Greer, Greer & Whitfield has two offices in Paris, and partner Rob Whitfield is County Attorney for Henry County. The firm handles will probate, intestate administration, trust administration, conservatorships, and will contests and trust disputes. Steve Greer has been a certified estate planning specialist since 1999 and is a CPA.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Henry County, Tennessee
How probate works in Henry County: the Chancery Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Henry County Chancery Court
Henry County · 24th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
101 West Washington Street, Suite 104, Paris, TN 38242
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Chancery Court's site publishes probate forms for estates with a will, without a will and small estates, among them petitions, oaths of the personal representative, an inventory, an accounting form, a statement in lieu of accounting and a receipt and waiver.
P.O. Box 313
Paris, TN 38242
Fax
1-731-644-2527
About the court
- The Chancery Court has two offices in the Henry County Courthouse: probate estates, conservatorships and guardianships are filed at the Probate office in Suite 104, and other chancery matters at the Chancery Court office in Suite 101.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Henry 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 Henry County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 101 West Washington Street, Suite 104, Paris. The court sits in the 24th Judicial District. The same 24th Judicial District also serves Benton, Carroll, Decatur and Hardin.
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 Henry County
What probate costs in Henry 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 101 West Washington Street, Suite 104, Paris. The court is part of the 24th Judicial District.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Chancery and probate fee schedule with set amounts for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
The Chancery 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)Verified Oct 17, 2026 to open a probate case. 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 Henry County are filed at the Chancery Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 24th 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 Henry County Self-Filing Assessment.
What 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 Henry County
In Tennessee a death is registered locally, and in Henry County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Henry County Health Department as well as by Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Henry County · Henry County Health Department
Phone
Hours
8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
1060 Kelley Drive, Paris, TN 38242
Website
Fees
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Henry County · Henry 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 Henry 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 Henry County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 213 West Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Paris, TN 38242. Phone: 1-731-642-4081. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (closed legal holidays).
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 44, Paris, TN 38242.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Henry County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (closed legal holidays)
Office
213 West Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Paris, TN 38242
Website
P.O. Box 44
Paris, TN 38242
Fax
1-731-642-2123
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 Henry County
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Henry 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 Henry 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.
HAT Law is a multi-state firm with a Tennessee office on West Wood Street in Paris, serving Henry, Carroll, Benton, Weakley and Stewart counties. It guides personal representatives through probate and estate administration with or without a will, from probate filings and asset collection to creditor matters and final distribution, and handles will and trust disputes and conservatorships.
The Law Office of Olivia Wann & Associates has offices in Dover, Stewart County, and in Paris. Olivia Wann serves as the estate's attorney for personal representatives, choosing between a small estate affidavit, muniment of title, affidavit of heirship or full probate and drafting the court filings. She is a member of WealthCounsel and NAELA.
Hawley & McCadams practices from downtown Paris in Henry County and has served northwest Tennessee since 1971. Its estate work covers estate probate, wills and trusts, powers of attorney, living wills and conservatorships. Hansel J. McCadams served 16 years as Henry County General Sessions, Juvenile, and Probate Judge before joining the firm.
Union City civil and family law firm serving Obion, Gibson, Henry, Dyer, Weakley, Carroll, Madison and Lake counties. Its lawyers prepare wills, powers of attorney and living wills, and guide families through the estate process after a loved one dies. Attorneys James M. Glasgow Jr. and Randy N. Chism also handle divorce, custody, injury and workers compensation cases.
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.
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)
- Henry County Chancery Court, official page
- Henry County Register of Deeds, official page
- Henry 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
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