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Humphreys County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Humphreys County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Humphreys County Chancery Court |
| Probate filing office | Clerk and Master |
| Courthouse address | Room 202, 100 North Court Square, Waverly, TN 37185 |
| Other listed location | Room 1, Rawlings Building, 102 Thompson Street, Waverly, TN 37185 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for the Clerk and Master. Use the listed street locations and call before mailing papers. |
| Phone | (931) 296-2558 |
| Fax | No probate fax number is published for the Clerk and Master. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure is published. |
| Statutory probate fee | The statewide clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| County fee schedule | Humphreys County does not publish a probate fee schedule on the Chancery Court page. |
| County forms | Humphreys County does not link a local probate petition, checklist, or packet on the Chancery Court page. |
| Electronic filing | No local probate electronic filing portal is published for Humphreys County. Tennessee does not have a statewide trial court electronic filing system. |
| Online lookup | Humphreys County publishes an online lookup at humphreys.tncrtinfo.com. The site may require choosing a court type and case type, so call the Clerk and Master before relying on it for chancery or probate matters. |
| Remote proceedings | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves teleconferencing, video conferencing, and other remote technology to the court's discretion. Humphreys County does not publish a separate probate remote-appearance policy. |
| Website | https://www.humphreyscountytn.gov/clerk_and_master.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you prepare anything for the Humphreys County Clerk and Master, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, beneficiaries, and any will. Estate settlement goes faster when the petition matches the assets and when you know which property actually needs court authority.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before filing. That can help you decide whether the estate settlement belongs in a full probate administration or another Tennessee route.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Humphreys County probate filings are handled in Waverly. The county's own Chancery Court page includes Probate, matters under T.C.A. § 30-4-101, and muniment of title under T.C.A. § 32-2-111 among the Clerk and Master's work.
Tennessee law sends an estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person lived at death, and the chancery default comes from T.C.A. § 16-16-201. In Humphreys County, that means the Humphreys County Chancery Court and the Clerk and Master, unless the court tells you a different county is proper for the estate.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm the proper county and office. If the person lived in Humphreys County at death, Tennessee venue for the estate points to the county court exercising probate jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 30-4-102, and Humphreys County uses the Chancery Court under T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. Tennessee does not provide a statewide probate packet, and Humphreys County does not link a local probate packet on the Chancery Court page, so call the Clerk and Master before you go if you are unsure what the office wants with the petition.
- Take or mail the papers to the Clerk and Master. The county page lists Room 202, 100 North Court Square, and Room 1, Rawlings Building, 102 Thompson Street, both in Waverly, so call (931) 296-2558 to confirm which location is handling the filing that day.
- Pay the required amount. The statewide clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486, and state and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Humphreys County does not publish a local total on the Chancery Court page.
- Use common form or solemn form only if the facts fit. Tennessee uses common form and solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Notice to creditors is handled under T.C.A. § 30-2-306 after letters issue, unless the matter is a route where that statute does not require it.
- Ask the Clerk and Master how hearings are scheduled. Humphreys County does not publish probate hearing days or waiting times on the Chancery Court page.
- Ask separately about remote participation. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says remote technology is permissible at the discretion of the trial court, and Humphreys County does not publish a separate probate remote-appearance practice.
- Obtain the authority document if the court appoints a personal representative. Tennessee calls the authority document letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not, under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
- Administer and close the estate. After appointment, follow the court's orders, handle any inventory duty under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, deal with claims under T.C.A. § 30-2-306 and T.C.A. § 30-2-307, and complete final distribution or closing papers as the court requires.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Humphreys County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set, and Humphreys County does not link a local probate petition, checklist, or packet on its Chancery Court page. Start with the Clerk and Master's office before you spend time completing a form from another county.
The county page does list Probate, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 matters, and muniment of title under T.C.A. § 32-2-111 among the Chancery Court topics. If your matter involves one of those routes, call (931) 296-2558 to ask what the Humphreys County office wants filed and which Waverly location is receiving probate papers.
