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Lawrence County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local answer |
|---|---|
| Court with estate authority | Lawrence County General Sessions Court has probate jurisdiction under Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55 and T.C.A. § 16-16-201. The county court page says the General Sessions judge oversees probate, meaning the settling of estates. |
| Courthouse city | Lawrenceburg, Tennessee 38464. |
| Clerk contacts to call before filing | Circuit Court Clerk, 240 W. Gaines St., NBU #12, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464, phone (931) 762-4398. Clerk and Master, 240 W. Gaines St., NBU #13, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464, phone (931) 766-4182. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for these two offices in the local materials provided for this page. |
| Phone | Because the filing office for probate papers is not clear from published county pages, call both offices before you go: Circuit Court Clerk (931) 762-4398 and Clerk and Master (931) 766-4182. |
| Fax | The county pages for these two offices do not publish a fax number. |
| Hours | Both the Circuit Court Clerk and Clerk and Master pages list Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Cost to start | The statewide clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486; it rises to $300 effective January 1, 2027 and $325 effective January 1, 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Lawrence County does not publish a total local counter amount on the county pages used for this page. |
| Local packet | No probate petition, packet or checklist is posted on the Clerk and Master's page, the Circuit Court Clerk's page, or the county court page. |
| Electronic filing | Lawrence County's court pages do not publish a probate e-filing portal. Tennessee has no statewide trial-court e-filing system. |
| Online lookup | Lawrence County publishes the Lawrence County Online Court Records System at lawrence.tncrtinfo.com, with search instructions on the county court page. The county instructions describe Criminal and Civil searches; whether General Sessions probate matters appear there should be confirmed with the clerk. |
| Remote proceedings | No Lawrence-County-specific remote probate practice is posted. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55 (Rule 55), adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, leaves the use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to the trial court's discretion. |
| Website | Lawrence County government court page, Circuit Court Clerk page, and Clerk and Master page. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Lawrence County, make a working list of probate assets, debts, possible heirs, the original will if there is one, and any accounts that may pass outside probate. Sunset's asset discovery searches 2,300 institutions so families can start estate settlement with a clearer picture of what exists.
Because Lawrence County's probate authority is assigned to General Sessions Court but the published pages do not clearly identify the filing clerk, use that asset list to prepare your questions and call both the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master before going to 240 W. Gaines St. in Lawrenceburg.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Tennessee sends an estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person had legal residence at death, under T.C.A. § 30-4-102. In Lawrence County, Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55 places that probate jurisdiction in the Lawrence County General Sessions Court rather than the Lawrence County Chancery Court, consistent with the exception built into T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
The courthouse city for Lawrence County filings is Lawrenceburg. The county court page also identifies Lawrence County as part of the 22nd Judicial District with Wayne, Giles and Maury Counties, but probate for a Lawrence County resident remains a Lawrence County filing.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Lawrence County is the right place to file. Use the decedent's legal residence at death for venue under T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
- Prepare the Tennessee probate petition. A request for letters testamentary or letters of administration must be filed with the court under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. If the estate may use the small estate procedure, keep the statewide Small Estate Probate Act citation with the paperwork: T.C.A. § 30-4-101 through § 30-4-105.
- Call before you go to the courthouse. Tell the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master that the estate is for Lawrence County General Sessions probate, and ask which office is currently receiving probate filings.
- File at the office the clerk identifies at 240 W. Gaines St. in Lawrenceburg. Lawrence County's court pages do not publish a probate e-filing portal, so plan for an in-person or clerk-directed filing.
- Pay the required starting cost. The statutory probate estate clerk's fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486, rising to $300 effective January 1, 2027 and $325 effective January 1, 2028; T.C.A. § 8-21-401 also leaves state and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit to be added.
- Ask how the court will handle any hearing or review. Lawrence County does not publish a probate docket day or hearing wait on the county pages used for this page, and Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55 (Rule 55), adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote technology to the court's discretion.
- After appointment, use the correct Tennessee authority document. Tennessee calls the personal representative's authority letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not, under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
- Administer the estate after letters issue. The clerk gives notice to creditors under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative handles required tasks such as the inventory under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, unless an exception applies.
- Close the estate through the same Lawrence County probate filing office after administration is complete and the court is ready to approve the final settlement.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lawrence County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set for county probate filings. For Lawrence County, no probate petition, packet or checklist is posted on the Clerk and Master's page, the Circuit Court Clerk's page, or the county court page.
