State guide
Tennessee
Tennessee probate notice to creditors is handled through the court clerk, and the core timing rules are laid out in Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-306 as summarized in the Tennessee courts' probate guide. Tennessee also has a small-estate procedure for personal property up to $50,000, and that small-estate route does not use creditor publication.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Publishing the notice
- In regular probate, the clerk gives notice in the personal representative’s name by publishing it in some newspaper of the county for 2 consecutive weeks, or by posting in 3 public places if no county newspaper exists; Tennessee probate materials do not provide an official statewide legal-newspaper list.
- Creditor claim deadline
- earlier of 4 months after first publication/posting or 12 months after death
- Outside deadline
- 12 months after death
- Law
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-306; small estates: Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-4-103(6)
- Small-estate limit
- $50,000 in personal property
Official resources in Tennessee
Official judiciary self-help hub with estate and probate links and county court guidance.
Official Tennessee courts probate manual summarizing notice to creditors, deadlines, and clerk/personal representative duties.
Official Tennessee courts small-estate overview explaining when limited letters may be used and when notice to creditors is not published.
Key facts for Tennessee
- Clerk must publish notice to creditors within 30 days after letters issue. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-306(a))
- Regular probate notice runs for 2 consecutive weeks in a county newspaper; if none exists, notice is posted in 3 public places. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-306(a))
- Claims are barred at the earlier of 4 months from first publication/posting or 12 months from death. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-306(b))
- The personal representative must personally deliver or mail notice to creditors actually known or reasonably ascertainable. (Probate Guide, Chapter 10)
- If letters are issued more than 1 year after death, the publication requirement does not apply. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-306(e))
- Tennessee small-estate procedure covers personal property not exceeding $50,000, and no notice to creditors is published. (Small Estates packet; T.C.A. § 30-4-103(6))
What to do next
- Ask the county probate clerk which local paper they use for estate notices and how they want proof of publication filed.
- Mail the same notice promptly to any known or reasonably ascertainable creditors and keep mailing records.
- Check whether the estate qualifies for Tennessee's $50,000 small-estate procedure before opening full probate.
Helpful guides
- What is a notice to creditors in probate?
- How to publish a probate notice in a newspaper
- How much does it cost to publish a probate notice?
- What counts as a legal newspaper for probate notices
Creditor deadline calculator →