Back to Tennessee
Bledsoe County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Bledsoe County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Bledsoe County Chancery Court. The Clerk and Master is custodian of records for Chancery and Probate Courts, and the office handles the administration of probate estates. Tennessee's chancery default is T.C.A. § 16-16-201. |
| Courthouse address | 3150 Main St., Suite 400, Pikeville, TN 37367. The county page marks this address as not for mailing. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 389, Pikeville, TN 37367. |
| Phone | (423) 447-2484. |
| Fax | (423) 447-3442. |
| Hours | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Cost to start | The statutory clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, rising to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. Bledsoe County's county-posted schedule, with no effective date printed and checked August 30, 2026, lists $534.50 for testate or intestate probate including publication. Confirm the current total before filing. Costs and litigation taxes are governed by T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| County forms | Bledsoe County's Chancery Court page does not post a standalone probate petition packet or checklist PDF. It does post a fee schedule and electronic filing restrictions. |
| Electronic filing | Available through Tybera at go.tybera.net/tncis, subject to the 12th Judicial District local rules. Original wills must still be delivered to the clerk's office even if a copy is attached to a petition. |
| Online lookup | The Bledsoe County Chancery Court page does not publish an online case lookup. The bledsoe.tncrtinfo.com subdomain returned 404 when checked. |
| Remote appearance | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, makes teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology permissible at the court's discretion. Ask the Bledsoe County Clerk and Master how the court applies Rule 55 in a specific estate. |
| Website | https://bledsoetn.com/chancery-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you prepare a Bledsoe County petition, list the accounts, vehicles, personal property, debts, beneficiaries, and any real estate connected to the person who died. The right estate settlement path depends on what is actually in the probate estate, whether there is a will, and whether an original will must be delivered to the Pikeville clerk's office.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning what is found into a probate packet you can review before contacting the Bledsoe County Clerk and Master or a local attorney. That makes estate settlement more concrete before you spend time at the courthouse.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Bledsoe County Chancery Court office in Pikeville serves Bledsoe County. Tennessee law sends the estate to the court that exercises probate jurisdiction in the county where the person lived at death (T.C.A. § 30-4-102). In counties where another public, private, special or local act does not provide otherwise, that court is the chancery court and the filing office is the Clerk and Master (T.C.A. § 16-16-201).
Bledsoe County's own page describes the Clerk and Master as custodian of court records for Chancery and Probate Courts and says the office handles the administration of probate estates. The same page places Bledsoe County in the 12th Judicial District and states that the chancellor serves Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Rhea, Grundy, Marion and Franklin counties.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the right Bledsoe County path before preparing papers. For a regular estate, Tennessee uses a verified petition for letters testamentary when there is a will or letters of administration when there is not (T.C.A. § 30-1-117). If the estate is a small estate under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, use the statutory limited letters process instead.
- Gather the will, death certificate, heir and beneficiary information, asset list, creditor information, and any documents needed to show who should serve as personal representative. Tennessee common form probate does not require notice of the opening proceeding, while solemn form probate requires notice to interested persons (T.C.A. § 30-1-117).
- Use Bledsoe County's published guidance to decide how to submit the papers. The Clerk and Master office is at 3150 Main St., Suite 400, Pikeville, TN 37367, but the county says that physical address is not for mailing. The mailing address is P.O. Box 389, Pikeville, TN 37367.
- Consider electronic filing only after reviewing the 12th Judicial District local rules and the Bledsoe County Chancery Court restrictions. Bledsoe County posts Tybera access for electronic filing, but original wills must still be delivered to the clerk's office even when a copy is attached to a petition.
- Confirm the amount due before submitting. The statutory clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, rising to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028, and state and local litigation taxes or deposits may be added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Bledsoe County's county-posted schedule, with no effective date printed and checked August 30, 2026, lists a different total for testate and intestate probate.
- After letters issue, track the creditor and administration deadlines. The clerk gives notice to creditors within thirty days after issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration (T.C.A. § 30-2-306), and the personal representative handles known-creditor notice, inventory if required, beneficiary notice, TennCare notice under T.C.A. § 71-5-116, claims, payments, and closing filings under T.C.A. § 30-2-301 and § 30-2-307.