Local nuance
Humphreys County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two listed locations | The county Chancery Court page lists both Room 202 at 100 North Court Square and Room 1 in the Rawlings Building at 102 Thompson Street. Call (931) 296-2558 before going to confirm the current probate filing window. |
| No probate fax number | Do not use a fax number for a different county office unless the Clerk and Master tells you to. Humphreys County does not publish a Clerk and Master probate fax number. |
| Online lookup caution | Humphreys County's tncrtinfo.com portal exists, but the page does not state that chancery or probate case types are included. Use the portal as a starting point and confirm probate status with the Clerk and Master. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Humphreys County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before filing. If court authority is needed for estate settlement, the Humphreys County Chancery Court in Waverly is the local probate forum under T.C.A. § 16-16-201. | Sunset helps gather account and asset information before you contact the Clerk and Master, so the filing matches what actually needs to be handled. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | A Tennessee small estate route is under T.C.A. § 30-4-101, with the $50,000 limit under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and the forty-five day timing rule under T.C.A. § 30-4-103. Humphreys County does not link a local packet, so call the Clerk and Master before traveling or mailing papers. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, locate accounts, and prepare for a call with the Waverly office. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually makes the filing more document-heavy. If Humphreys County is the correct county, ask the Clerk and Master what petition and supporting papers the Chancery Court requires before you schedule travel to Waverly. | Sunset can help build a clearer estate settlement plan, identify missing accounts, and connect you with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Humphreys County Clerk and Master | The local filing office for Humphreys County Chancery Court probate matters. Call (931) 296-2558 before visiting because the county page lists two Waverly locations. | Court staff can give office information, but they cannot give legal advice. |
| Tennessee courts self-help center | The statewide self-help page directs estate and probate users to the clerk in their own county. | The page states that, under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b), state court employees may not engage in the practice of law, including legal referrals, legal research, or legal advice. |
| Tennessee court clerks list | The statewide clerks directory can help you identify the correct clerk if the decedent lived outside Humphreys County. | It is a directory, not a legal advice service. |
| Justice for All Tennessee | The Tennessee courts self-help page links to this statewide access-to-justice site. | Check the site directly for current resources and eligibility information. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a Tennessee probate attorney if family members disagree, the will may be challenged, the estate includes real estate that must be sold, creditors are active, or you are trying to handle the case from outside Humphreys County. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property so the estate settlement starts with a clearer picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet you can review before contacting the Humphreys County Clerk and Master or an attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney who understands Tennessee estate settlement and local court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Humphreys County?
Probate papers for Humphreys County go through the Humphreys County Chancery Court and the Clerk and Master under T.C.A. § 16-16-201. The county page lists Room 202, 100 North Court Square, and Room 1, Rawlings Building, 102 Thompson Street, both in Waverly, so call (931) 296-2558 before going.
Does Humphreys County have local probate forms online?
The Humphreys County Chancery Court page does not link a local probate petition, checklist, or packet. Tennessee also does not publish a statewide probate form set, so contact the Clerk and Master before using forms from another county.
Can I handle a small estate in Humphreys County?
Small estate procedure is governed by the Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101. The $50,000 limit is in T.C.A. § 30-4-102, and the forty-five day timing rule is in T.C.A. § 30-4-103. Humphreys County does not post a local packet, so call the Clerk and Master for local filing instructions.
What does it cost to start probate in Humphreys County?
The statewide clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, and Humphreys County does not publish a local probate fee schedule on the Chancery Court page.
Can I look up a Humphreys County probate case online?
Humphreys County publishes an online lookup at humphreys.tncrtinfo.com. The portal does not state on its welcome page that chancery or probate matters are included, so confirm with the Clerk and Master before relying on it for a probate matter.
Are remote probate hearings available in Humphreys County?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, Rule 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says teleconferencing, video conferencing, and other technology may be used at the trial court's discretion. Humphreys County does not publish a separate probate remote-appearance policy.
Do I have to travel to Waverly for a Humphreys County probate case?
Not every estate requires the same steps, and Humphreys County does not publish a local rule that answers travel questions for probate. Call the Clerk and Master before making plans, especially because the county page lists two Waverly locations.
What are letters testamentary and letters of administration in Humphreys County?
They are the Tennessee authority documents for a personal representative. Letters testamentary apply when there is a will, and letters of administration apply when there is not, under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. In Humphreys County, the Clerk and Master handles the filing office for the Chancery Court.
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.