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McNairy County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | McNairy County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | McNairy County Chancery Court |
| Filing office | Clerk and Master |
| Courthouse address | McNairy County Courthouse, 170 West Court Avenue, Room 205, Selmer, TN 38375 |
| Mailing | Published address is the courthouse address. The county page does not publish a separate P.O. box. |
| Phone | (731) 645-5446 |
| Fax | No fax number is published on the county Chancery Court page or county contact page. |
| Hours | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The county page does not list Wednesday hours or a lunch closure. |
| Probate estate cost | 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. The same law raises that fee to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added on top under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. McNairy County does not publish a county total on its Chancery Court page. |
| County forms | The McNairy County website does not publish a probate petition, packet, checklist, or forms page. |
| Electronic filing | There is no statewide trial-court electronic filing system in Tennessee. The McNairy County Chancery Court page does not publish an electronic filing, email filing, or fax filing channel. |
| Online lookup | The McNairy County Chancery Court page does not publish an online estate lookup. The mcnairy.tncrtinfo.com subdomain is not a live portal, and McNairy is not listed on search.tncrtinfo.com. |
| Remote proceedings | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion. McNairy County does not publish a separate local practice. |
| Website | https://www.mcnairycountytn.org/chancery.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open a McNairy County estate, make a list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, and likely heirs or beneficiaries. Estate settlement goes more smoothly when you know what property actually needs court authority before you prepare papers for the Clerk and Master in Selmer.
Sunset's asset discovery searches 2,300 institutions, helps organize liabilities, and turns what you find into a clearer estate settlement plan before you call the McNairy County Chancery Court about forms, fees, and scheduling.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Selmer courthouse serves probate filings for people who lived in McNairy County at death. Tennessee law sends the estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the decedent had legal residence at death, T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
In counties that follow the chancery default, probate jurisdiction is in chancery court and the filing officer is the Clerk and Master, T.C.A. § 16-16-201. McNairy County follows that chancery path, so estate papers are handled through the McNairy County Chancery Court office in the McNairy County Courthouse in Selmer.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the original will if there is one, the death certificate, names and addresses for heirs or beneficiaries, and a working list of assets and debts before contacting the McNairy County Clerk and Master.
- Choose the correct Tennessee filing path. A regular estate begins with a verified petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. A qualifying small estate uses the Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., and requests limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents. McNairy County does not publish a local probate packet or probate forms page, so confirm the current document expectations with the Clerk and Master before you bring papers to the courthouse.
- Submit the papers through the McNairy County Clerk and Master at 170 West Court Avenue, Room 205, Selmer, TN 38375. 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, with state and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401.
- Handle notice and hearing issues according to the type of case. Common form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 does not require pre-probate notice except for solemn form, while notice to creditors after letters is handled under T.C.A. § 30-2-306.
- Ask the Clerk and Master how any hearing will be scheduled. McNairy County does not publish hearing days or wait times, and Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the court's discretion.
- If the court grants the petition, the Clerk and Master issues letters testamentary or letters of administration for a regular estate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 and T.C.A. § 16-16-201. For a Small Estate Probate Act matter, the clerk issues limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
- Administer and close the estate by following Tennessee duties for the inventory under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, creditor claims and notice to creditors under T.C.A. § 30-2-306 and § 30-2-307, distributions, accountings, and any closing order required by the court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in McNairy County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set; its estate and probate self-help page sends readers to the clerk in their county. In McNairy County, the county website does not publish a probate petition, packet, checklist, or forms page.
