Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 (2026)
Petition and documents required to be filed with application for letters
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) To apply for letters of administration or letters testamentary to administer the estate of a decedent, a verified petition containing the following information and documents shall be filed with the court:
- (1) The identity of the petitioner;
- (2) The decedent's name, age, if known, date and place of death, and residence at time of death;
- (3) In case of intestacy, the name, age, if known, mailing address and relationship of each heir at law of the decedent;
- (4) A statement that the decedent died intestate or the date of execution, if known, and the names of all attesting witnesses of the document or documents offered for probate;
- (5) The document or documents offered for probate, or a copy thereof, as an exhibit to the petition;
- (6) The names and relationships of the devisees and legatees and the city of residence of each if known, similar information for those who otherwise would be entitled to the decedent's property under the statutes of intestate succession, and the identification of any minor or other person under disability;
- (7) An estimate of the fair market value of the estate to be administered, unless bond is waived by the document offered for probate or is waived as authorized by statute;
- (8) If there is a document, whether the document offered for probate waives the filing of any inventory and accounting or whether such is not otherwise required by law;
- (9) If there is a document, a statement that the petitioner is not aware of any instrument revoking the document being offered for probate, if that is the case, and that the petitioner believes that the document being offered for probate is the decedent's last will;
- (10) The name, age, mailing address, relationship of the proposed personal representative to the decedent, a statement of any felony or misdemeanor convictions, and a statement of any sentence of imprisonment in a penitentiary; and
- (11) A statement identifying if the decedent was the owner of or had a controlling interest in any ongoing business or economic enterprise that is or may be part of the estate to be administered, and, if so, the names and addresses of all such ongoing business or economic enterprises.
- (b) No notice of the probate proceeding shall be required except for probate in solemn form, which shall require due notice in the manner provided by law to all persons interested.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 912, s 1, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 332, s 1, eff. 5/10/2019.
Acts 1997 , ch. 426, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2005–2024 · leading case: In Re Est. of Boote, 198 S.W.3d 699 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005).
In Re Est. of Boote, 198 S.W.3d 699 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a) (2001). The petition must be accompanied by originals or copies of the will and any codicils being offered for probate.”
In Re: Est. of Martha M. Tanner, 295 S.W.3d 610 (Tenn. 2009). “, shall state whether the decedent was a TennCare recipient and shall request a release from the bureau of TennCare pursuant to subdivision (c)(2), and an affidavit confirming notice shall be filed pursuant to § 30-2-301(b)(3); (C) Personal representatives of decedents shall…”
In Re: Est. of Joan Uhl Pierce, 511 S.W.3d 520 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 requires that, when offering a will for probate, a verified petition containing certain essential information be filed.”
In Re Est. of Omer Stidham, 438 S.W.3d 535 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012). “[Bureau, shall state whether the decedent was a TennCare recipient and shall request a release from [the Bureau] pursuant to subdivision (c)(2), and an affidavit confirming notice shall be filed pursuant to § 30 — 2—301(b)(3); (C) Personal representatives of decedents shall…”
In Re: Est. Of Ernest Lester Salmons (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “As to the requirements concerning an application for letters of administration, Tennessee Code Annotated § 30-1-117 (2015) states in pertinent part: (a) To apply for letters of administration or letters testamentary to administer the estate of a decedent, a verified petition…”
In Re Est. of Joseph Owen Boote, Jr. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 (a) (2001). The petition must be accompanied by originals or copies of the will and any codicils being offered for probate.”
In Re Est. of Dante Lamar Edmonds (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “]” The petition noted, however, that no notice had been sent to these heirs “consistent with the provisions of” Tennessee Code Annotated section 30-1-117(b)2 and that Ms. Jones was proceeding pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-5-106(c)(3).”
In Re: Est. of John Leonard Burke (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 (b); 1 P RITCHARD §§ 341, at 523-24, 342, at 524-25.”
In Re: The Est. of Elma Ward (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). “There is no requirement that interested parties be given notice of the proceedings, Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 (b); Reaves v.”
In Re Est. of Winston Verlon Clark, Sr. (2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117 (b); 1 PRITCHARD §§ 341, at 523-24, 342, at 524-25.”
In Re Est. of Adam Randall Wilson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 30-1-117 (b); Reaves v. Hager, 101 Tenn.”
In Re: Est. of Fred Crumley, Sr., 439 S.W.3d 318 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012). “the [Bureau, shall state whether the decedent was a TennCare recipient and shall request a release from [the Bureau] pursuant to subdivision (c)(2), and an affidavit confirming notice shall be filed pursuant to § 80 — 2—801(b)(3); (C) Personal representatives of decedents shall…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a) — 2 cases
In Re Est. of Boote, 198 S.W.3d 699 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a) (2001). The petition must be accompanied by originals or copies of the will and any codicils being offered for probate.”
In Re: Est. Of Ernest Lester Salmons (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “As to the requirements concerning an application for letters of administration, Tennessee Code Annotated § 30-1-117 (2015) states in pertinent part: (a) To apply for letters of administration or letters testamentary to administer the estate of a decedent, a verified petition…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a)(2) — 1 case
In Re: Est. Of Ernest Lester Salmons (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “As to the requirements concerning an application for letters of administration, Tennessee Code Annotated § 30-1-117 (2015) states in pertinent part: (a) To apply for letters of administration or letters testamentary to administer the estate of a decedent, a verified petition…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a)(5) — 1 case
In Re Est. of Boote, 198 S.W.3d 699 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a) (2001). The petition must be accompanied by originals or copies of the will and any codicils being offered for probate.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a)(9) — 1 case
In Re Est. of Boote, 198 S.W.3d 699 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a) (2001). The petition must be accompanied by originals or copies of the will and any codicils being offered for probate.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-1-117(b) — 2 cases
In Re Est. of Boote, 198 S.W.3d 699 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 30-1-117(a) (2001). The petition must be accompanied by originals or copies of the will and any codicils being offered for probate.”
In Re Est. of Dante Lamar Edmonds (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “]” The petition noted, however, that no notice had been sent to these heirs “consistent with the provisions of” Tennessee Code Annotated section 30-1-117(b)2 and that Ms. Jones was proceeding pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-5-106(c)(3).”
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