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Estate Planning and Probate

Tennessee WillsAttorney

The Matter

Make Your Wishes Clear

A will is part of planning for the people and possessions that matter to you. Dale Law Group helps individuals and families approach these decisions with practical, personalized attention. Begin with your priorities for loved ones and the questions you want your plan to address.

01 / Getting oriented

Your loved ones

Identify the people you want to provide for and any family circumstances to discuss.

02 / Getting oriented

Your wishes

Think about personal possessions, property, and the responsibilities you would like someone to handle.

03 / Getting oriented

Your existing plan

Bring any earlier will and related planning documents for a coordinated review.

Wills in Tennessee

Working With a Tennessee Wills Attorney

A will tells the probate court who should receive your property, who should manage your estate, and who you trust to raise your minor children. Without one, Tennessee’s intestacy statutes decide who inherits, and the court chooses the people in charge.

Attorney Carolyn D. Dale helps individuals, couples, and parents in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Franklin, Nashville, and across Middle Tennessee put those decisions in writing.

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What a Tennessee Will Can Do

A will can leave property to the people and charities you choose and name a personal representative, often called an executor, to gather assets, pay debts, and make distributions.

  • Name an executor and a backup
  • Nominate a guardian for minor children
  • Leave specific items or amounts to specific people
  • Create a testamentary trust for a child or other beneficiary
  • Work with a revocable trust as a pour-over will

Signing Requirements in Tennessee

Tennessee generally requires a will to be in writing and signed by the person making it in the presence of two witnesses, who also sign. Many wills include a self-proving affidavit signed before a notary, which can make probate smoother because the witnesses may not need to be located later.

A will that is not signed properly can be challenged or refused for probate. That is one of the most practical reasons to have a lawyer supervise the signing.

What a Will Does Not Control

Life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death accounts, and property owned jointly with survivorship rights usually pass by beneficiary designation or title, not by the will. Reviewing those designations is part of a complete conversation with your wills lawyer.

A will takes effect only at death and generally goes through probate. If avoiding probate or planning for incapacity matters to you, a trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare documents may belong in the same plan.

When to Update Your Will

Marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a death in the family, a move to Tennessee, or a major change in property are common reasons to revisit a will. Under Tennessee law a divorce generally revokes will provisions for a former spouse, but beneficiary designations and other documents may not update automatically.

Talk With a Murfreesboro Wills Attorney

Carolyn D. Dale is the founding attorney of Dale Law Group, PLLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, serving Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Call +1 866-576-5317 or send a brief, non-confidential message to start a conversation about your goals.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Representation begins only after a written engagement agreement.

What Your Lawyer Checks

A conversation about wills starts with your circumstances. These topics can help you prepare questions and organize the information you already have.

Family circumstances

Discuss minor children, blended families, or other relationships that shape your priorities.

Property and possessions

Prepare an overview of what you own and any gifts you have in mind.

People you trust

Consider who you would want to carry out responsibilities under your plan.

Life changes

Marriage, a move, or a change in family needs can be a reason to revisit your wishes.

General information only. The right approach depends on your circumstances, documents, and applicable law. Discuss your specific questions with the attorney before acting.

Terms You May Hear

Terms Your Lawyer Uses

A few terms you may encounter when discussing this service. Their application depends on the documents and circumstances involved.

Beneficiary

A person or organization designated to receive property.

Talk ThroughYour Will

A will conversation starts with the people you want to provide for and the jobs you want someone to handle. You can come in with a list, a rough idea, or an older document.

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  1. Name the people

    List who you want to benefit, who should serve as executor, and whether a minor child needs a nominated guardian.

  2. Bring any current will

    If you already signed a will, bring it along with a simple list of property, accounts, and personal items you want addressed.

  3. Review the signing plan

    Carolyn can explain what a Tennessee will needs to cover and when work would begin under a written engagement.

More Ways Your Lawyer Can Help

Explore estate planning, probate, and business services that may connect with your priorities.

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WillsFAQs

Common questions about wills. Your documents and circumstances decide the right next step.

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Can I discuss an existing will?

Yes. Bring your current will and explain what has changed or what you would like to reconsider. A review begins with your circumstances and the documents you already have.

What family information is useful when planning a will?

Make a list of the people you want to provide for, including minor children and anyone with particular support needs. Note blended-family relationships and questions about who should handle responsibilities.

Should I bring account and beneficiary information to a will discussion?

Yes. An overview of property, account ownership, and beneficiary designations helps frame a coordinated discussion. Include life insurance and retirement accounts alongside the possessions you want to address.

When is it helpful to revisit my wishes?

A marriage, divorce, birth, death, move, or significant property change is a useful reason to request a review. Bring your existing documents so the conversation can focus on what has changed.

Does a will keep my family out of probate?

A will is used in probate. It tells the court who inherits and who is in charge. It does not, by itself, skip that process. Accounts with a named beneficiary, and property in a trust, are handled separately.

Can I name a guardian for my children?

Yes. A will is where parents name the person they want to raise minor children. You can also name a backup. The court still reviews that choice, so say who you want while you can.

What happens in Tennessee if I die without a will?

State law picks who inherits, based on who survived you. That may not match what you would have chosen, and no one you picked is automatically in charge. A will is how you make those choices yourself.

Can I leave a relative out of my will?

You can say who should not inherit. A spouse and some children can still have rights under Tennessee law, so this is a conversation to have before you sign, not a sentence to copy from the internet.

Who should I name to settle my estate?

Pick someone who is organized, calm with family, and willing to do the work. Name a backup. The person does not have to live in Tennessee, but someone nearby is often easier on the family.

Does my will control my life insurance and retirement accounts?

Usually no. Those pass to the beneficiary named on the account, even if your will says something else. Bring those beneficiary forms so the will and the accounts say the same thing.