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Cocke County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Cocke County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Cocke County Chancery Court. The Cocke County Clerk and Master is the filing office for probate matters under Tennessee's chancery default for probate jurisdiction, T.C.A. § 16-16-201. |
| Courthouse address | 301 Cosby Highway, Newport, TN 37821. |
| Mailing | The Clerk and Master page lists the street address and does not list a separate mailing address. Call before mailing original papers. |
| Phone | (423) 623-3321. |
| Fax | (423) 625-3642. |
| Hours | The Clerk and Master page does not list public hours. Call before driving to Newport. |
| Cost to open | The 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. It rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added on top. Cocke County's Clerk and Master page does not list a local total. |
| Forms | The Clerk and Master page does not list a local probate packet, petition, checklist or downloadable probate PDF. |
| Electronic filing | Cocke County Chancery Court does not list a probate e-filing portal. Tennessee does not have a statewide trial-court e-filing system. |
| Case lookup | Cocke County has an online court portal at https://cocke.tncrtinfo.com/. The portal says users can select court type and case type, but it does not list on its public landing page whether Chancery or Probate matters are included. |
| Remote appearance | No Cocke County probate-specific remote practice is listed. Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, leaves teleconferencing, video conferencing and other remote court technology to the trial court's discretion. |
| Website | https://www.cockecountytn.gov/clerk-master |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open an estate in Cocke County, make a working list of probate assets, non-probate transfers, debts, vehicle titles, real estate questions and any accounts that may need letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. This first inventory of the estate settlement helps you choose the right filing path and avoid paying for a petition that does not match the property.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then helps organize what you found so the Cocke County probate packet can be built around the actual estate rather than guesswork.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Cocke County probate filings go through the Cocke County Clerk and Master in Newport. Tennessee sends an estate to the court that exercises probate jurisdiction in the county where the person had legal residence at death, T.C.A. § 30-4-102. In counties where no public, private, special or local act provides otherwise, probate jurisdiction is in chancery court under T.C.A. § 16-16-201; Cocke County's own Clerk and Master page describes probate work as part of the office's Chancery Court docket.
This page is for estates with Cocke County venue under T.C.A. § 30-4-102. If the person lived somewhere else at death, the filing may belong in that county instead, even if property, heirs or family members are in Cocke County.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the filing path before you prepare papers. For an ordinary estate, Tennessee uses a verified petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. For a small estate under The Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the current statutory route is a petition for limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
- Use Cocke County's local office information. The Cocke County Clerk and Master page does not list a probate packet or downloadable probate petition, so call the office at (423) 623-3321 before preparing originals for the Newport filing counter.
- Submit the petition through the Cocke County Clerk and Master at 301 Cosby Highway, Newport, TN 37821, unless the office gives a different instruction for the specific filing. The county page does not list a separate mailing address.
- Bring payment information before filing. The statewide 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. It rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added on top, and Cocke County's page does not list the total amount due at the counter.
- Handle notice based on the route. Common form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 does not require notice of the probate proceeding, while solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 requires notice to interested persons. After letters issue in a regular estate, the clerk gives notice to creditors under T.C.A. § 30-2-306.
- Ask the Clerk and Master how hearings are scheduled. Cocke County does not list probate hearing days or filing cutoffs on the Clerk and Master page.
- Ask separately about any remote request. Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, says use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other remote technology is permissible at the discretion of the trial court, but Cocke County does not list a probate-specific remote process.
- After the clerk issues authority, use the correct Tennessee document name. Tennessee calls the personal representative's authority letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will, T.C.A. § 30-1-117. In a small estate, the authority is limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
- Administer and close the estate. Track assets, debts, receipts, distributions, any required inventory under T.C.A. § 30-2-301 and any creditor steps under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, then ask the Clerk and Master what closing papers the Cocke County Chancery Court requires.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cocke County
Tennessee's statewide court forms page does not provide a statewide probate form set, and the Tennessee self-help page sends most estate and probate readers to the clerk in their county. In Cocke County, the Clerk and Master page lists the office's probate work but does not list a local probate petition, packet, checklist or downloadable probate PDF.
