Probate Administration in New Union

Start with the record, not an assumption

Gather any court papers, letters or notices, the will and any amendments, and documents that may show how property is titled. Make a simple list of what has been filed, where it was filed, and when you received or sent each item. If no filing is known, note that too rather than assuming a proceeding is or is not required.

The next question is how each asset is held and what authority someone has to handle it. A will, a trust, a power of attorney, and a court appointment serve different roles. A power of attorney authorizes an agent to act on another person’s behalf, but its scope, duration, and limits matter; it should not be treated as automatic authority after death or as a substitute for a court appointment or trustee’s authority.

• Record the document or filing, its date, the person or office holding it, and any response or action still needed.
• For property, note the description, whose name appears on available records, and the document supporting that information. A recorded document alone does not establish clear title or determine the proper procedure.

Choose the next step by comparing the evidence

If a probate case is already open, begin by checking the filed papers and identifying what the current record requests or reports. If no case is known, first assemble the will, ownership records, and information about the people who may have authority; then ask whether a court process is needed and what venue and filing steps apply. Do not choose between those paths based only on a family member’s role or the existence of a will.

This comparison helps separate three questions: what has happened in court, who can act now, and how each asset is owned. Those answers may point to different next steps for different property. Our probate-administration service can help review the situation and organize the appropriate action plan.

Build an estate action log

Use one page or spreadsheet with a row for each filing, original document, and asset. Include the source of the information and mark anything that remains uncertain. Keep copies together, but identify where originals are held; do not send or surrender an original simply to answer an initial question.

For New Union, an unincorporated Census-designated place in Coffee County, the county directories identify a Clerk & Master contact and a separate Register of Deeds contact. These listings can help you seek current office information; they do not establish the correct probate venue or determine whether a proceeding is necessary. Confirm contact details and location before visiting.

• Filing: court or office, case or document number if known, date, and action requested or pending.
• Authority: person’s name, role, and the document or appointment that supports it.
• Ownership: asset description, record reviewed, name shown, and any conflicting or missing information.
• Open questions: what needs confirmation, who can answer it, and the date you will follow up.

Questions to resolve before acting

Bring the action log and ask: Is there an existing case, and what does its current record require? Which original documents should be reviewed? Who is authorized to take each proposed action, and what document supports that authority? Which assets have uncertain ownership, and what record or professional review could clarify it?

Dale Law Group, PLLC offers probate administration for Tennessee clients. The firm’s office is in Murfreesboro, not New Union. Contact the firm to discuss the documents and questions involved in your situation.