What to Do When Someone Dies in Sumner County, Tennessee
Probate in Sumner County runs through the Chancery Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Sumner County, settling their estate runs through the Chancery Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Cash, attorney's checks, cashier's checks, business checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards accepted; a $3.00 or 3% fee (whichever is greater) is assessed per card transaction. No personal checks. Online payment available via courtfeepay.com.
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 Sumner County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 155 East Main Street, Room 3600, Gallatin. The court sits in the 18th Judicial District. Electronic probate filing sets Sumner County apart — only 20 Tennessee counties accept it, with the rest filing on paper.
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. The 4 monthsT.C.A. § 30-2-306(b) cl. (1)(A) (4 months from the date of first publication or posting); § 30-2-306(b) cl. (1)(B) (60 days from receipt of actual notice, where actual notice arrives within 60 days of the 4-month date); § 30-2-306(b) cl. (2) and § 30-2-310(a) (12-month outer bar from the date of death); § 30-2-307(a)(1) (claims barred unless filed within the period prescribed in the § 30-2-306(b) notice); § 30-2-321 (that period is computed from the date of first publication). Verified 2026-09-08.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Sumner County
What probate costs in Sumner 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 155 East Main Street, Room 3600, Gallatin. The court is part of the 18th 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). Re-verified 2026-09-08 against the enrolled act at publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0486.pdf, whose "FILING FEES IN COURTS ADMINISTERING ESTATES" table reads "Probate estates (including general administrations, small estates, insolvent estates, and muniment of title); conservatorships; or guardianships — $275 [as of January 1, 2026] / $300 [2027] / $325 [2028]", and whose SECTION 9 reads "This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it." No later act amends the section: all 1,142 published public chapters of the 114th Gen. Assemb. were downloaded and scanned 2026-09-08 (positive control "Tennessee Code Annotated" matched 1,136 of 1,142; nonsense control 0) — the only chapters mentioning § 8-21-401 are Pub. Ch. 268 and Pub. Ch. 1115, both of which merely CROSS-REFERENCE it (expunction clerk fees; victims assistance assessment) rather than amend it. Corroborated by Davidson Co. (Nashville) Probate Court 2026 fee schedule ($334.50 total = $275 base + state litigation tax).Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Chancery Court accepts e-filing (https://go.tybera.net/tncis/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Tennessee are negotiated, typically 1.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Tennessee requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%T.C.A. § 30-1-201(a) (bond required unless the will excuses it, the PR is the sole beneficiary, all adult beneficiaries consent, or the PR is a bank excused under § 45-2-1005); § 30-1-201(a)(2) sets the penal sum at not less than the value of the estate subject to administration and not more than double it. Verified 2026-09-08.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 documents in Sumner County can be filed in person at the Chancery Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 18th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Chancery Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Estate checklist required before scheduling hearing
Petitioners must file a checklist of required estate forms before scheduling a hearing for case preparation. Documents include estate inventory, personal representative oath, estate accounting, and distributee statement.
Source: Sumner County Chancery Court - Probate Forms (https://sumnerchancerycourt.com/probate/)
Document Requirements
Small estate process available with consent forms
The court publishes a "Petition For Small Estate Limited Letter of Authority" with "Consent to Serve without Bond (for Small Estate)" as alternatives to full probate proceedings for qualifying small estates. T.C.A. 30-4-103.
Source: Sumner County Chancery Court - Probate Forms (https://sumnerchancerycourt.com/probate/)
Court Appearances
In-person probate hearings required since February 2023
Effective February 1, 2023, all PROBATE hearings may only be conducted in-person by receiving prior permission from the Chancellor. Filings must note whether the hearing will be in-person or via Zoom, with an email address provided for Zoom.
Source: Sumner County Chancery Court (https://sumnerchancerycourt.com/probate/)
Before You Go
Accepted payment
Cash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Cash, attorney's checks, cashier's checks, business checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards accepted; a $3.00 or 3% fee (whichever is greater) is assessed per card transaction. No personal checks. Online payment available via courtfeepay.com.
What to Bring
To file at the Chancery Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Sumner 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 Sumner County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 355 North Belvedere Drive, Suite 201, Gallatin, TN 37066. Phone: (615) 452-3892. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first 2 pages plus $5 for each page beyond 2.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Sumner County
Address
355 North Belvedere Drive, Suite 201Gallatin, TN 37066
Tennessee uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Sumner 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 — typically 1.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Sumner 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.
Mason & Associates in Gallatin focuses exclusively on elder law and estate planning for Sumner County and clients in Tennessee and Kentucky. Jake Mason is board-certified in both elder law (CELA) and estate planning (EPLS), the only attorney in either state with both. The firm handles Medicaid and VA benefits planning, special needs trusts, and probate administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more
Office
1526 Hunt Club Boulevard, Suite 550Gallatin, TN 37066
The Higgins Firm Estate Group serves the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area with probate and estate planning. Services include estate planning, powers of attorney, health care directives, small estate administration, and probate, with fixed-fee pricing and a free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyWills
Baker Donelson is one of the largest law firms in the U.S., and its Nashville office serves Davidson County and clients statewide. The trusts and estates group handles probate estate administration, revocable and irrevocable trust administration, estate and trust litigation, and estate planning, with tax and fiduciary-litigation support.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Office
1600 West End Avenue, Suite 2000Nashville, TN 37203
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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