Sevierville solo practice run by Adam J. Carr, a Sevier County native. It assists the personal representative of an estate from beginning to end, addresses will contests, and handles muniments of title, small estate affidavits, affidavits of heirship, ancillary estates for out-of-state decedents with Tennessee property, and conservatorships. Carr's practice includes probate litigation.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Sevier County, Tennessee
How probate works in Sevier County: the Probate Court (County Clerk's Office) record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Sevier County Probate Court (County Clerk's Office)
Sevier County · 4th Judicial District
Phone
1-865-453-5502 (option 5)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
125 Court Avenue, Suite 202E, Sevierville, TN 37862
Website
Self-represented filing
This court requires an attorney
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
This court requires an attorneyProbate, conservatorships, guardianships, and small estate affidavits must be prepared by a Tennessee-licensed attorney and filed with a Probate Clerk. Probate clerks and County Clerk employees cannot provide legal advice or recommend legal counsel.
Departments
- Chancery Court Clerk & Master1-865-453-4654 · Suite 108-WThe Clerk and Master, in Suite 108-W of the courthouse, handles chancery equity matters, delinquent taxes and litigant funds. Probate is filed with the County Clerk, not the Clerk and Master.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Sevier 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 Sevier County, probate runs through the Probate Court (County Clerk's Office) at 125 Court Avenue, Suite 202E, Sevierville. The court sits in the 4th Judicial District. The same 4th Judicial District also serves Cocke, Grainger and Jefferson.
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 Sevier County
What probate costs in Sevier 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 (County Clerk's Office) at 125 Court Avenue, Suite 202E, Sevierville. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District.
The Probate Court (County Clerk's Office) 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 Probate Court (County Clerk's Office)
Probate cases in Sevier County are filed at the Probate Court (County Clerk's Office). File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 4th 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 Sevier County Self-Filing Assessment.
Sevier 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 probate is handled by the County Clerk Probate division, not the Chancery Clerk & Master
In Sevier County, probate of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, and small estate affidavits are handled by the County Clerk's Probate division at the Sevier County Courthouse, 125 Court Avenue, Suite 202E, Sevierville, (865) 453-5502 option 5.
SourceSmall estate administration must be attorney-administered, with a 45-day waiting period
Effective April 28, 2023, a small estate administration in Sevier County requires: administration by an attorney; estate value not exceeding $50,000 with no real estate; a 45-day waiting period after the date of death; a certified copy of the death certificate; and a list of all outstanding debts owed by the deceased. If there is an original Last Will and Testament, it is filed as an attachment to the affidavit. Estates involving real estate may not be administered under the Small Estates Act.
SourceRecords Access
All probate matters are public record
Any and all matters of probate under consideration in the State of Tennessee are public record and are available for review in the office of the County Clerk in the County of filing.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court (County Clerk's Office): 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 Sevier County
In Tennessee a death is registered locally, and in Sevier County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Sevier County Health Department as well as by Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Sevier County · Sevier County Health Department
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
719 Middle Creek Road, Sevierville, TN 37862-4648
Website
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued bySevier County Medical Examiner's Office
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Sevier County · Sevier County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
321 Court Avenue, Sevierville, TN 37862
Website
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Mail and offices
Fax
1-865-908-6449
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Sevier 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 Sevier County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 125 Court Avenue, Suite 209W, Sevierville, TN 37862. Phone: 1-865-453-2758. 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.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Sevier County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
125 Court Avenue, Suite 209W, Sevierville, TN 37862
Website
Fax
1-865-453-0290
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 Sevier County
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Sevier 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 Sevier County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court (County Clerk's Office), 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.
The Law Office of Robert W. Wilkinson practices from Oak Ridge and covers Anderson, Blount, Knox, Morgan, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties. Robert Wilkinson takes executors through Tennessee probate and handles conservatorships, guardianships, wills, trusts and powers of attorney alongside family law. The office states that probate fees can usually be paid from the estate.
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.
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.
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.
Music City Estate Law has offices in Franklin and Nashville and states that it serves all of Tennessee. It walks executors through Tennessee probate, from the petition and creditor notice to the inventory, the TennCare release and closing, and guides successor trustees through trust administration. The firm also drafts Tennessee dynasty trusts and domestic asset protection trusts.
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)
- Sevier County Probate Court (County Clerk's Office), official page
- Sevier County Register of Deeds, official page
- Sevier 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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