Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Formal Administration Standard probate for larger estates | $335 |
Small Estate Affidavit For estates under threshold (no court filing needed) | $335 |
Note: Davidson County's Probate Court Clerk (Seventh Circuit Court) handles probate matters in the 20th Judicial District. The clerk's published schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists $334.50 for a Petition to Probate Will, a Petition for Letter of Administration, and a Small Estate Petition with or without a will. The statutory base inside that total is the standard probate estate fee in Tenn. Code Ann. 8-21-401(c)(1), as rewritten by 2025 Tenn. Pub. Ch. 486: $275 as of January 1, 2026, $300 as of January 1, 2027 and $325 as of January 1, 2028, so the county total changes when the base does. The same act repealed the separate charter-county schedule in 8-21-409. The $275 figure applies through December 31, 2026. Verify current amounts with the Davidson County Probate Court Clerk before relying on a figure.
Required Documents
- Original Will
If a will exists, the original must be filed with the Clerk and Master (or Probate Court). Tenn. Code Ann. 32-1-104 / 32-2-110.
- Petition for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
Opens the estate: Letters Testamentary when there is a will, Letters of Administration when there is none. Local Clerk and Master form.
- Oath of the Personal Representative
Signed and notarized oath of the executor or administrator.
- Fiduciary Bond
Required unless waived by the will or by the court/beneficiaries. Tenn. Code Ann. 30-1-201.
- Order Admitting Will to Probate and Granting Letters
The court order appointing the personal representative and (if applicable) admitting the will.
- Notice to Creditors
Published notice to creditors; the four-month claim period runs from first publication. Tenn. Code Ann. 30-2-306(b).
- Inventory of the Estate
Filed within 60 days of appointment unless waived by the will or all residuary distributees. Tenn. Code Ann. 30-2-301.
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Source ↗Records portal
Check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.
Timelines & Proceedings
Deadlines & Creditor Claims
Key Deadlines
- Will Deposit
- Verify locally
- Creditor Claims
- 4 months
Creditor Claims
- Period Starts
- first publication of notice to creditors
- Statute
- Tenn. Code § 30-2-306
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗Sources for this page (10)
The facts above come from these official sources. Verify current details with the office before filing.
- circuitclerk.nashville.govhttps://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate/
- tncourts.govhttps://www.tncourts.gov/clerks
- tncourts.govhttps://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/public-case-history
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-8/chapter-21/part-4/section-8-21-401/
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-30/chapter-4/section-30-4-102/
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-30/chapter-4/section-30-4-103/
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-30/chapter-2/part-3/section-30-2-306/
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-30/chapter-2/part-3/section-30-2-307/
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-32/chapter-2/
- publications.tnsosfiles.comhttps://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0486.pdf