Tennessee, Probate Court Files, 1795-1955
This collection includes probate records from Tennessee counties. These records were kept either as loose papers or in files, rather than bound volumes.
Tennessee, Probate Court Files
What is in This Collection?
The court files collection contains case files that are either loose papers or packet style for the years 1795 to 1955. The records are arranged by county and then by date. The files include several smaller sets of records which may include indexes. The collection includes the following types of records:
- Wills
- Deeds
- Inventories
- Settlements
- Administrations
- Guardianships
- Bonds
- Divorce records
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
To Browse This Collection
| You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Tennessee, Probate Court Files, 1795-1955. |
What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
- Name of testator or deceased
- Names of heirs such as spouse, children, and other relatives or friends
- Names of witnesses
- Residence of testator
- Lists of belongings, property, and so forth
- Document and recording dates (Sometimes the date of death will be given. Recording dates are also used to approximate event dates, i.e. a letter of administration was usually written shortly after the time of death.)
Collection Content
Sample Image
Probate Record Example
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Probate records in the state fall into two general categories: wills and estate papers. Most records mention the names of heirs and frequently specify how those heirs are related. Names of children may be given, as well as married names of daughters. Probate records may not give an exact death date, but a death most often occurred within a few months of the date of probate.
Probate records are used to legally dispose of a person’s estate after his or her death. The probate process transfers the legal responsibility for payment of taxes, care and custody of dependent family members, liquidation of debts, and transfer of property title. The transfer is to an executor or executrix if the deceased had made a will, to an administrator or administratrix if the deceased had not made a will, or to a guardian or conservator if the deceased had heirs under the age of twenty-one or if heirs were incompetent due to disease or disability.
The contents of probate records vary greatly depending on the prevailing law and the personality of the record keeper. The death date, residence, and other facts that were current at the time of the probate proceeding are quite reliable, though there is still a chance of misinformation. The records may omit the names of deceased family members and those who have previously received an inheritance, or the spouse mentioned may not be the parent of the children mentioned.
Collection Details
Location of Original Records
County archives, Tennessee
"Tennessee, Probate Court Files, 1795-1955." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 3 December 2024. County archives, Tennessee.
