How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Tennessee?
See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tennessee has no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the Chancery Court. Clerk & Master issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration after the court grants the petition.
Along with the petition, Tennessee generally requires: 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 letters; For solemn-form probate: summons/notice served on all beneficiaries and heirs at law; Bond, unless the clerk is excused from requiring one under Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-201(a)(1) (will excuses bond; personal representative is the sole beneficiary and the court approves; all beneficiaries are adults, not under disability, and consent by sworn statement with the court approving; or the personal representative is a bank excused by § 45-2-1005).
Yes. Tennessee requires a bond by default before Letters issue. A will can waive it. Beneficiaries can also waive it in writing.
Tennessee permits self-represented filers to open an estate. E-filing is available to self-represented filers. The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Tennessee.
Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Tennessee — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.
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More tools for settling this estate
Calculators and checklists for navigating probate and estate administration.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Prepare the application to open probate and request Letters Testamentary or of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Prepare the creditor notice for an estate — the official state form or a notice typeset to statute, plus mailed notices for known creditors.
Small Estate Affidavit
Prepare the affidavit that collects a small estate's property without probate — the official state form or an affidavit drafted to statute, plus a presentation letter for each holder.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
Estate Closing
Prepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing statement, petition for discharge, or final account, with the state's closing instructions and the optional federal forms.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter of instruction a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Hire a Tennessee Probate Attorney
Browse 79 probate firms in Tennessee with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
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Tennessee Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Tennessee probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.