Griffin Law Group, PLLC practices from Sparta, with a second office in Knoxville, across the Upper Cumberland's Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Thirty-First Judicial Districts. Its probate attorneys open testate and intestate estates and guide the personal representative through inventory, creditor claims and distribution. Founder Brandon Griffin also handles conservatorships.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Putnam County, Tennessee
How probate works in Putnam County: the Probate Court (General Sessions) record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Putnam County Probate Court (General Sessions)
Putnam County · 13th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
421 East Spring Street, Room 1C, Suite 49A, Putnam County Justice Center, Cookeville, TN 38501
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Circuit Court Clerk's forms page carries the small estate forms: the petition, order and limited letters of administration of a small estate, the oath of representative and the consent to small estate procedure. A small estate is filed no sooner than 45 days after the death, with a copy of the death certificate.
County forms
- Petition for Limited Letters of Administration of a Small EstatePetition to open a small estate in the Putnam County Probate Court
- Order to Issue Limited Letters of Administration of a Small EstateProposed order for limited letters in a small estate
- Limited Letters of Administration of a Small EstateForm of the limited letters issued in a small estate
- Probate Oath of RepresentativeOath signed by the personal representative
- Consent to Small Estate ProcedureConsent of the heirs to the small estate procedure
Fax
1-931-526-2004
Departments
- Chancery Court (Clerk & Master)1-931-526-6321 · 421 East Spring Street, Suite 1C38 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PMThe Clerk and Master handles conservatorships, guardianships and trusts for the Chancery Court.
About the court
- In Putnam County probate is heard by the Probate Court, presided over by the General Sessions judges, and the Circuit Court Clerk keeps its records and small estate forms. The Chancery Court Clerk and Master handles conservatorships and guardianships.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Putnam 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 Putnam County, probate runs through the Probate Court (General Sessions) at 421 East Spring Street, Room 1C, Suite 49A, Putnam County Justice Center, Cookeville. The court sits in the 13th 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 Putnam County
What probate costs in Putnam 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 (General Sessions) at 421 East Spring Street, Room 1C, Suite 49A, Putnam County Justice Center, Cookeville. The court is part of the 13th 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 Probate Court (General Sessions)
Probate cases in Putnam County are filed at the Probate Court (General Sessions). File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 13th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Chancery Court (Clerk & Master).
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 Putnam County Self-Filing Assessment.
Putnam County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Court Appearances
Phones and electronic devices are not allowed in the Justice Center
Drugs, alcohol, cell phones, weapons and other electronic devices are prohibited in the Putnam County Justice Center. A visitor who needs medication during a visit contacts the county ADA Coordinator at (931) 526-6321 beforehand.
SourceGetting to the Probate Court (General Sessions)
Parking
Parking in the Justice Center upper lot is limited; the public lot at the corner of Spring Street and Maple is the alternative, and posted Justice Center spaces are enforced by towing.
What to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court (General Sessions): 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 Putnam County
In Tennessee a death is registered locally, and in Putnam County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Putnam County Health Department as well as by Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Putnam County · Putnam County Health Department
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
701 County Services Drive, Cookeville, TN 38501
Website
Local rule
- Certified death certificates are issued only to a spouse or children, or with legal documentation listing the reason for the request. A second office is at 400 West Crawford Ave, Suite 1, in Monterey.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Putnam County · Putnam County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
700 County Services Drive, Cookeville, TN 38501
Website
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Putnam 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 Putnam County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 300 East Spring Street, Room 3, Cookeville, TN 38501. Phone: 1-931-526-7101. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.
Putnam County accepts electronic recording.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Putnam County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
300 East Spring Street, Room 3, Cookeville, TN 38501
Website
E-recording
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 Putnam County
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Putnam 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 Putnam County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court (General Sessions), 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.
Galligan & Newman has practiced from McMinnville since 1982, representing clients in Warren, White, Van Buren, Grundy, Putnam and DeKalb counties. The firm works with executors through the probate process and prepares wills and trusts that can make probate easier or unnecessary; Robert Newman handles its probate and estate planning work alongside a civil, criminal and family-law practice.
Waters Law is a Cookeville firm in Putnam County limited to estate planning, probate and trust administration, and elder law. It guides personal representatives and trustees through opening probate, paying creditors, notifying TennCare and distributing assets. Most estate administration is billed at a flat rate, with hourly billing where court approval is required.
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.
Mitchell & Mitchell practices from Murfreesboro, one block from the Rutherford County courthouse, and from Woodbury in Cannon County. Its wills, trusts and probate practice drafts wills and trusts, including supplemental needs, credit shelter and irrevocable trusts, and guides families through probate. The family-run firm's roots in the two counties go back to 1967.
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)
- Putnam County Probate Court (General Sessions), official page
- Putnam County Register of Deeds, official page
- Putnam 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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