How Much Does Probate Cost in Tennessee?

Tennessee allows estates valued at $50,000 or less to use the Small Estate Probate Act Petition, which avoids full probate administration.T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 (act name), 30-4-102 (definitions: $50K threshold in subsec (9); personal-property-only restriction in subsec (8); amended by HB0337/Public Ch. 297, eff. 4/28/2023), 30-4-103 (45-day waiting period, bond rules, no creditor notice), 30-2-306 (publication; 4-month bar from first publication; 60-day actual-notice variant in subsec (b)), 30-2-307(a)(1) (claims barred unless filed within § 30-2-306(b) notice period), 30-2-310 (12-month outer bar from death), 30-1-201 (bond; exemptions for will waiver, PR-as-sole-beneficiary, unanimous adult-beneficiary consent, or bank PR per § 45-2-1005), 30-2-301 (inventory), 30-2-601 (accounting waiver), 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation). Cross-verified against 2023 Public Chapter 297 (publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/113/pub/pc0297.pdf), tncourts.gov Small Estates clerk-conference guide (tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/Small%20Estates.pdf, reproduces full text of T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-104 as amended 2023), and TN General Assembly public chapter effective-date reports for 2025-2026 (capitol.tn.gov/Archives/Joint/publications/PublicChapters/): no 2025 or 2026 public chapter amends §§ 30-1-201, 30-2-306/307/310, 30-2-601/606, or Title 30 Ch. 4; probate bills SB0541/HB0906 (creditor-claim exceptions) and SB2290/HB2269 (pro se small-estate life-insurance filing) did not pass as of 2026-06-11. Re-verified 2026-06-19 against the official tncourts.gov clerk Probate Guide (tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/probate_manual_final.pdf), which reproduces the current 30-2-306 (publication in subsec (a); 4-month/12-month claim bar referenced in subsec (b); affidavit of publication in subsec (c); notice excused if letters issued >1 yr after death in subsec (e)), 30-2-307(a)(1) (60-day actual-notice variant), 30-2-301 (PR-filed inventory), 30-2-601 (statement in lieu of accounting), and 30-2-606 ("reasonable compensation for services"). Current 30-2-306(b) confirmed present (cross-referenced by 30-2-310(c)(1) and the Probate Guide) — the 2005 Pub. Ch. 429 §5 deletion of the then-existing 30-2-306(b) was superseded by later re-amendment.Verified Jul 15, 2026 Tennessee's small estate shortcut is a court procedure: the court's own order authorizes collection. There is no affidavit to present to a bank. The waiting period is 45 days after death. Check eligibility with the Tennessee probate need checker.

In Tennessee, simple estates typically take 6-9 months. Average estates take 9-15 months. Complex estates with disputes, tax issues, or unusual assets can take 15-30 months or longer.T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 (act name), 30-4-102 (definitions: $50K threshold in subsec (9); personal-property-only restriction in subsec (8); amended by HB0337/Public Ch. 297, eff. 4/28/2023), 30-4-103 (45-day waiting period, bond rules, no creditor notice), 30-2-306 (publication; 4-month bar from first publication; 60-day actual-notice variant in subsec (b)), 30-2-307(a)(1) (claims barred unless filed within § 30-2-306(b) notice period), 30-2-310 (12-month outer bar from death), 30-1-201 (bond; exemptions for will waiver, PR-as-sole-beneficiary, unanimous adult-beneficiary consent, or bank PR per § 45-2-1005), 30-2-301 (inventory), 30-2-601 (accounting waiver), 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation). Cross-verified against 2023 Public Chapter 297 (publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/113/pub/pc0297.pdf), tncourts.gov Small Estates clerk-conference guide (tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/Small%20Estates.pdf, reproduces full text of T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-104 as amended 2023), and TN General Assembly public chapter effective-date reports for 2025-2026 (capitol.tn.gov/Archives/Joint/publications/PublicChapters/): no 2025 or 2026 public chapter amends §§ 30-1-201, 30-2-306/307/310, 30-2-601/606, or Title 30 Ch. 4; probate bills SB0541/HB0906 (creditor-claim exceptions) and SB2290/HB2269 (pro se small-estate life-insurance filing) did not pass as of 2026-06-11. Re-verified 2026-06-19 against the official tncourts.gov clerk Probate Guide (tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/probate_manual_final.pdf), which reproduces the current 30-2-306 (publication in subsec (a); 4-month/12-month claim bar referenced in subsec (b); affidavit of publication in subsec (c); notice excused if letters issued >1 yr after death in subsec (e)), 30-2-307(a)(1) (60-day actual-notice variant), 30-2-301 (PR-filed inventory), 30-2-601 (statement in lieu of accounting), and 30-2-606 ("reasonable compensation for services"). Current 30-2-306(b) confirmed present (cross-referenced by 30-2-310(c)(1) and the Probate Guide) — the 2005 Pub. Ch. 429 §5 deletion of the then-existing 30-2-306(b) was superseded by later re-amendment.Verified Jul 15, 2026 The 4-month creditor claim period sets a minimum timeline.

