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Carter County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Carter County Chancery Court, with the Clerk and Master serving as Clerk of the Probate Court for administration of wills and estates. |
| Courthouse address | Carter County Courthouse, 801 East Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643. |
| Mailing address | The Clerk and Master page does not list a separate mailing address. Use the courthouse address unless the office gives different instructions. |
| Phone | (423) 542-1801. |
| Fax | (423) 547-1504. |
| [email protected]. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The page does not list a lunch closure. |
| Cost to start | The statutory clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. State and local litigation taxes and any required cost deposit are added under § 8-21-401. Carter County's Clerk and Master page does not publish a local total. |
| Forms published by clerk | The Clerk and Master page does not publish a probate packet, checklist or probate form link. |
| Electronic filing | No probate e-filing portal or electronic filing instruction is published on the Clerk and Master page. Tennessee does not have a statewide trial-court e-filing system for probate matters. |
| Case lookup | No case-search link is published on the Clerk and Master page, and the checked carter.tncrtinfo.com vendor subdomain did not load as a Carter County portal. |
| Remote proceedings | No local remote-hearing instruction is published on the Clerk and Master page. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to the discretion of the trial court. |
| Website | https://cartercountytn.gov/government/elected_officials/clerk___master.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Carter County, make a list of the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, co-owned property and likely creditors. Estate settlement moves faster when you know whether the court filing is needed for real estate, financial accounts, vehicles, refunds or other property.
Sunset can help families search across 2,300 institutions before the probate packet is prepared, so you do not open the wrong type of case or miss an account that changes the plan for estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Carter County probate filings are handled at the Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton. Tennessee venue sends the estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person had legal residence at death (T.C.A. § 30-4-102). In counties where a different law does not provide otherwise, probate jurisdiction is in chancery court under T.C.A. § 16-16-201, and Carter County's current Clerk and Master page says that office serves as Clerk of the Probate Court for administration of wills and estates.
This page is for estates tied to Carter County. If the person lived in another Tennessee county at death, use that county's probate filing office instead.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, names and addresses for heirs or beneficiaries, and any account statements needed to explain why court authority is required.
- Choose the local filing path. A full estate starts with a verified petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. A qualifying small estate uses the Small Estate Probate Act process in T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, including limited letters under § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. Carter County's Clerk and Master page does not publish a probate packet or form link, so call the office at (423) 542-1801 before presenting papers to confirm current local formatting and copy requirements.
- Present the papers to the Carter County Clerk and Master at the Carter County Courthouse, 801 East Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The office hours published by the county are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Pay the amount required at filing. The statutory clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401, with state and local litigation taxes and any required cost deposit added under § 8-21-401. Carter County's page does not publish the local total.
- Ask the Clerk and Master whether the filing can proceed at the counter or needs a court setting. Common form probate is the ordinary uncontested route under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Solemn form probate under § 30-1-117 requires notice to interested persons.
- For a full estate, after letters issue, the clerk gives notice to creditors under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative handles known-creditor notice, beneficiary notice, inventory duties under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, asset collection, payment of proper claims and distributions.
- If a hearing is needed, ask the Carter County office for the current setting procedure. The Clerk and Master page does not publish hearing days, docket-sounding dates or a filing-to-hearing estimate.
- Ask about remote participation before relying on it. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, permits remote proceedings only at the trial court's discretion, and Carter County's Clerk and Master page does not publish a local remote-hearing practice.
- Once appointed, use the Carter County letters testamentary or letters of administration issued under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 to collect assets, administer the estate, complete required notices and accountings, then close the estate when the court allows.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Carter County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Its self-help materials direct estate and probate readers to the clerk in their own county.
The Carter County Clerk and Master page does not publish a probate packet, checklist or probate form link. Call (423) 542-1801 before you prepare papers so you can confirm the current local format, number of copies and payment amount.
