Wills in Michie

Compare the will with the way assets pass

Make a simple inventory and identify, for each asset, whether you expect the will to address it or whether ownership arrangements or a beneficiary designation may govern its transfer. This comparison can reveal where your written instructions and your current records may not tell the same story.

For example, if a will names one person to receive property but an account record names someone else, note the difference rather than assuming the will alone resolves it. The effect depends on the asset and its arrangements; the inventory is a prompt for review, not a determination of ownership or outcome.

Choose the right person for each role

Consider separately who you want to carry out the will’s instructions and who, if anyone, should be authorized to manage financial matters for you during your lifetime. An executor or other estate representative and an agent under a power of attorney are different roles; authority under a power of attorney depends on that document’s scope, duration, and limits.

A trustee is a separate role connected with trust property. Naming someone in one role does not, by itself, establish that person’s authority in another. Dale Law Group, PLLC offers wills, trusts, and durable financial powers of attorney as distinct planning services.

Prepare a comparison sheet before a review

Gather your current will and any trust documents, then make a one-page list of significant assets, how each is titled or held, and any beneficiary designation you can confirm. Beside that, record the person named for each role and the document or account record where the name appears.

Mark entries as confirmed, uncertain, or possibly outdated. Include the date of each record when available. Avoid putting account numbers or other sensitive details into an ordinary email; ask how to share records securely.

• Which instructions in my will apply to the property I have listed?
• Which ownership records or beneficiary designations should I verify or update?
• Are the people I selected able and willing to serve in the roles assigned to them?
• Would a trust or another offered planning document address a goal my will does not?

When records or local contacts matter

If a question involves real property, a recorded document or a contact listing alone does not establish ownership, clear title, or the right transfer procedure. The UT CTAS directory lists a McNairy County Register of Deeds contact at 170 West Court Ave, Room 105, Selmer, TN 38375; confirm current contact and location details before relying on them.

If a will-related matter raises a court or estate-administration question, office roles alone do not establish the correct venue, required filing, or whether a proceeding is necessary. UT CTAS lists separate Clerk & Master and Circuit Court Clerk contacts for McNairy County. Confirm current information and the appropriate process for the specific matter.

Wills and related planning in Tennessee

Dale Law Group, PLLC, led by attorney Carolyn D. Dale, offers will planning and related services including pour-over wills, revocable and other trusts, probate administration, and financial powers of attorney. The firm’s office is in Murfreesboro and it serves clients across Tennessee; no Michie office is identified here.