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Gibson County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Gibson County Chancery Court, the court exercising probate jurisdiction in Gibson County under Tennessee's chancery default rule, T.C.A. § 16-16-201. |
| Main office | Chancery Court Clerk and Master, 204 N Courtsquare, Trenton, TN 38382. |
| Second office | Humboldt Chancery Court Clerk and Master, 1421 Osborne St, Humboldt, TN 38343. |
| Mailing | Main office: P.O. Box 290, Trenton, TN 38382. Call the Humboldt office before mailing papers there. |
| Phone | Trenton: (731) 855-7639. Humboldt: (731) 784-9551. |
| Fax | Trenton: (731) 855-7655. |
| Hours | Trenton: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Humboldt: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Cost to open | The clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, and rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are additional under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| Local forms | Yes. Gibson County publishes a 28th District Petition for Small Estate Letters and a Small Estate Waiver of Bond. Tennessee's current small-estate route is under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. |
| Electronic filing | Yes. Gibson County publishes 28th Judicial District Local Rules for E-Filing and uses the Tybera eFlex platform. Paper delivery to the physical office remains available. |
| Case lookup | Gibson County publishes an online court information portal at gibson.tncrtinfo.com. Call the Chancery Court Clerk and Master before relying on it for probate case coverage. |
| Remote proceedings | No Gibson County probate-specific remote practice was found. Rule 55, cited as Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55 and adopted June 8, 2023, leaves use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to the court's discretion. |
| Website | Gibson County Chancery Court page and Humboldt Chancery Court page on gibsontn.org. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or ask for letters, list the assets, debts, beneficiaries, likely creditors and any real estate connected to the person who died. Gibson County's two chancery clerk locations make the first call especially important: ask whether your estate paperwork should be delivered in Trenton or Humboldt, and whether any original document must be brought in person even if other papers are submitted electronically.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across 2,300 institutions, then helps organize the information needed for the local probate packet. That preparation can keep a Gibson County filing from stalling over a missing account, creditor or ownership detail.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Gibson County estate filings are handled by the Gibson County Chancery Court, with clerk offices in Trenton and Humboldt. Tennessee law sends an 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 the chancery default appears in T.C.A. § 16-16-201. Gibson County's current probate forum is chancery, with the Clerk and Master serving as the filing office.
Gibson County is part of the 28th Judicial District's chancery system. The district's local rules state that chancery court meets Monday through Friday each week and that a case filed in the district can be heard at any of the four courts listed in those rules: Alamo, Brownsville, Humboldt and Trenton.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct route and collect the local papers. Gibson County publishes a 28th District Petition for Small Estate Letters and a Small Estate Waiver of Bond for matters under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. For a regular estate, prepare the verified petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration required by T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
- Choose the filing channel. Gibson County's chancery page says local forms can be submitted by electronic filing or by delivering them in person to the physical office. Because original wills and some probate documents may need special handling, ask the Clerk and Master which documents must be delivered on paper before you rely on electronic filing.
- Use the right local office. The main Chancery Court Clerk and Master office is at 204 N Courtsquare in Trenton. Gibson County also has a separate Humboldt Chancery Court Clerk and Master office at 1421 Osborne St. If you are unsure which office should receive the filing, call before you go.
- Pay the court costs. The clerk's 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. T.C.A. § 8-21-401 allows state and local litigation taxes and other costs to be added. If you use the Tybera eFlex system under the 2024 local e-filing rules, the platform fee is separate from the court's charge.
- Get a hearing date or docket setting if one is needed. The 28th Judicial District local rules set regular chancery motion and uncontested matter days in Humboldt on the second and fourth Fridays and in Trenton on the first and third Fridays, with additional district settings in Alamo and Brownsville. Do not assume your estate will be heard on a particular date until the clerk places it on the docket.
- Ask about remote handling before the date is set. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says remotely conducted proceedings are permissible at the discretion of the court. It does not create a statewide right to appear by phone or video, so ask the Gibson County Chancery Court Clerk and Master how the court wants the request handled.
- Receive authority from the clerk. Tennessee calls the personal representative's authority document letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not, T.C.A. § 30-1-117. In a qualifying small estate, the clerk issues limited letters under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105.
- Administer and close the estate. After regular letters issue, the clerk gives notice to creditors under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative handles required mailings, inventory duties under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, creditor issues and final settlement. The 28th Judicial District local rules place estates filed for probate on the docket nine months from filing for closing or a status conference.