- If a hearing is needed, ask the Clerk and Master how the 12th Judicial District calendar applies. Bledsoe County publishes that the chancellor serves six counties, so scheduling is local to the court's docket.
- Ask about any remote technology before the hearing date. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, allows teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology only at the court's discretion.
- Use the letters issued by the Bledsoe County clerk's office to collect probate assets, pay proper expenses and claims, keep records, and complete the estate settlement. When administration is ready to close, prepare the required accounting, settlement, or closing papers for the Bledsoe County Chancery Court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bledsoe County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Its self-help center directs readers to the clerk in their own county for most estate and probate matters.
Bledsoe County's Chancery Court page does not post a standalone probate petition packet or checklist PDF. The page does post a Bledsoe County Chancery Court fee schedule, Tybera electronic filing access, and document restrictions, including the requirement that original wills still be delivered to the clerk's office even if a copy is attached to a petition.
Before relying on a form from another Tennessee county, call the Bledsoe County Clerk and Master at (423) 447-2484. County form captions and local filing practices can differ, and court staff cannot choose forms or provide legal advice.
Fees
The statutory clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486. That same act sets the statutory fee to rise to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes, publication charges, service costs, and any required deposit can be added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, so the amount due at the Bledsoe County counter can be higher than the statutory base.
Bledsoe County posts a local Chancery Court fee schedule with no effective date printed. The amounts below are county-posted amounts checked August 30, 2026. Because the page does not print an effective date, call (423) 447-2484 before filing.
| Item | County-posted amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Testate and intestate probate | $534.50 | No effective date printed on the county page. The line says publication is included. |
| Muniment of title | $384 and 50 cents | No effective date printed on the county page. Muniment of title is a Tennessee route under T.C.A. § 32-2-111. |
| Administrator ad litem | $384 and 50 cents | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Guardianship or conservatorship | $384 and 50 cents | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Petition under the small estate statutes | $384 and 50 cents | No effective date printed on the county page. The statutory small estate process is under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. |
| Interim settlement or annual accounting | $75.00 | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Creditor claim | $50.00 | No effective date printed on the county page. Claims against an estate are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-307. |
| Exception to claim | $100.00 | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Removal of disabilities | $201.50 | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Appeal to circuit from probate, transfer from another county, or workers compensation matter | $309.50 | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Copies | $0.50 per page | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Certification and seal | $5.00 | No effective date printed on the county page. |
| Fax filing charge | $5.00 plus $1.00 per page | No effective date printed on the county page. |
Local nuance
Bledsoe County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Bledsoe County estate |
|---|---|
| Address changed from older directory information | Use 3150 Main St., Suite 400, Pikeville, TN 37367 for the physical office. The county page marks that address as not for mailing, and lists P.O. Box 389, Pikeville, TN 37367 for mail. |
| Thursday half day | The office hours published by Bledsoe County are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Plan around the Thursday noon closing. |
| Tybera electronic filing | Bledsoe County Chancery Court posts Tybera electronic filing access and directs filers to review the 12th Judicial District local rules. The page also says original wills must still be delivered to the clerk's office even if a copy is attached to a petition. |
| Six-county chancery circuit | Bledsoe County's page states that the chancellor serves Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Rhea, Grundy, Marion and Franklin counties. Ask the Clerk and Master how that calendar affects any hearing needed in the estate. |
Recent updates
| Published point | Current Bledsoe County information |
|---|---|
| Courthouse address | Bledsoe County's current Chancery Court page lists the physical address as 3150 Main St., Suite 400, Pikeville, TN 37367, not 111 Court Street. |
| Office hours | The county page includes Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and a Thursday half day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