If the estate may qualify under the Small Estate Probate Act, use the current statutory petition and limited letters framework in T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. The local page does not provide a Carter County form for that filing.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Carter County path | Key local step | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by sorting what passes outside probate and what still needs Carter County court authority. If no probate asset needs letters, a full estate may not be necessary. If a probate asset exists, the petition goes through the Clerk and Master at the Carter County Courthouse. | Bring the deed information, account list and death certificate details when you call the Clerk and Master at (423) 542-1801. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary designations and property details before papers are prepared. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the probate personal property fits the Small Estate Probate Act, use the petition for limited letters route under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, including the requirements in § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103. | Carter County's page does not publish a small-estate form or remote-hearing instruction, so call before traveling or sending paperwork. | Sunset helps find assets and can generate a cleaner starting packet for attorney or court review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires authority beyond a limited personal-property filing. Expect to discuss a full estate petition for letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 with the Carter County Clerk and Master. | Ask the office how it wants the real-property information presented and whether a court setting will be needed. | Sunset helps organize the asset list and connects the family with a vetted probate attorney when a sale or heirship issue needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Carter County Clerk and Master | This is the local office that serves as Clerk of the Probate Court for administration of wills and estates. The office can provide filing logistics, hours and payment instructions, but court staff cannot give legal advice. | https://cartercountytn.gov/government/elected_officials/clerk___master.php |
| Tennessee Self Help Center | The state self-help page directs estate and probate readers to the clerk in their own county. It also states that, under T.C.A. § 16-3-804, state court employees cannot engage in the practice of law, including legal referrals, legal research or legal advice. | https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center |
| Tennessee court clerks directory | Use the statewide clerks directory if you need to compare Carter County with another Tennessee county or locate a different county's filing office. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| Justice for All Tennessee | The Tennessee Self Help Center links to this statewide access-to-justice site for broader help finding legal information and resources. | https://justiceforalltn.com |
When to hire an attorney
Consider using a Tennessee probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, a home must be sold, creditors are active, the estate may be insolvent, or you are unsure whether a Carter County filing is needed. 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 has a clearer starting point before opening a Carter County estate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family information into an organized estate settlement packet that can be reviewed before it is presented to the Carter County Clerk and Master or to an attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, creditor issue or court appearance calls for legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps and decide whether attorney help is needed, without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Carter County?
File Carter County probate papers with the Clerk and Master at the Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton. Tennessee venue sends the estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person had legal residence at death (T.C.A. § 30-4-102), and Carter County's Clerk and Master page says that office serves as Clerk of the Probate Court for administration of wills and estates under the chancery structure described in T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
What is the Carter County probate phone number?
Call the Carter County Clerk and Master at (423) 542-1801. The office also publishes fax number (423) 547-1504 and email address [email protected].
Does Carter County publish probate forms online?
The Carter County Clerk and Master page does not publish a probate packet, checklist or probate form link. Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not provide a statewide probate form set, so call the Carter County office before preparing papers.
Can I file a Carter County probate case electronically?
The Carter County Clerk and Master page does not publish a probate e-filing portal or electronic filing instruction. Tennessee does not have a statewide trial-court e-filing system for probate matters.
How much does it cost to open probate in Carter County?
The statewide statutory clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. State and local litigation taxes and any required cost deposit are added under § 8-21-401. Carter County's Clerk and Master page does not publish the local total charged at the counter.
Can I look up a Carter County probate case online?
The Carter County Clerk and Master page does not publish an online case-search link, and the checked carter.tncrtinfo.com vendor subdomain did not load as a Carter County portal. Call the Clerk and Master if you need to locate a Carter County estate case.
Are Carter County probate hearings available by phone or video?
The Carter County Clerk and Master page does not publish local remote-hearing instructions. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says the use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology for remote court proceedings is permissible at the discretion of the trial court.
How long will it take to get a Carter County probate hearing?
The Carter County Clerk and Master page does not publish hearing days, docket-sounding dates or a filing-to-hearing estimate. Ask the office about scheduling when you call before filing.
Do I have to travel to Elizabethton for Carter County probate?
The published probate office is at the Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton, and the local page does not publish a remote-hearing or electronic filing practice. If you live outside Tennessee, call the Clerk and Master before making travel plans.
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.