Yes — the calculator above estimates Tennessee probate attorney fees from the estate value. Tennessee uses a "reasonable compensation" standard, so fees depend on estate complexity, time spent, and local rates.T.C.A. § 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026 Typical fees run 1.7% to 2.7% of estate value. It shows the attorney fee alongside executor fees, court filing fees, and the total probate cost.

Tennessee allows executors to receive reasonable compensation.T.C.A. § 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026 Executors can waive their fee entirely or accept a reduced amount. See a detailed breakdown with the Tennessee executor fee calculator.

Real property is outside this procedure in Tennessee — it reaches personal property only, and real estate transfers separately.T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 (act name), 30-4-102 (definitions: $50K threshold in subsec (9); personal-property-only restriction in subsec (8); amended by HB0337/Public Ch. 297, eff. 4/28/2023), 30-4-103 (45-day waiting period, bond rules, no creditor notice), 30-2-306 (publication; 4-month bar from first publication; 60-day actual-notice variant in subsec (b)), 30-2-307(a)(1) (claims barred unless filed within § 30-2-306(b) notice period), 30-2-310 (12-month outer bar from death), 30-1-201 (bond; exemptions for will waiver, PR-as-sole-beneficiary, unanimous adult-beneficiary consent, or bank PR per § 45-2-1005), 30-2-301 (inventory), 30-2-601 (accounting waiver), 30-2-606 (reasonable compensation). Cross-verified against 2023 Public Chapter 297 (publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/113/pub/pc0297.pdf), tncourts.gov Small Estates clerk-conference guide (tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/Small%20Estates.pdf, reproduces full text of T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-104 as amended 2023), and TN General Assembly public chapter effective-date reports for 2025-2026 (capitol.tn.gov/Archives/Joint/publications/PublicChapters/): no 2025 or 2026 public chapter amends §§ 30-1-201, 30-2-306/307/310, 30-2-601/606, or Title 30 Ch. 4; probate bills SB0541/HB0906 (creditor-claim exceptions) and SB2290/HB2269 (pro se small-estate life-insurance filing) did not pass as of 2026-06-11. Re-verified 2026-06-19 against the official tncourts.gov clerk Probate Guide (tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/probate_manual_final.pdf), which reproduces the current 30-2-306 (publication in subsec (a); 4-month/12-month claim bar referenced in subsec (b); affidavit of publication in subsec (c); notice excused if letters issued >1 yr after death in subsec (e)), 30-2-307(a)(1) (60-day actual-notice variant), 30-2-301 (PR-filed inventory), 30-2-601 (statement in lieu of accounting), and 30-2-606 ("reasonable compensation for services"). Current 30-2-306(b) confirmed present (cross-referenced by 30-2-310(c)(1) and the Probate Guide) — the 2005 Pub. Ch. 429 §5 deletion of the then-existing 30-2-306(b) was superseded by later re-amendment.Verified Jul 15, 2026