Back to Tennessee
Madison County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Madison County detail |
|---|---|
| Court for estates | Madison County General Sessions Court, Division II, Probate Division |
| Where to go | Juvenile Court Complex, 110 Irby Street, Jackson, TN 38301 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1504, Jackson, TN 38301 |
| Probate contact numbers | (731) 423-6146, the county number for probate questions; (731) 988-3025, the probate staff line listed by the clerk's office |
| Fax | (731) 423-0016 is the fax for the court offices at 110 Irby Street. Madison County does not publish a probate fax-filing policy. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Fee to open | The clerk's fee under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486. It rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added on top. |
| Forms | Madison County's courts do not publish probate forms on their websites, and Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. |
| E-filing | No estate e-filing channel is published for Madison County. Estates are opened on paper at the probate office or by mail. |
| Online lookup | Madison County publishes an online court search at madison.tncrtinfo.com, but its search options are Circuit Court and General Sessions criminal and civil cases. It does not offer a probate case type. |
| Remote appearance | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves teleconferencing, video conferencing and other remote court business to the trial court's discretion. Madison County does not publish a Probate Division practice. |
| Website | https://www.madisoncountytn.gov/152/Juvenile-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Madison County, make a working list of the accounts, vehicles, personal property, debts, and any real estate connected to the person who died. The court papers depend on what is in the estate, whether there is a will, who has priority to serve, and whether a full estate settlement or a narrower route may fit.
Sunset can help you start that inventory before you call the probate office at 110 Irby Street. Sunset's asset discovery searches across 2,300 institutions, so families can find accounts and liabilities that often get missed before a petition is filed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Madison County estates are filed in Jackson. Jackson is the seat of Madison County, not Tennessee's Jackson County, whose seat is Gainesboro. The probate location for Madison County is the Juvenile Court Complex at 110 Irby Street, where General Sessions Court, Division II sits.
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. In most Tennessee counties, that court is chancery court under T.C.A. § 16-16-201. Madison County is different because Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 gives probate jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 16-16-201 to the Madison County General Sessions Court, Division II.
The published Madison County materials name Jackson and Three Way. If the person lived anywhere in Madison County, start with the Probate Division in Jackson and call before filing so the office can direct you to the correct counter.
The jurisdiction process
- List the estate property and debts first. The petition has to be based on the assets, liabilities, heirs, beneficiaries, and whether the original will exists.
- Prepare a verified petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Bring the original will if there is one. Madison County does not publish a local petition form.
- File on paper with the probate office for Madison County General Sessions Court, Division II, at 110 Irby Street in Jackson, or mail the papers to P.O. Box 1504, Jackson, TN 38301. Call (731) 423-6146 or (731) 988-3025 before filing to confirm which counter is taking probate papers.
- Pay the clerk's fee under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. The statutory probate estate fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, with state and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit added on top. Madison County does not publish its total counter amount.
- Use the right notice path. Common form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 does not require notice of the opening proceeding, while solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 requires notice to interested persons.
- Ask the probate office how the petition will be scheduled. Division II hears probate matters at 110 Irby Street, but Madison County does not publish a probate docket day or filing-to-hearing interval.
- Ask about any remote participation before the date is set. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, makes teleconferencing, video conferencing and other remote court business discretionary with the trial court.
- After appointment, the probate office issues letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Those letters are the personal representative's proof of authority.
- The clerk gives notice to creditors within thirty days after letters issue under T.C.A. § 30-2-306. The personal representative must also mail or deliver a copy to creditors actually known or reasonably ascertainable under T.C.A. § 30-2-306.
- File the inventory within sixty days unless excused, with the clerk of the court exercising probate jurisdiction, under T.C.A. § 30-2-301. Then handle claims, accountings, distributions, and closing as the court requires.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Madison County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Its self-help materials send families to the clerk in their own county for estate matters.
Madison County's courts do not publish a probate petition, packet, checklist, cover sheet, or inventory form on their websites. The county's General Sessions forms page lists civil and landlord-tenant forms, plus a pauper's oath under Rule 29 of the Tennessee Rules of the Supreme Court, but not estate forms. Call the probate office before you prepare or mail papers so you know what Division II expects for the estate settlement.
