business law, and trust administration matters for clients throughout Middle Tennessee. Russ Cook was the first attorney recognized as an Estate Planning Specialist by the Tennessee Board of Certification and Specialization.
Crow Estate Planning and Probate, PLC is a boutique law firm founded in 2019 with offices in Nashville, Clarksville, Franklin, and Springfield. The firm focuses on estate planning, probate, and business planning with transparent flat-rate billing.
Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin PLLC is a full-service Nashville law firm with over 80 years of experience. The firm has 14 lawyers in Best Lawyers in America 2026 and provides estate planning, probate and trust administration, business succession planning, and tax planning services.
Mobley & Gontarek, PLLC is a Nashville law firm specializing in trust and estate planning, estate administration, and litigation. Jeffrey Mobley is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a Fellow of ACTEC, and a Certified Estate Planning Specialist in Tennessee.
Music City Estate Law offers estate planning, probate, asset protection and elder law services in Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm specializes in Tennessee dynasty trusts, domestic asset protection trusts, and business succession planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawAsset Protectionand 2 more
Office
1650 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 130Franklin, TN 37067
Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison is a mid-sized independent Nashville firm founded in 1981, serving Davidson County. Its estate practice handles estate planning, trust and probate administration, and tax planning, and the firm is Chambers-ranked and a Best Law Firms honoree.
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Davidson County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Davidson County, Tennessee.