Executor duties
Gibson County's local rules add practical guardrails around compensation and professional expenses. Under the 2021 local rules, when a will does not set compensation, the court considers percentage guidelines for personal representative fees based on gross estate value: 5 percent of the first $20,000 under the 2021 local rules, 4 percent of the next $80,000 under the 2021 local rules, 3 percent of the next $150,000 under the 2021 local rules, 2 percent of the next $500,000 under the 2021 local rules, and 1 percent over $750,000 under the 2021 local rules. If an attorney also serves as personal representative, the rules allow only one fee.
The same 2021 local rules say the court may consider an attorney fee guideline of $75.00 to $150.00 per hour under the 2021 local rules instead of a percentage fee. Fees to accountants or other professionals over $1,000 under the 2021 local rules require a petition and court approval. Interested parties must receive ten working days' written notice of a hearing on a fee petition, and the petition must describe the estate's assets, estate values, income and requested compensation.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gibson County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set for estates, so Gibson County filers should use the local chancery materials and ask the Clerk and Master which papers apply. Gibson County publishes a 28th District Petition for Small Estate Letters and a Small Estate Waiver of Bond. Those local names track Tennessee's current small-estate process under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105.
The Gibson County Chancery Court page states that forms should be downloaded and printed, and that they can be submitted only by electronic filing or by delivery in person to the physical office. Because the local e-filing rules do not answer every probate-specific question, call the clerk before submitting a will, bond, proposed order or original document electronically.
Fees
| Cost item | What Gibson County readers should know |
|---|---|
| State probate estate charge | The clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486. It rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. |
| Taxes and deposits | T.C.A. § 8-21-401 keeps state and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit separate from the statutory clerk's fee, so the total paid at the counter may be higher than $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486. |
| Published local total | Gibson County's chancery page does not publish a single total dollar figure for opening or closing an estate. |
| Electronic filing platform | Under the 2024 local e-filing rules, the Tybera system charges an additional maximum of $50.00 per case under the 2024 local rules, or a flat $300.00 annual subscription under the 2024 local rules for a lawyer or person representing themself who uses the Tybera system in any Tennessee court. |
Timeline
- Regular chancery sessions open at 9:00 a.m. under the 2021 local rules, break for one hour at noon, and resume at 1:00 p.m.
- For uncontested matters, motions, pretrial conferences and trial settings, the court sits in Humboldt on the second and fourth Fridays of each month and in Trenton on the first and third Fridays of each month. The same district rules also list Alamo on the second Monday and Brownsville on the second and fourth Thursdays.
- Chancery Court meets Monday through Friday each week. The local rules state that any case filed in the 28th Judicial District can be heard in any of the four listed courts, with the filing attorney or party responsible for bringing the file to the correct courthouse.
- Estates filed for probate are placed on the docket for hearing nine months from the date of filing for closing the estate or for a status conference.
Local nuance
Gibson County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Two chancery clerk offices | Gibson County has a main Chancery Court Clerk and Master office in Trenton and a separate Humboldt Chancery Court Clerk and Master office. Call before mailing or delivering papers if you are unsure which location should handle the filing. |
| Law and Equity history | Gibson County's old Law and Equity Court history explains the two-location chancery structure. Public Acts of 1984, ch. 931, codified at T.C.A. § 16-2-506(28)(A), made the Law and Equity Court a chancery court for the 28th Judicial District effective September 1, 1984. |
| District-wide hearing locations | The 28th Judicial District rules allow a case filed in the district to be heard at any of the four listed chancery courts: Alamo, Brownsville, Humboldt and Trenton. |
| Electronic filing exists locally | Gibson County uses Tybera eFlex under 2024 local e-filing rules. The rules do not state that electronic filing is mandatory for attorneys, and paper filing remains a defined option. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2024 local e-filing rules | Gibson County publishes 28th Judicial District Local Rules for E-Filing using the Tybera eFlex platform. The posted copy leaves the exact effective day blank, so the local page should be read as a 2024 rule without a specific calendar day. |
