Losing a loved one is a stressful and emotional experience. Going through the process of dividing the estate among heirs and trying to understand what the next step is can be daunting and only add to an already difficult situation. Crow Estate has helped many families navigate the probate process and offer some insights on what you need to know about probate in Tennessee.
First, it is crucial to understand what exactly probate in Tennessee is. When a person dies, and the estate is solely in the deceased person’s name, the assets must go through a court-supervised process before being passed on to the decedent’s heirs. The court will also determine payment of any debt or taxes left behind by the deceased person. This process is called probate.
Not every asset or estate needs to go through probate, only what was in the deceased person’s name alone, with no other owners named. Those will become part of the probate estate. That typically excludes:
If after going through this list, the family still finds that assets are remaining, then those will likely have to go through probate before they can be distributed. That means not everything that the decedent owned is considered probate estate. If you are not sure about which assets should be included in the probate estate and which can be passed on directly, seeking the help of a Clarksville estate planning attorney is an important step to avoid unnecessary headaches and delays.
In cases where the total probate estate is worth less than $50,000 (excluding real estate), the state of Tennessee offers simplified probate. This allows you to expedite the process and transfer most assets in a shorter time.
Generally, probate in Tennessee takes on average six months to a year to be completed, depending on the complexity of the estate. If heirs have doubts or disputes over what they are entitled to receive or the estate has unusual assets or complicated debts, probate may take longer than this average time.
While you are not required to hire an attorney in order to go through probate, it is highly recommended that you do so. Probate can be a lengthy and exhausting process with many steps. You will be dealing with a significant administrative burden and trying to keep heirs happy while grieving from your loss. A seasoned probate attorney can provide the guidance and services you need every step of the way, making the process easier and painless for you and your family.
It is not unusual for a client to quickly realize that the Tennessee probate process seems complicated and intimidating at first sight and that the best choice is to rely on a seasoned professional who can help them with tasks, such as:
Simply put, an attorney experienced with dealing in estate administration and probate matters can help you save time and avoid costly mistakes that may result in more delays and more headaches for you or your family. At Crow Estate Planning and Probate, PLC, we have helped countless clients and their families in Clarksville and across Tennessee walk through probate and estate administration to make the probate process as straightforward and clear as possible.
Our team at Crow Estate Planning and Probate, PLC is ready to help your family with all your estate matters. Give us a call at 931-213-5543.
Please fill out the form and someone will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
Mr Crow and his staff are amazing! Especially the person assigned to my account, so a special thank you to Callie! Callie answered all of my questions and set expectations during a very confusing time in my life. Mr Crow and his team worked diligently with my specific situation and were very results driven. I would recommend Crow Estate Planning and Probate to anyone looking for an estate or probate attorney.
Today my wife and I completed (at Crow Estate Planning and Probate) our Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney for Finance and Medical. As a Tennessee CPA for over 20 years (now retired), I’d like to leave this review so that others may benefit. Our experience rating with with Crow Estate Planning and Probate is EXCELLENT. Our legal team was Kyle Shannon, Callie and Julia. This team was competent, courteous, and professional. They made a potentially complex experience “easy” despite multiple minor trusts involved. The charge for professional services rendered was very reasonable. My wife (Denise) and I would like to thank Kyle and his team (Callie and Julia) for a great experience that exceeded our expectations. I will return for legal needs and I will refer family and others to Kyle, Callie and Julia.
I’m very grateful to Mr. Shannon and Callie for the great job they did taking care of my muniment of title. Everyone in Mr. Shannon’s office was exceedingly kind and helpful.
They are caring, very helpful and not too expensive. I would recommend them to anyone that wants to plan for their future death and their children.
Crow Estate Planning was caring, professional and took great care of our family. John personally prepared my mother’s estate and completed her final wishes. Their staff was always friendly and eager to assist. Our family strongly recommends John and Crow Estate Planning
Mr. Crow and his staff were very knowledgeable, prompt and pleasant to work with in the estate planning process. Very satisfied clients and highly recommend!
Working with Kyle Shannon and Brittney Stewart to setup our Living Trust was nothing short than amazing! Very informative, very responsive, and made the whole process easy to complete.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Kyle establishing my Estate planning needs. Kyle was very thorough and knowledgeable. Kyle’s understanding and professionalism made for a simple and smooth process. Highly recommended!
Be far the best estate planning firm in Clarksville.
Warmly greeted. Attorney was very attentive to our needs. Reasonable fees.
Thomas Steelman 
Crow Estate Planning 
Julia Mynhier 