| Electronic filing | The county page states that Tybera electronic filing is available and that original wills must still be delivered to the clerk's office. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Bledsoe County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate property from probate assets. If a Bledsoe County probate estate still needs to be opened, prepare a petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 and confirm whether the original will must be delivered to the Clerk and Master office. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues before the spouse spends time at the Pikeville office. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate personal property fits the small estate process, Tennessee uses the Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, and limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102. Bledsoe County posts electronic filing through Tybera, but the child should call before relying on electronic filing and must account for any original will delivery. | Sunset can assemble the asset list and generate a packet for review before the child decides whether to travel or work with a local attorney. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually needs more than a limited property collection. The parent should speak with a Bledsoe County probate attorney about opening the estate, obtaining letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, and any court order needed before sale. | Sunset helps organize financial accounts and documents, then connects the family with a vetted attorney for the real-property steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Bledsoe County Clerk and Master | Primary local office for Bledsoe County Chancery Court probate filings, court records, fee schedule questions, Tybera electronic filing questions, and scheduling questions. Court staff cannot give legal advice or choose forms for you. | 3150 Main St., Suite 400, Pikeville, TN 37367; mailing address P.O. Box 389, Pikeville, TN 37367; phone (423) 447-2484; fax (423) 447-3442; https://bledsoetn.com/chancery-court/ |
| Tennessee court self-help center | The statewide self-help center says most probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in the reader's county. It also states that court employees may not engage in the practice of law, including legal referrals, legal research, or legal advice, under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b). | https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center |
| Tennessee clerks list | Statewide directory for finding Tennessee court clerks when you need to confirm the correct county office. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| Legal Aid of East Tennessee | The organization states that it provides free legal services to qualifying individuals. Its contact page lists Bledsoe County with the Chattanooga office and says a person with a court date within 14 days should call directly rather than use the online application. The page does not state that it covers decedent estate administration. | 100 W Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite 402, Chattanooga, TN 37402; phone (423) 756-4013; toll-free (800) 572-7457; https://laet.org/contact-us/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts and helps build the asset picture that drives estate settlement decisions in Bledsoe County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for the Bledsoe County Chancery Court process, ready for review before filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, a home sale, contested filings, or help with the Bledsoe County docket, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next step, and decide whether they need local counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I take probate papers in Bledsoe County?
Use the Bledsoe County Chancery Court office of the Clerk and Master in Pikeville. The physical office is 3150 Main St., Suite 400, Pikeville, TN 37367, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 389, Pikeville, TN 37367. Tennessee's chancery default is T.C.A. § 16-16-201, and venue for the estate is tied to the county where the person lived at death under T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
What are the Bledsoe County Clerk and Master hours?
The county page lists Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (423) 447-2484 before making a long drive, especially on Thursday.
Does Bledsoe County allow electronic filing for probate documents?
Bledsoe County Chancery Court posts Tybera electronic filing access at go.tybera.net/tncis and directs filers to review the 12th Judicial District local rules. The page also says original wills must still be delivered to the clerk's office even if a copy is attached to a petition.
Does Bledsoe County publish probate forms?
The Bledsoe County Chancery Court page does not post a standalone probate petition packet or checklist PDF. Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set, so call the Bledsoe County Clerk and Master before using a form from somewhere else.
How much does probate cost to start in Bledsoe County?
The statutory clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, rising to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. Bledsoe County's county-posted schedule, with no effective date printed and checked August 30, 2026, lists $534.50 for testate or intestate probate including publication. State and local litigation taxes and other costs may be added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, so confirm the current total by phone.
Can a Bledsoe County probate hearing be handled by phone or video?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, provides that teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology for court proceedings is permissible at the discretion of the trial court. It does not create a statewide default. Ask the Bledsoe County Clerk and Master how the court applies Rule 55 to your hearing.
Is there an online Bledsoe County probate case lookup?
The Bledsoe County Chancery Court page does not publish an online probate case lookup. The bledsoe.tncrtinfo.com subdomain returned 404 when checked, so call the Clerk and Master if you need case status information.
Do I have to travel to Pikeville if I live out of state?
Not every estate requires the same amount of in-person work. Bledsoe County posts Tybera electronic filing access, but original wills must still be delivered to the clerk's office, and remote proceedings depend on Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023. Call the Clerk and Master or work with a local attorney before assuming travel can be avoided.
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.