Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.
Solo PracticeChattanooga, TN
Since 1974 · Serves 1 county
Chattanooga firm on Frazier Avenue, founded in 1974 and serving Hamilton County. It takes probate estates from identifying assets through debts and distribution to heirs, administers trusts, supports executors and trustees with appraisals and tax filings, and mediates or litigates contested estates and trust disputes. John R. Buhrman worked two years with UBS Trust Company before joining in 2002.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
- Office
- 345 Frazier Avenue, Suite 210, The Terrace at FrazierChattanooga, TN 37405
FirmChattanooga, TN
Since 1886 · Serves 1 county
Downtown Chattanooga firm in Liberty Tower, founded in 1886. Its estate team prepares the probate filings to appoint a personal representative and handles trust administration, with in-house CPAs filing estate, inheritance and fiduciary income tax returns. Its litigators represent executors, trustees and beneficiaries in will contests, creditor and TennCare claims, and will and trust construction.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more
- Office
- 605 Chestnut Street, Suite 1700, Liberty TowerChattanooga, TN 37450
FirmChattanooga, TN
Since 2015 · Serves 2 counties
Jelks Law practices from Bailey Avenue in Chattanooga and serves Hamilton County, Cleveland, and Lookout Mountain and Ringgold, Georgia. Its probate lawyers assist executors in gathering assets, paying debts and final taxes, notifying creditors and distributing property, and dispute unfounded creditor claims. It also handles conservatorships and guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 4 more
- Office
- 1615 Bailey AveChattanooga, TN 37404
Solo PracticeChattanooga, TN
Serves 4 counties
Chattanooga office near the Hamilton County Courthouse, serving Hamilton, Bradley, Marion and Sequatchie counties. It handles small estate and formal probate with or without a will, from the executor's appointment through creditor claims, inventory, final accounting and distribution, and clears title to inherited real estate. Estate planning and most probate matters are billed at flat fees.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
- Office
- 412 Georgia Ave, Suite 102Chattanooga, TN 37403
FirmNashville, TN
Serves 3 counties
Baker Donelson is a national firm whose Tennessee trusts and estates attorneys work from Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga. The group probates wills, assists executors and trustees in settling estates and trusts, prepares estate tax returns and litigates family and fiduciary disputes. It also handles post-mortem tax planning and guardianship and conservatorship proceedings.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
- Office
- 1600 West End Avenue, Suite 2000Nashville, TN 37203
FirmNashville, TN
Serves 9 counties
Estate planning and probate firm with offices in Nashville, Clarksville, Franklin, Springfield, Chattanooga and Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Its attorneys open estates and obtain letters testamentary, handle small estates and real estate transfers, assist trustees with trust administration, and litigate will contests over undue influence and capacity. Fees are flat rates quoted upfront.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
- Office
- 1503 16th Ave SNashville, TN 37212
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.
