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Tennessee Estate Planning Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Whether a beneficiary can sell rights of remainder while life estate exist ?
Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Aug 8, 2018

yes, a remainder interest can be transferred. the difficulty is in determining the value of the remainder interest.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: I have a copy of my sisters will from 2006 but cannot find her notarized copy, is my copy valid for probate?

Where do i get probate forms and is a lawyer necessary if she had property?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 3, 2018

It is possible by Statute to Probate a copy of a Will in Tennessee. It is a little difficult, and you will probably need the two or more Witnesses to show up in Court to testify about the Execution. The Notary Seal has to do with the Witnesses Attestation Clause which is not necessary for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: My uncle died no will or a surviving wife or children. He has 5 siblings alive,3 dead.Do the dead ones inherit?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 3, 2018

If any of the dead siblings which did not survive the Uncle had issue

surviving them (such as children or grandchildren), then the issue take what would have been the dead sibling's share by representation. Someone that knew your Uncle well needs to make an Affidavit of Heirship...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Hello. This is for the state of Tennessee. Inheritance issue.

My elderly father lost my mother in January after 65 years of marriage. I am an American living in China and he just told me today that he is marrying another woman (July 16). I am an only child an am concerned that when my father dies, that this woman (whom I do not know at all) will contest the... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 9, 2018

In Tennessee you cannot disinherit a surviving spouse. If a Will is Probated, then the Spouse can elect against it and get a third of the net Estate in addition to a year's support, etc. If no Will is Probated, then the surviving Spouse takes at least a third of the Estate, in addition to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: If a person has been dead 10 years, does the Will still have to be probated?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 3, 2018

There is no law which requires Probate, and the vast majority die without an Estate. It may be possible to Probate the Document, despite the Seven Year Period given in Statute, but why would you want to? The Relatives by now probably only need an Affidavit of Heirship to give them a source of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: If a widow remarries is she the heir to her late husband's inheritance or is it his children?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jun 18, 2018

You have not stated enough facts. I assume the widow has already survived her deceased husband, but is wanting to remarry. She would still be a Heir-At-Law and Next-Of-Kin of the deceased, and thus entitled to at least one-third of his Estate. But she arguably would not receive one year's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Personal Injury and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: my father gave my step mother everything in his will stocks bonds property all assets listed me and my sister children

does what his children get anything when step mother dies?

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Jun 7, 2018

No, the property now belongs to the stepmother. What happens to it after her death will depend on what say does with it during the remainder of her life: she might spend it, etc. If she still has it at the time she dies, the ownership will depend on what her will says, and if she doesn't have... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Great Grandfather passed, his estate is being settled. His daughter has passed since then. Does her husband inherit?

Great Grandfather passed several years ago, and she has been gone 3 years in August. She had no will that could be found. Her 2 daughters and 1 granddaughter would like to know if he stands to gain from her death.

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on May 8, 2018

Under Tennessee law, if a woman dies without a will, the surviving spouse inherits her estate. If the woman has children, then the children AND the surviving spouse inherit. From what you has said in your question, it would appear that the surviving spouse and children now own whatever share the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: what could happen if a person desitory a will and writes another one for the person who has passed away
Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on May 1, 2018

If I understand the question - destruction of a will to prevent it from being probated is a crime ( a felony) under Tennessee law. In other words, the person could go to jail. I am sure there would also be civil penalties and sanctions as well.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Is the executor within rights?

Two heirs are splitting the mortgage at the estate for nearly 1 year. The executor has drawn up a lease for heir A. Heir A has is an Addict and had significant medical problems. He's financially irresponsible, and is barely mobile unless in wheelchair. Executor and Heir A are attempting to... View More

Marjorie A Bristol
Marjorie A Bristol
answered on May 1, 2018

It sounds like you need to consult a probate attorney to look at all of the facts and assess your ability to seek removal of the executor.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Mother in law passed 4 yrs ago, her husband was on the deed but is selling without consulting kids. Is this legal

My mil and fil lived at the residence together for 20 years. It was not in her name but she invested just as much as he did. He used her life insurance for his pleasure rather than her funeral and is now selling the property. We were wondering if the children would be entitled to anything?