| January 1, 2026 probate fee statute | 2025 Public Chapter 486 changed the statewide probate estate clerk's fee to $275 effective January 1, 2026, with scheduled increases to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. T.C.A. § 8-21-401 still allows additional state and local litigation taxes and costs. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Gibson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating probate assets from jointly held property and beneficiary-designated accounts. If court authority is needed, contact the Gibson County Chancery Court Clerk and Master before choosing the Trenton or Humboldt office. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, debts and ownership details so the spouse can decide what belongs in the estate settlement and what may pass outside probate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Review whether the estate fits Tennessee's small-estate process under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, then ask the clerk how Gibson County wants the 28th District Petition for Small Estate Letters submitted and whether any original document must be delivered on paper. | Sunset organizes the asset list and local probate packet, then helps the child coordinate with the Gibson County clerk without guessing which forms or office location apply. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale generally requires careful review of title, authority and any court orders before closing. Call the Gibson County Chancery Court Clerk and Master and consider counsel before asking for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. | Sunset helps find financial accounts and debts, prepare for the local filing, and connect the parent with a probate attorney when a real estate sale is part of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Gibson County Chancery Court Clerk and Master, Trenton | The main office receives chancery and probate filings, publishes Gibson County's local probate forms and answers procedural questions about office hours, delivery, docketing and electronic filing. Court staff cannot give legal advice. |
| Humboldt Chancery Court Clerk and Master | The Humboldt office is a separate staffed chancery clerk location in Gibson County. Call before delivery if you need to know whether a filing should be handled there or in Trenton. |
| Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts self-help center | The statewide self-help center directs most estate and probate questions to the Clerk and Master in the county. It also states that court employees may not engage in the practice of law under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b), including giving legal advice or legal referrals. |
| Tennessee court clerks list | The statewide clerks directory is useful when an estate may belong in a different Tennessee county because the person who died lived outside Gibson County. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for bank accounts, insurance, retirement accounts and other assets so families can begin estate settlement with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble the forms and supporting details needed for a Gibson County probate filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney who understands local court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Gibson County?
Gibson County probate is handled through the Gibson County Chancery Court, with Clerk and Master offices in Trenton and Humboldt. Tennessee law 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 Gibson County uses the chancery structure under T.C.A. § 16-16-201. Call before delivery if you are unsure which Gibson County office should receive the papers.
Does Gibson County have two probate filing offices?
Gibson County has two staffed chancery clerk locations: the main Chancery Court Clerk and Master office in Trenton and the Humboldt Chancery Court Clerk and Master office in Humboldt. The 28th Judicial District rules also say cases filed in the district can be heard at any of the four listed chancery courts.
Can I submit Gibson County probate papers electronically?
Gibson County publishes 28th Judicial District Local Rules for E-Filing and uses the Tybera eFlex platform. The rules make accounts available to Tennessee-licensed attorneys, pro hac vice attorneys and people representing themselves, and they do not say the system is mandatory for attorneys. Before submitting a will or original document electronically, ask the clerk whether paper delivery is required.
What does it cost to open a probate estate in Gibson County?
The statewide clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486. It rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. T.C.A. § 8-21-401 allows state and local litigation taxes and other costs to be added, and Gibson County does not publish a single local total for opening or closing an estate on its chancery page.
What probate forms does Gibson County publish?
Gibson County publishes a 28th District Petition for Small Estate Letters and a Small Estate Waiver of Bond. The current Tennessee small-estate process is governed by T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. For regular estates, the petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration comes from T.C.A. § 30-1-117 and local practice should be checked with the Clerk and Master.
When are Gibson County probate matters heard?
The 28th Judicial District local rules list uncontested matters, motions, pretrial conferences and settings in Humboldt on the second and fourth Fridays and in Trenton on the first and third Fridays. The same rules place estates filed for probate on the docket nine months from filing for closing or a status conference.
Can I attend a Gibson County probate hearing by phone or video?
Rule 55, cited as Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55 and adopted June 8, 2023, says the use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology is permissible at the discretion of the court. No Gibson County probate-specific remote practice was found on the local pages, so ask the Chancery Court Clerk and Master how the court wants a request handled.
Can I look up a Gibson County probate case online?
Gibson County publishes an online court information portal at gibson.tncrtinfo.com. Before relying on it for an estate matter, call the Chancery Court Clerk and Master to confirm whether the portal includes the type of Chancery Court probate information you need.
Do I have to travel to Gibson County if I live out of state?
Not always, but do not assume. Gibson County has local electronic filing through Tybera eFlex and also accepts in-person delivery to the physical office, but the local materials do not answer every question about original wills or probate-specific documents. Call the clerk before making travel plans or mailing papers.
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.