Call the Cocke County Clerk and Master before you draft or travel. Ask whether the office has a current petition format for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, and ask whether any small estate filing must use a current petition for limited letters under The Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Cocke County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Confirm whether the home passes outside probate or whether the estate needs Cocke County Chancery Court authority. If probate authority is needed, the filing office is the Clerk and Master in Newport, and letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 may be needed before the spouse can act for estate property. | Sunset helps separate jointly held property from probate assets and organizes the estate settlement checklist before papers are prepared. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Start by confirming Cocke County venue under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and call the Clerk and Master before travel. A Tennessee small estate uses The Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., and limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103, not a county form listed on the Cocke County page. | Sunset helps find accounts, estimate what is probate property and prepare questions for the Clerk and Master so the trip to Newport is focused. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority for the personal representative. In Cocke County, that means working through the Clerk and Master and the Cocke County Chancery Court for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, then following any court requirements before sale or distribution. | Sunset helps collect asset information, prepare the estate settlement plan and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal judgment. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Cocke County Clerk and Master | The local filing office for Cocke County probate matters. The office can provide filing logistics, but court staff cannot give legal advice. | 301 Cosby Highway, Newport, TN 37821. Phone: (423) 623-3321. Website: https://www.cockecountytn.gov/clerk-master |
| Tennessee courts self-help center | The state self-help page says most probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in the county and notes that state court employees cannot give legal advice under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b). | https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center |
| Tennessee court clerks directory | Use the statewide clerks list if you need to confirm the correct Tennessee clerk for a different county before starting an estate settlement. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Tennessee probate attorney if heirs disagree, a will may be contested, real estate must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, the estate may need solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 or you are not sure whether Cocke County is the right venue under T.C.A. § 30-4-102. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, property and liabilities that may belong in a Cocke County estate settlement, so the petition is based on a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for review, including the details commonly needed for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, a contested issue or a court appearance, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps and prepare for the Cocke County filing process at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Cocke County?
File through the Cocke County Clerk and Master in Newport. The office address listed by the county is 301 Cosby Highway, Newport, TN 37821. Tennessee's county-level venue rule sends the estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person lived at death, T.C.A. § 30-4-102, and chancery is the default probate jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
Is Cocke County probate filed in Chancery Court?
Yes. Cocke County's Clerk and Master page says the office handles Chancery Court, Probate Court and related matters, including estates. For practical filing purposes, the Clerk and Master is the office to call for Cocke County probate papers, under the chancery default in T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
Can I e-file a Cocke County probate case?
Cocke County Chancery Court does not list a probate e-filing portal, and Tennessee does not have a statewide trial-court e-filing system. Call the Clerk and Master before assuming a filing can be handled electronically.
How much does it cost to open probate in Cocke County?
The statewide 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. It rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added on top, and Cocke County's page does not list the total amount due at filing.
Does Cocke County have local probate forms online?
The Cocke County Clerk and Master page does not list a local probate petition, packet, checklist or downloadable probate PDF. Call the office before drafting papers for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, or for any small estate petition under The Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq.
Can I look up a Cocke County probate case online?
Cocke County has an online court portal at https://cocke.tncrtinfo.com/. The public landing page says users can select court type and case type, but it does not list whether Chancery or Probate matters are included, so check the portal and call the Clerk and Master if you cannot find the case.
Can I appear remotely for a Cocke County probate hearing?
No Cocke County probate-specific remote process is listed. Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, says teleconferencing, video conferencing or other remote court technology is permissible at the discretion of the trial court.
Do I have to travel to Newport to handle a Cocke County estate?
Maybe. The Clerk and Master page does not list a probate e-filing portal, public hours or a separate mailing address, so call (423) 623-3321 before traveling or sending original documents. For estate settlement tasks that require legal judgment, Sunset can help you connect with a Tennessee probate attorney.
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.