Q: How to find past property deeds in Tennessee to estimate stolen retirement funds?

A: Many Counties in Tennessee maintain GIS services and for those counties that don't the State has a web service where a person can look up properties and ownership. For the County - I would search by the County name and add "gis" to the search. For the State web address try: https://tnmap.tn.gov/assessment/

A: Start by contacting the Register of Deeds in the Tennessee county where you believe your parents may have owned property. Every Tennessee county maintains its own property records, and most offer in-person searches, some online access, and limited indexing by name. Make sure to request the full deed history under both of your parents’ names, individually and jointly.

Next, request copies of warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and any deeds of trust, particularly those involving your sibling. Compare property sales to county assessor valuations or historical market values during the time of each transaction. These can help you calculate profit or equity withdrawals if a property was sold or refinanced.

Also consider reviewing probate court filings or guardianship proceedings, if any exist, especially since your father has dementia. Look into whether your sibling obtained power of attorney—this could be a key link to tracing unauthorized financial activity. Matching real estate transactions to changes in bank accounts, especially large deposits around the time of a sale, will help estimate missing funds. If you suspect fraud, keep careful records—you’ll need them if you pursue a legal remedy.