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Benton County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Benton County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Benton County Chancery Court, probate handled through the Clerk and Master |
| Courthouse address | Benton County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Room 206, Camden, TN 38320 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published on the Clerk and Master page. Call before mailing original documents. |
| Phone | (731) 584-4435 |
| Fax | No Clerk and Master fax is published on the office page. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., based on the Benton County Courthouse hours. The Clerk and Master page does not publish separate office hours. |
| Cost at filing | The state statutory probate estate charge is $275, effective January 1, 2026 (2025 Public Chapter 486; T.C.A. § 8-21-401), before state and local litigation tax and any deposit. Benton County's page does not publish the total amount due, so call the Clerk and Master before paying. |
| Local forms | The Clerk and Master page does not post a local probate petition packet or checklist. |
| E-filing status | No Benton County probate e-filing portal is published. Tennessee does not have a statewide trial-court e-filing system. |
| Online lookup | benton.tncrtinfo.com opens a generic Tennessee Online Court Records page, but Benton County does not state online whether it includes Chancery probate files. |
| Remote appearance | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves teleconferencing and video conferencing to the discretion of the trial court. Benton County-specific practice is not published. |
| Website | https://bentoncountytn.gov/clerk_master.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you start an estate settlement in Benton County, make a practical inventory of what exists: bank accounts, vehicles, real estate interests, debts, insurance, tax documents, and any will. The Clerk and Master can receive probate filings, but the office cannot decide for you which petition fits the estate.
Sunset helps families organize that first step by searching more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into a cleaner probate packet for the Camden courthouse or for a Tennessee probate attorney to review.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Benton County probate filings are handled in Camden at the Benton County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Room 206. The Clerk and Master's page says the office handles Chancery and Probate case files, including estate distributions, conservatorships and guardianships.
Tennessee law sends an estate to the court exercising probate in the county where the person had legal residence at death (T.C.A. § 30-4-102). In counties where no local law provides otherwise, T.C.A. § 16-16-201 places probate jurisdiction in chancery court and the Clerk and Master is the filing officer. Benton County's own Clerk and Master page confirms that this is the local filing office for probate case files.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and any will before you choose a filing path. If the estate may use the small estate procedure, use the current Tennessee petition for limited letters under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, not older terminology.
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents. Tennessee applications for letters testamentary or letters of administration are filed under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, and Benton County does not post a local petition packet on the Clerk and Master page.
- Bring or mail the papers to the Benton County Clerk and Master at the Benton County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Room 206, Camden, TN 38320. Call (731) 584-4435 before mailing originals or arriving close to closing time.
- Confirm the amount due before filing. The state statutory probate estate charge is $275, effective January 1, 2026 (2025 Public Chapter 486; T.C.A. § 8-21-401), before state and local litigation tax and any deposit, and Benton County does not publish the total on its Clerk and Master page.
- After the petition is accepted, follow the court's direction on whether the matter can be handled at the counter, set for hearing, or requires additional notice. Common form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 is the ordinary uncontested route, while solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 requires notice to interested persons.
- Ask the Clerk and Master how Benton County applies Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, if a hearing is set and a remote technology request matters to you. The rule leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion.
- Once the court authorizes the personal representative, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. For a qualifying small estate under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, the court issues limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
- Administer the estate after letters issue. The clerk handles notice to creditors under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative should track Tennessee inventory and beneficiary-notice duties under T.C.A. § 30-2-301 before seeking discharge or closing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Benton County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Its self-help center says probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in your county.
Benton County's Clerk and Master page does not post a local probate petition, packet, or checklist. The page says the office handles estate distributions and small estate matters, and the current statutory small estate route is a petition for limited letters under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. Call (731) 584-4435 before you rely on a form from another county.
