Estate Planning and Probate
Pour-Over Wills in Michie
An existing will and a trust may be designed to work together, but the documents and property records need to be reviewed as separate pieces of the plan. Start by identifying the trust named in the will and listing property that may not be titled in that trust.
Start with the trust named in the will
Gather the signed will and the trust document it appears to reference, along with any later versions or amendments you have. Compare the trust’s name and date in the will with the trust paperwork. If the will refers to a trust you cannot locate, or the documents appear to point to different versions, note that as a question rather than assuming which document controls.
The review should keep distinct roles distinct: the will’s instructions, trust terms, and the people named to manage each are not interchangeable. Ask how the documents fit together and whether the named trust is the one you currently intend to use.
Make a property-and-records checklist
List property you believe is already held in the trust separately from property whose ownership is uncertain or appears to be in an individual name. For each item, note the description, the owner shown on the document you have, the document date, and where the record or paperwork can be found. Include questions about property acquired or changed since the will or trust was prepared.
For real estate in McNairy County, the UT CTAS Register of Deeds directory lists a county land-record contact at 170 West Court Ave, Room 105, Selmer. Treat that as a directory contact, not a determination of ownership or a recommendation about what transfer or filing is appropriate; confirm current contact details before visiting.
Compare ownership work now with administration later
The immediate review is whether the records and estate-planning documents appear consistent with the plan you intended. That is different from handling an estate after a death, when questions about administration and any required process may arise. A recorded document or directory contact alone does not establish clear title or determine whether a court proceeding is needed.
Ask what ownership changes, if any, should be considered during life, what should remain governed by the will, and what information is needed to evaluate each item. Dale Law Group, PLLC offers wills, pour-over wills, revocable living trusts, and probate administration among its services.
Questions to bring to a review
Bring the will, trust and amendments, available deeds or ownership statements, and a list of property for which you cannot confirm the owner. Ask: Does the will identify the trust I intend to use? Which property records should be checked or updated? What is the role of each person named in the documents? If property is not held as expected, what options should be evaluated?
The firm serves clients in Tennessee from its Murfreesboro office; the county directory address is not a Dale Law Group office.
Questions to bring to the discussion
Does a pour-over will answer whether property is already in a trust?
Do not assume so from the will alone. Compare the will and trust with available ownership records, and ask what further review is needed for any property whose ownership is unclear.
Does a McNairy County land-record contact determine what should happen to property?
No. The Register of Deeds directory is a contact resource. It does not determine ownership, guarantee clear title, or establish the appropriate transfer or court procedure.
Discuss your next step with Dale Law Group
Begin with a brief, non-confidential overview. The firm will discuss your needs and appointment arrangements.
General information, not advice for a particular situation. Sending an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship.