Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-101 (2026)
Intestate estate
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) When any person dies intestate, after the payment of debts and charges against the estate, the deceased's property passes to the deceased's heirs as prescribed in the following sections of this chapter.
- (b) Any part of the estate of a decedent not effectively disposed of by the deceased's will passes to the deceased's heirs in the same manner.
Acts 1977, ch. 25, § 2; T.C.A., § 31-201.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1985–2024 · leading case: Linda F. Seals v. H & F, Inc., 301 S.W.3d 237 (Tenn. 2010).
Linda F. Seals v. H & F, Inc., 301 S.W.3d 237 (Tenn. 2010). “Although the order of priorities listed in the RUAGA and the law of intestate succession are similar, an important distinction is that the RUAGA empowers only adult children of the decedent, whereas the law of intestate succession provides for minor heirs.”
In Re the Est. of Milam, 181 S.W.3d 344 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 31-2-101 (2003). “Read literally, T.”
Timmins v. Lindsey, 310 S.W.3d 834 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2009). “See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 31-2-101 and 104. Whether the proceeds of the personal injury action may be disbursed without the administration of the decedent’s estate or without obtaining a release from the Bureau of TennCare is not before this court; thus, we make no ruling in that…”
In Re Crowell, 154 S.W.3d 556 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “Crowell’s estate shall proceed in accordance with the intestacy provisions of Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 31-2-101 to -110 (2001).”
Carter v. Hutchison, 707 S.W.2d 533 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1985). “Neither John Henry Carter nor Laura Francis Flatt Carter had prepared a will, thus, their estate which included their home, farm property, and approximately sixty thousand dollars in personal property will be distributed in accordance with the laws of intestate succession…”
In Re Chance B. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 300gg-14 (providing for eligibility of adult child to remain under parent’s health insurance until age 26); Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-101 et. seq. (addressing intestate succession rights); Tenn.”
Dennis Hall v. Thomas Howell Fowler (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-101 (2007). In general, the real property passing by intestate succession vests immediately in the heirs upon the death of the decedent.”
State of Tennessee v. Ricky L. Helmick, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). “§ 31-2-101(a) (“When any person dies intestate, after the payment of debts and charges against the estate, the deceased’s property passes to the deceased’s heirs .”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-101(a) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Ricky L. Helmick, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). “§ 31-2-101(a) (“When any person dies intestate, after the payment of debts and charges against the estate, the deceased’s property passes to the deceased’s heirs .”
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