Bullock Law Firm practices from LaFollette in Campbell County and serves Campbell, Anderson, Claiborne, Scott, Union and Knox counties. Adam Bullock guides personal representatives through probate and estate administration, with or without a will, and handles trust administration and revocable trusts. The firm states that most probate fees are paid from the estate with no up-front fee.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Knox County, Tennessee
How probate works in Knox County: the Chancery Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Knox County Chancery Court
Knox County · 6th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
400 Main Street, Suite 352, 3rd Floor, City County Building, Knoxville, TN 37902
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe Probate Division takes filings at its counter in Suite 352 during office hours, or by mail or fax. A self-represented filer can call (865) 215-2389 for help opening a new estate.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate Division publishes forms packets for a petition for letters testamentary, letters of administration and a small estate with or without a will, with the oath, cost bond, Rule 10 certification, waivers, inventory and status report forms. The Probate Division reviews the filed forms and contacts the filer with a list of anything missing.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.The filing fee for a petition for letters is paid by credit or debit card, check, cash or money order. A separate publication payment is made payable to Knox County Probate Division.
Fax
1-865-215-4289
Departments
- Records and copy requests1-865-215-4117
- Court calendar1-865-215-3230Sets hearings on the Probate Division calendar.
- Chancery Court (Clerk and Master main office)1-865-215-2555 · Suite 125The main Chancery Court office on the first floor of the City County Building takes guardianship and conservatorship filings; decedent estates go to the Probate Division on the third floor.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Knox 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 Knox County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 400 Main Street, Suite 352, 3rd Floor, City County Building, Knoxville. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District.
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 Knox County
What probate costs in Knox 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 400 Main Street, Suite 352, 3rd Floor, City County Building, Knoxville. The court is part of the 6th Judicial District.
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 Knox County are filed at the Chancery Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Records and copy requests, Court calendar, and Chancery Court (Clerk and Master main office).
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 Knox County Self-Filing Assessment.
Knox 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
Decedent estate filings go to the Probate Division; guardianships and conservatorships go to the Chancery Court division
Every proceeding, claim and accounting in a decedent's estate, including testamentary trustee proceedings, is filed in the Probate Division. Guardianships, conservatorships and other fiduciary matters are filed in the Chancery Court division.
SourceFax filing is accepted under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 5A with the Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet
Every fax carries the Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet, and the fax-filing service charge is paid within 10 days of the fax. The court sends no confirmation that a fax arrived.
SourceDocument Requirements
A copy of the death certificate is filed with the petition for letters
The petition for letters testamentary or of administration is filed with the death certificate (a copy is accepted), the oath of personal representative, the Rule 10 certification and the cost bond. A testate estate adds the original will and the affidavit of the subscribing witnesses, or the witnesses attend the hearing.
SourceCourt Appearances
A probate hearing is set by asking the Probate Division office for a setting
Lawyers and self-represented parties ask the Probate Division office to set a probate matter for hearing. A matter set before the Clerk and Master is continued only by written order.
SourceAn estate open more than 15 months is set for an Appear and Settle hearing
The court sets an Appear and Settle hearing when an estate stays open longer than fifteen months. The personal representative attends, files a status report before the hearing, or files the closing documents and pays the final court costs.
SourceOther Requirements
Court staff give no legal advice and do not choose forms for a filer
Under Local Rule 23, deputy clerks and court staff do not interpret procedural rules or give legal advice. Staff can give contact details for legal aid, lawyer referral and self-help programs.
SourceGetting to the Chancery Court
Parking
The nearest public parking garage is the Dwight Kessell Parking Garage at 900 State Street, a short walk from the City County Building.
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 Knox County
In Tennessee a death is registered locally, and in Knox County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Knox County Health Department, Vital Records Division as well as by Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Knox County · Knox County Health Department, Vital Records Division
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
140 Dameron Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
Vital Records
140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917
Fax
1-865-215-5106
Local rule
- Death certificates come from the main office at 140 Dameron Ave. alone; the West Clinic issues birth certificates only. The office opens at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month except August, and a recent death takes at least two weeks.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Knox County · Knox County Regional Forensic Center
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
2907 Production Lane, Knoxville, TN 37931
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-865-215-8001
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Knox 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 Knox County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 400 Main Street, Suite 225, Knoxville, TN 37902. Phone: 1-865-215-2330. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.
Knox County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Knox County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
400 Main Street, Suite 225, Knoxville, TN 37902
Website
Fees
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 Knox County
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Knox 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 Knox 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.
Knoxville firm on Kingston Pike, founded in 1989, working with probate clients in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Anderson counties. It advises and represents executors, administrators, personal representatives and trustees in probate and trust administration, through creditor notices and the final accounting. The firm handles estate and transactional work only and does not take lawsuits.
Elder law firm serving East Tennessee from Knoxville and Johnson City, founded in 2010 by Certified Elder Law Attorney Amelia Crotwell. It plans for long-term care through Medicaid, veterans benefits and Life Care Planning, and guides clients through probate and trust administration when an estate cannot avoid it. Its special needs work includes special needs trusts and conservatorships.
Foust & Foust, PLLC is a Knoxville estate planning and probate firm with a second office in Morristown. Its attorneys guide executors and beneficiaries through the probate process, advise trustees and beneficiaries on trust administration, and handle conservatorships. Founding partner Neva Foust is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Hodges, Doughty & Carson has practiced in downtown Knoxville since 1931, with estate matters before the Knox County Probate Court. Its estate group represents individual and corporate fiduciaries administering estates and trusts, creditors in probate, and beneficiaries and fiduciaries in will contests and trust and estate litigation, plus conservatorships.
Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley is a Knoxville general practice firm, formed in 1916, serving the greater East Tennessee community. Its trusts and estates attorneys represent executors and administrators in probate, assist trustees with trust administration, handle will contests, and prepare federal and Tennessee estate tax and fiduciary returns.
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)
- Knox County Chancery Court, official page
- Knox County Register of Deeds, official page
- Knox 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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