What to Do When Someone Dies in Robertson County, Tennessee

How probate works in Robertson County: the Chancery Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

What probate costsHow to fileDeath certificatesTransferring propertyLocal attorneys

Probate Court Record

Robertson County Chancery Court

Robertson County · 19th Judicial District

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield, TN 37172

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

Court forms packet

Open in Google Maps

Self-represented filing

AllowedUnder the district's local rules a person opening a small estate may file without an attorney, and a non-attorney fiduciary may file the estate's annual and final accountings. The Chancery Document Center carries the probate forms, including the personal representative oath, the small estate petition, the inventory, the accountings and the TennCare release request.

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Robertson 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 Robertson County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield. The court sits in the 19th Judicial District. The same 19th Judicial District also serves Montgomery.

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 Robertson County

What probate costs in Robertson 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 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield. The court is part of the 19th 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 Robertson County are filed at the Chancery Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 19th 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 Robertson County Self-Filing Assessment.

Robertson 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

Estate petitions are filed by a Tennessee-licensed attorney, except a small estate

The district's chancery local rules require a fiduciary to be represented by an attorney and petitions to be filed by an attorney, except an application to open a small estate. Petitions to probate a will in common form, to administer an intestate estate and small estate affidavits may be heard by the Probate Master when the papers are in order.

Source

Document Requirements

Small estate bond waiver needs consent from the spouse and all next of kin

Notice of a small estate affidavit goes to all interested parties, including the surviving spouse and next of kin. To administer a small estate without bond, consent forms signed by the spouse and all next of kin accompany the affidavit.

Source

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 Robertson County

In Tennessee a death is registered locally, and in Robertson County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Robertson County Health Department as well as by Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.

Vital Records Office Record

Local Health Department

Robertson County · Robertson County Health Department

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

800 South Brown Street, Springfield, TN 37172

Open in Google Maps

Fees

Certified copy fees

First certified copy$15

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

Medical Examiner

Robertson County · Robertson County Medical Examiner

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

850 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216

Serves this county

Middle Tennessee Regional Forensic Center

Open in Google Maps

Mail and offices

Fax

1-615-743-1890

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Robertson 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 Robertson County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 525 South Brown Street, Suite 211, Springfield, TN 37172. Phone: 1-615-384-3772.

The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.

Robertson County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Robertson County

Office

525 South Brown Street, Suite 211, Springfield, TN 37172

Open in Google Maps

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

Probate Attorneys Serving Robertson County

Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Robertson 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 Robertson 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.

FirmClarksville, TN

Batson Nolan PLC

Since 1860 · Serves 2 counties

Batson Nolan practices from Clarksville and Springfield, serving Montgomery and Robertson counties and nearby Kentucky counties. Its estate attorneys represent individuals and corporate fiduciaries in probate and trust administration, conservatorships and guardianships, and handle will contests, undue influence claims and trust litigation. The firm traces its practice to 1860.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more

Office
2678 Townsend CourtClarksville, TN 37043
Virtual consultations

FirmNashville, TN

Crow Estate Planning and Probate, PLC

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
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmNashville, TN

The Higgins Firm Estate Group

Serves 15 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipand 4 more

Office
200 Hart StreetNashville, TN 37210
Free consultation

FirmCovington, TN

Harris Shelton PLLC

Serves 3 counties

Harris Shelton keeps a Covington office in Tipton County beside its Memphis, Brentwood and Oxford, Mississippi offices. Its trusts and estates group represents fiduciaries and families after a death in probate administration, fiduciary and estate tax compliance, will contests, estate and trust litigation, and conservatorships.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more

Office
114 W. Liberty Ave., Suite 300Covington, TN 38019

Solo PracticeGallatin, TN

Mason & Associates Law Firm

Serves the whole state

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more

Office
880 Greenlea Blvd, Suite BGallatin, TN 37066
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmNashville, TN

Mobley & Gontarek, PLLC

Serves the whole state

Mobley & Gontarek practices from Nashville and serves clients throughout Tennessee. It settles complex estates and trusts, prepares federal and state estate tax returns, handles estate tax audits, and litigates will contests, undue-influence and elective-share claims and trust disputes for fiduciaries and beneficiaries. Jeff Mobley is an ACTEC Fellow and co-author of the Pritchard wills treatise.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more

Office
2319 Crestmoor RoadNashville, TN 37215
See all 9 firms serving Robertson County →

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.

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Legal Sources

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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

Browse vetted Tennessee attorneys handling probate matters.

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Notify Banks & Financial Institutions

Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.

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Bank OZK

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City National

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CommunityAmerica

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Community Bank of Mississippi

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COUNTRY Financial

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Insurance Company serving the Midwest, West, and more

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D.A. Davidson

D.A. Davidson logo

Brokerage serving the West, Midwest, and more

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Erie Insurance

Erie Insurance logo

Insurance Company serving the Southeast, Northeast, and more

Erie Insurance

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