Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Formal Administration Standard probate for larger estates | $275 |
Small Estate Affidavit For estates under threshold (no court filing needed) | $275 |
Note: Tennessee sets the clerk's probate fees statewide by statute rather than by estate value. Under Tenn. Code Ann. 8-21-401 the clerk charges a standard filing fee of $275 for any probate estate, a full administration and a small estate petition alike (Tenn. Code Ann. 8-21-401(c)(1) as rewritten by 2025 Tenn. Pub. Ch. 486, effective January 1, 2026), rising to $300 on January 1, 2027 and $325 on January 1, 2028. Marion County uses this 8-21-401 schedule, as every Tennessee county has since 2025 Pub. Ch. 486 repealed the separate charter-county schedule in 8-21-409. On top of the statutory clerk fee, Marion County adds local litigation taxes, data-entry, publication, and certified-copy charges, so the practical all-in opening cost is higher and varies. The $275 figure (2026) is the statewide statutory base; verify the county's current local add-ons and all-in totals with the Marion County Clerk and Master before relying on a figure. The $275 figure applies through December 31, 2026.
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
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 (11)
The facts above come from these official sources. Verify current details with the office before filing.
- marioncountytn.nethttps://marioncountytn.net/services
- tncourts.govhttps://www.tncourts.gov/node/9782369
- tncourts.govhttps://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts
- go.tybera.nethttps://go.tybera.net/tncis/
- 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-8/chapter-21/part-4/section-8-21-409/
- 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-30-2-301/
- publications.tnsosfiles.comhttps://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0486.pdf