Local nuance
Benton County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Use the county Clerk and Master page | The Benton County court directory entry is not the working local probate information page. Use https://bentoncountytn.gov/clerk_master.html for the local office page. |
| Do not assume a fax number | The Clerk and Master page does not publish a fax number. Fax numbers associated with the separate County Clerk office should not be used for probate unless the Clerk and Master confirms them. |
| Confirm online lookup coverage | benton.tncrtinfo.com opens a generic search page, but Benton County does not state online whether Chancery probate files are included. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Benton County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets, if any, require probate in Camden. A co-owned home may not be the only asset, and any estate filing goes through the Benton County Clerk and Master. | Sunset organizes accounts, debts, and documents so the spouse can see whether an estate settlement filing is needed before calling the Clerk and Master or an attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call (731) 584-4435 before traveling, because Benton County does not post a local petition packet. If the estate qualifies, the current Tennessee route uses limited letters under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 and T.C.A. § 30-4-102. | Sunset helps gather asset information and generate a probate packet for review so the child can reduce avoidable back-and-forth with the Camden office. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Plan for a standard probate filing at the Benton County Courthouse and ask what court order or petition is needed before any sale step. Real property sale issues are a good reason to involve counsel early. | Sunset helps assemble the estate settlement file and connects the parent with a local probate attorney when a home sale or court order is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Benton County Clerk and Master | Receives Benton County Chancery and Probate case filings and is the first place to confirm local forms, payment amount, hours, and filing logistics. Court staff cannot give legal advice. | Benton County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Room 206, Camden, TN 38320; (731) 584-4435; https://bentoncountytn.gov/clerk_master.html |
| Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts self-help center | States that most probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in your county, and explains that court employees cannot engage in the practice of law under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b). | https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center |
| Tennessee court clerks list | State court directory tool for finding clerk offices when you need to confirm the correct filing office. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| West Tennessee Legal Services, Huntingdon office | Publishes a service area that includes Benton County. Its posted priorities do not state that routine estate administration is covered, so call to ask whether your probate issue fits. | 113 West Paris Street, Huntingdon, TN 38344; (731) 986-8975 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Tennessee probate attorney if the will may be contested, heirs disagree, a house must be sold, a creditor issue is unclear, the estate may need solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, or you are handling the case from outside Benton County. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property so the family starts with a clearer estate settlement picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized documents you can review before contacting the Benton County Clerk and Master or a lawyer.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset helps connect you with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney who understands local court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Benton County, Tennessee?
File Benton County probate papers with the Clerk and Master at the Benton County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Room 206, Camden, TN 38320. Tennessee sends the estate to the court exercising probate in the county where the person had legal residence at death (T.C.A. § 30-4-102), and T.C.A. § 16-16-201 places probate jurisdiction in chancery where no local law provides otherwise.
Does Benton County publish probate forms online?
The Benton County Clerk and Master page does not post a probate petition packet or checklist. Tennessee's statewide court forms page does not supply a probate form set, so call (731) 584-4435 before using a form from another county.
How much does it cost to start probate in Benton County?
The state statutory probate estate charge is $275, effective January 1, 2026 (2025 Public Chapter 486; T.C.A. § 8-21-401), before state and local litigation tax and any deposit. Benton County's Clerk and Master page does not publish the total amount due at the counter.
Does Benton County have probate e-filing?
No Benton County probate e-filing portal is published on the county site. Tennessee does not have a statewide trial-court e-filing system, so call the Clerk and Master before assuming any electronic filing method is available.
Can I attend a Benton County probate hearing by phone or video?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says using teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial court. Benton County does not publish a separate remote-appearance practice, so ask the Clerk and Master how the court handles the request.
Can I look up a Benton County probate case online?
benton.tncrtinfo.com opens a generic Tennessee Online Court Records search page. Benton County does not state online whether that search includes Chancery probate files, so confirm coverage with the Clerk and Master if the case lookup matters.
Do I have to travel to Camden for a Benton County estate?
Maybe. The filing office is in Camden, and Benton County does not publish a remote filing or hearing policy for probate. Call (731) 584-4435 before you travel, especially if you are out of state or need to mail original documents.
What document gives a Benton County personal representative authority?
Tennessee uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not, under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. In a qualifying small estate under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, the court issues limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.