Because Lawrence County's General Sessions Court holds probate jurisdiction under Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55 and T.C.A. § 16-16-201, but the filing clerk is not clear from county pages, call the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master before filling out or submitting papers. Ask which office accepts petitions for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
Local nuance
Lawrence County-specific considerations
Lawrence County is not a standard chancery filing county for estates. A private act, Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55, transferred the former county judge's probate jurisdiction to the Lawrence County General Sessions Court, which is allowed by the exception in T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
The practical wrinkle is the filing counter. The same private act says the Circuit Court Clerk acts as clerk of General Sessions Court except for the judicial jurisdiction transferred from the county judge, and probate is part of that transferred jurisdiction. The county court page says General Sessions oversees probate, while the Circuit Court Clerk and Clerk and Master pages do not clearly say which office takes probate petitions. Call both offices before traveling to the courthouse.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Lawrence County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating probate assets from property that may pass outside the estate. If a probate filing is needed for other assets, call both Lawrenceburg clerk offices first because General Sessions holds probate jurisdiction under Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55 and T.C.A. § 16-16-201, but the filing clerk is not clear from county pages. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and documents so the spouse can decide what belongs in the estate settlement packet before calling the courthouse. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Use the Tennessee Small Estate Probate Act only if the estate fits T.C.A. § 30-4-101 through § 30-4-105, including the T.C.A. § 30-4-102 definition. Before traveling, call the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master to ask which office accepts a Lawrence County request for limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-103. | Sunset can help gather asset information, generate a draft packet, and connect the child with local attorney help if the clerk cannot answer legal questions. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real estate sale can make the case more complex than a simple filing. Call ahead to confirm the Lawrence County filing counter, then consider counsel before requesting letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. | Sunset helps organize the estate settlement, locate financial accounts, and connect the parent to a Tennessee probate attorney when a home sale or family issue needs legal guidance. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or access |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County Circuit Court Clerk | This office clerks Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile Court divisions generally. Because the probate filing counter is not clear from county pages, call this office before filing. | 240 W. Gaines St., NBU #12, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. Phone (931) 762-4398. Hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Lawrence County Clerk and Master | This is the Chancery Court office. Its published duty list does not claim probate, but it is still one of the offices to call because Lawrence County's probate clerking arrangement is not clear from county pages. | 240 W. Gaines St., NBU #13, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. Phone (931) 766-4182. Hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Lawrence County court page | The county court page says the General Sessions judge oversees probate and gives instructions for the Lawrence County Online Court Records System. | Use the Lawrence County government court page and the lawrence.tncrtinfo.com system. Confirm with the clerk whether probate matters appear in the search. |
| Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts self-help center | The statewide self-help center says most probate and estate matters are handled by the county Clerk and Master and reminds readers that court employees cannot engage in the practice of law under T.C.A. § 16-3-804. | Use the Tennessee courts self-help center for statewide court information, then contact the Lawrence County offices for local filing direction. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Tennessee probate attorney if the estate includes real property, disagreement among heirs, creditor issues, a will contest, uncertainty about whether the small estate process under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 through § 30-4-105 applies, or confusion about which Lawrence County office should receive the petition. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify financial accounts, debts and estate assets so the personal representative can start from a clearer estate settlement picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet you can review before contacting the Lawrence County clerk offices.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Lawrence County estate involves a home sale, a dispute, unclear filing rules or questions the clerk cannot answer, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next steps and move the estate settlement forward without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lawrence County?
Lawrence County's probate jurisdiction is in the General Sessions Court under Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55 and T.C.A. § 16-16-201. The filing clerk is not clearly identified on the county pages, so call both the Circuit Court Clerk at (931) 762-4398 and the Clerk and Master at (931) 766-4182 before going to 240 W. Gaines St. in Lawrenceburg.
Is Lawrence County probate filed in Chancery Court?
No. Private Acts of 1943, ch. 55 assigns probate jurisdiction to the Lawrence County General Sessions Court, an exception allowed by T.C.A. § 16-16-201. The Clerk and Master's page lists Chancery duties but does not list probate or estates.
Can I e-file a Lawrence County probate case?
Lawrence County's court pages do not publish a probate e-filing portal, and Tennessee has no statewide trial-court e-filing system. Call the clerk before you travel to ask how the court wants the petition delivered.
Does Lawrence County have local probate forms?
No probate petition, packet or checklist is posted on the Lawrence County Clerk and Master's page, the Circuit Court Clerk's page, or the county court page. Before drafting papers for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, call the clerk offices for current filing instructions.
How much does it cost to start probate in Lawrence County?
The statewide statutory probate estate clerk's fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486. It rises to $300 effective January 1, 2027 and $325 effective January 1, 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, and Lawrence County does not publish a total local counter amount on the county pages used for this page.
Can I look up a Lawrence County probate case online?
Lawrence County publishes the Lawrence County Online Court Records System at lawrence.tncrtinfo.com and gives search instructions on the county court page. The county instructions describe Criminal and Civil searches, so call the clerk to ask whether General Sessions probate matters are included.
Can I appear remotely for a Lawrence County probate hearing?
No Lawrence-County-specific remote probate practice is posted. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55 (Rule 55), adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, says using teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology for remote court proceedings is permissible at the discretion of the trial court.
Do I have to travel to Lawrenceburg if I live out of state?
Not always, but do not assume the court will handle the matter without you. Call both clerk offices first, especially because the filing office is not clear from county pages and Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55 (Rule 55), adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote participation to the court's discretion.
When will a Lawrence County probate hearing be scheduled?
Lawrence County's court pages do not publish a probate docket day, filing-to-hearing window or local scheduling rule for General Sessions probate. Ask the clerk which office sets probate matters and when the court will review your filing.
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.