Local nuance
Madison County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Probate is not in chancery | T.C.A. § 16-16-201 makes chancery the default only where no public, private, special, or local act provides otherwise. Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 gives Madison County probate jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 16-16-201 to General Sessions Court, Division II. |
| The court is in a different building | The Madison County Chancery Court is at 100 East Main Street, Suite 200. Probate Division matters are at 110 Irby Street in the Juvenile Court Complex. |
| Division II handles juvenile and probate matters | Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 assigns juvenile and probate cases to Division II, which is why an estate case is connected to a building named for juvenile court. |
| Some estate-related disputes can overlap with chancery | Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 gives General Sessions concurrent jurisdiction with chancery for specified matters involving lost wills, will construction, insolvent estates, sale of property to pay debts, and partition or sale of real property. |
| Appeals follow a special route | Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 sends appeals from Division II probate decisions to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate assets from assets that need court authority. If an estate must be opened, file at the Probate Division of General Sessions Court, Division II, at 110 Irby Street in Jackson, not at the Chancery Court on East Main Street. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and ownership clues before the spouse spends time and money on an estate settlement that may not need every asset listed in court. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 | Call the probate office before mailing papers because Madison County does not publish a local form or counter total. Paper filings may be mailed to P.O. Box 1504, Jackson, TN 38301, and remote participation is discretionary under Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023. | Sunset helps gather institution information and generate a filing packet so the child can reduce back-and-forth with the Jackson probate office. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 gives Division II probate authority and also gives concurrent jurisdiction with chancery for certain sale and property matters, get legal advice early before choosing the filing route. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags accounts that may affect the estate settlement, and can connect the parent with a local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Probate office, General Sessions Court, Division II | The local office for Madison County estate filings and questions about an existing estate file. Court staff can provide court information, but cannot give legal advice or choose forms for you. | 110 Irby Street, Jackson, TN 38301; P.O. Box 1504, Jackson, TN 38301; (731) 423-6146 or (731) 988-3025; https://www.madisoncountytn.gov/152/Juvenile-Court |
| Court staff limits | Madison County courts explain that state court employees may not engage in the practice of law, including legal referrals, legal research, or legal advice, under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b). | https://madisoncountychancery.com/FAQ.aspx |
| West Tennessee Legal Services | A nonprofit civil legal aid office headquartered in Jackson. Its published priorities include consumer and debt, public benefits, housing, elder law, victim rights, and family law. Estate administration is not listed as a priority. | 210 West Main Street, Jackson, TN 38301; (731) 423-0616; 800-372-8346; https://wtls.org/what-we-do/ |
| Madison County online court search | Useful for the court types it lists, but its search options are Circuit Court and General Sessions criminal and civil cases, not a probate case type. | https://madison.tncrtinfo.com/ |
| Tennessee court clerks directory | The Administrative Office of the Courts directory for finding court clerk offices across Tennessee. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| Justice for All Tennessee | The Tennessee Supreme Court's public legal-help site. | https://justiceforalltn.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Talk with a probate attorney if the will may be contested, heirs disagree, the estate includes real estate that must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, or the Madison County matter may overlap with chancery because of lost-will, will-construction, insolvent-estate, or property-sale questions under Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance, and other accounts so the estate settlement starts from a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for review, filing, and attorney handoff.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Madison County estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who understands Tennessee probate practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Madison County?
File with the probate office for Madison County General Sessions Court, Division II, at the Juvenile Court Complex, 110 Irby Street, Jackson, TN 38301. Mail may be sent to P.O. Box 1504, Jackson, TN 38301. The Madison County Chancery Court states that probate cases are not filed there.
Isn't Tennessee probate usually in chancery court?
In many counties, yes, but T.C.A. § 16-16-201 makes chancery the default only where no public, private, special, or local act provides otherwise. Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 gives Madison County probate jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 16-16-201 to General Sessions Court, Division II.
Can I e-file an estate in Madison County?
No estate e-filing channel is published for Madison County. Open the estate on paper at 110 Irby Street or by mail to the Division II post office box.
What does it cost to open an estate in Madison County?
The statutory clerk's fee under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486. That same law sets the fee to rise to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added on top, and Madison County does not publish its total counter amount.
Are there Madison County probate forms online?
Madison County's courts do not publish probate forms on their websites, and Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Call the probate office before preparing the petition.
Can I look up a Madison County estate online?
Madison County's online court search at madison.tncrtinfo.com covers Circuit Court and General Sessions criminal and civil case types. It does not offer a probate case type, so contact the probate office for estate-file questions.
Can I attend a Madison County probate hearing by video or phone?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings is permissible at the trial court's discretion. Madison County does not publish how Division II applies Rule 55 in probate matters, so ask the probate office before any hearing.
What are the probate office hours?
The court offices at 110 Irby Street are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The courthouse on East Main Street keeps different hours, so check the address before going.
Do I have to travel to Jackson?
Madison County probate filings and hearings are tied to Jackson. Paper filings may be mailed to P.O. Box 1504, Jackson, TN 38301, but ask the probate office what must be mailed and whether an appearance will be required.
Where do appeals from Madison County probate go?
Private Acts of 1941, ch. 50 sends appeals from Madison County General Sessions Court, Division II probate decisions to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
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.