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In Tennessee, estates with basic checking and savings accounts worth less than $15,000 do not have to go through the probate process for those assets to be distributed to heirs. In cases where an estate's assets are worth less than $50,000, a court administration process is available to distribute the assets.

While wills are generally kept private in Tennessee, there are certain circumstances where they may become public record. One common scenario is when a will is submitted for probate after the testator's passing.

The Tennessee Probate Court Process If the deceased person left a will, probate is begun when the person named as executor in the will deposits the original, signed will in the county clerk's probate office in the county where the deceased person lived.

To close the estate, the executor must fill out and sign a final accounting form, documenting all payments from the estate. The accounting form is sent to all the beneficiaries named in the will, and if they agree that the information it contains is correct, they must also sign the form.

Assets Exempt from Probate Life insurance policies with named beneficiaries. Retirement accounts with designated beneficiaries. Jointly owned property with rights of survivorship. Assets held in a living trust.

Interested persons who wish to obtain probate court records must contact the Clerk of Court's office. Court records are generally considered public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act, except when the record contains sensitive or confidential information.

First, the petitioner, typically the executor named in the deceased person's will, must gather important documents such as the original will, death certificate, and an inventory of the decedent's assets. Next, they need to complete and file the necessary probate forms with the appropriate probate court.

The probate process can last anywhere from four months to a year or more. The length of time depends on a few factors.

Each state has its own set of laws governing the probate process. For example, in California, probate must be filed within 30 days of discovering the will, while in Texas, executors have up to four years to file.