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Apr 30, 2018

Based on the info in your question, it appears probably not. If the husband was the named beneficiary of the life insurance, then the death benefit was his to spend however he wanted, even if foolish. Similarly, if the real estate was deeded to him only, ( and its perfectly legal to own property... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Dad died 4 years ago with no will and a mortgage in Tn. Can I just keep making the payments or do I have to refinance?

I’ve kept the payments current but would like to be on the title for insurance claim if needed in the future because the house is older and my mother ( his divorced wife) still lives in it. The bank will not speak to me about it without a letter of testamentary. Do I need a lawyer or will the... View More

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Apr 23, 2018

If he died without a will, you are going to need a lawyer to make sure all the other heirs sign and convey their shares over to you. If they won't do so, then I would not keep paying the loan if I were you. The bank/lender probably won't care about the death as long as the payments are... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: A cousin with no immediate family living has passed away. The house was never transferred from his deceased father.

The house has been passed down through family for over 70 yrs. My siblings and I are the nearest living relatives to the cousin that just passed. How could we go about getting the house transferred back to us when it was never transferred to the cousin following his fathers death?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 16, 2018

Somebody needs to hire a competent attorney to perform a title search and investigate the heirship. There is no telling whether any of your Family are the actual Heirs-At-Law or not with your small statement of facts. Then an Affidavit of Heirship is executed and recorded. Finally either the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: The will says I am to get my grandmothers jewelery, guns, and Woodman account. But I was not listed as the beneficiary

But I was not listed as the beneficiary on the account. It was paid out to the estate executor. Is the money from the account still mine according to the will?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 16, 2018

You have not provided enough information. Hire a competent attorney to represent your interests. Apparently a Will was Probated, so the Executor will marshall up the Assets of the Estate, then administer the

Estate which includes making distributions. You may have to move the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Does the sole executor of an estate have the authority to sell the property without the consent of all heirs in TN?

The will has gone through probate appointing the executor as such, and only states that all proceeds be divided equally among all named heirs, of which the executor is one. The heirs resisting the sale refuse to name a fair price they would agree upon to sell the property.

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Apr 9, 2018

This can't be answered without a complete review of the will in question. If the will contains a specific direction to the executor to sell the land, he/she must do so. If not, the land vests immediately upon death in the heirs/named beneficiaries. Consult an experienced probate lawyer for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: How can I get my mother's bank accounts released to me (her only child) without probation of a will in TN?

The estate is upside down. I have returned her truck and her house is going through foreclosure. There is under $2,000 combined in both of her accounts. I do not want to spend a fortune on lawyers and court for such a little amount. I am the only child and had her power of attorney.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 8, 2018

You probably can file a Small Estate to obtain Letters of Administration. But in my opinion a competent attorney is necessary. There are too many issues for a layman to deal with. It sounds like you have already made some mistakes, and it can get alot more difficult.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Twopeople who have been single for a number of years have separate wills and want things to remain that way.

Do we need a new will if we're married or a prenuptial

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Mar 28, 2018

yes - if you marry without a prenupt, Tennessee law gives the surviving spouse certain rights to inherit if the spouse chooses to exercise those rights. Those rights can be waived or given up in a prenuptial agreement.

consult an experienced family law attorney to assist you. Your partner...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: my husband died 6 months without a will he has a lady that claims she's his only daughter I live in the house and rent

One side out.The original deed claims the house was purchased separately during which time we were married and in fact living under the same roof during said purchase of the home I had death in my family made me unable to go to closing he was enthusiastic about us doing the closing but when he... View More

Marjorie A Bristol
Marjorie A Bristol
answered on Mar 25, 2018

You should consult a probate attorney to look at all of the facts and see what your options are.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: my grandmother left me her house in her will my unlces are taking me to court to try and sell the house

can that be done if the will was signed off on and notorized

Marjorie A Bristol
Marjorie A Bristol
answered on Mar 24, 2018

It can be done, obviously, they are doing it. The question is will the court agree with them. You need a probate attorney to help you.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Do we file probate in TN or KY? My dad lived in TN his last 3 years and died here in TN.

He lived in KY over 30 years but the house was sold 6 or 7 years before he died to help pay for his assisted living expenses.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 19, 2018

You need to hire a competent attorney to examine whether Probate is appropriate or not. If so, then the venue choices need to be examined and compared. Do not pick a State for the convenience of the creditors. This choice should be for the benefit of the Decedent's Family, if needed. It... View More

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