Call the McNairy County Clerk and Master before you travel to Selmer, especially if you need to know whether the office wants a particular petition format, number of copies, bond paperwork, or supporting documents for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
Local nuance
McNairy County-specific considerations
| Issue | Why it matters in McNairy County |
|---|---|
| Hours | The Chancery Court page lists Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. It does not list Wednesday hours. Call before bringing time-sensitive papers, and call before relying on Saturday hours for a particular chancery filing. |
| Mailing | The county page does not publish a separate P.O. box for the Clerk and Master. Use the courthouse address as the published address, and ask the office before mailing original documents. |
| Fax and email | No fax number or office-level email is published for the McNairy County Chancery Court. The page also does not publish fax filing, email filing, or electronic filing instructions. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | McNairy County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying what is titled only in the decedent's name and what may not require a McNairy County estate filing. If court authority is needed, the papers go through the McNairy County Chancery Court in Selmer. | Sunset helps organize deeds, accounts, debts, and beneficiary information so the estate settlement plan is clearer before you call the Clerk and Master or an attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate fits the Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the filing seeks limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103. McNairy County does not publish electronic filing instructions, so ask the Clerk and Master how to minimize repeat trips to Selmer. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare an asset list, and assemble a packet that can be reviewed before travel or attorney consultation. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale involves real property, so expect attorney guidance and a McNairy County Chancery Court administration rather than relying only on limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103. | Sunset helps build a practical estate settlement checklist, identify financial accounts, and connect the family with a probate attorney when a real estate sale is part of the plan. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Website |
|---|---|---|
| McNairy County Clerk and Master | The local starting point for McNairy County Chancery Court probate filings, office hours, current costs, and scheduling questions. Court employees cannot provide legal advice under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b). | https://www.mcnairycountytn.org/chancery.html |
| Tennessee Judiciary self-help center | The state self-help page says most estate and probate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in the county. It also explains that 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 list | The statewide directory helps confirm the correct clerk office when a Tennessee county's probate forum is unclear. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| Justice for All Tennessee | The Tennessee Judiciary's self-help page points readers to this statewide access-to-justice site for general public legal resources. | https://justiceforalltn.com |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Tennessee probate attorney if the family disagrees, the will may be challenged, creditors are active, real estate must be sold, heirs are hard to locate, or you are trying to handle a McNairy County filing from outside Tennessee. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps identify financial accounts, insurance, debts, and other property so families do not have to start estate settlement with guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information families gather into a practical packet for the McNairy County Chancery Court process, including the details an attorney or filer needs to prepare petitions for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, court strategy, or help with a real estate sale, Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Tennessee estate settlement.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand next steps, and decide when local legal help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in McNairy County?
McNairy County probate filings are handled through the McNairy County Chancery Court office in the McNairy County Courthouse, 170 West Court Avenue, Room 205, Selmer, TN 38375. McNairy County follows the chancery default for probate jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 16-16-201, and Tennessee venue for a decedent's estate is tied to the county of legal residence at death under T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
What are the McNairy County Chancery Court hours?
The county page lists Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. It does not list Wednesday hours or a lunch closure, so call (731) 645-5446 before making a special trip.
Does McNairy County publish probate forms online?
The McNairy County website does not publish a probate petition, packet, checklist, or probate forms page. For a regular estate, Tennessee requires a verified petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, so call the Clerk and Master about the current format before preparing papers.
What is the probate filing fee in McNairy County?
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. That fee rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit are added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, and McNairy County does not publish a county total on its Chancery Court page.
Does McNairy County allow electronic filing for probate?
There is no statewide trial-court electronic filing system in Tennessee. The McNairy County Chancery Court page does not publish electronic filing, email filing, or fax filing instructions for probate matters.
Can I look up a McNairy County probate case online?
The McNairy County Chancery Court page does not publish an online estate lookup. The mcnairy.tncrtinfo.com subdomain is not a live portal, and McNairy is not listed on the multi-office search.tncrtinfo.com portal.
Are McNairy County probate hearings remote?
McNairy County does not publish a separate remote-proceeding practice. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, says remote proceedings are permissible at the discretion of the trial court, so ask the Clerk and Master how the court will handle any hearing in your case.
What authority document will I receive in McNairy County?
For a regular estate, 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 Small Estate Probate Act case, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the clerk issues limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
Do I have to travel to Selmer for a McNairy County estate?
The McNairy County Chancery Court page does not publish electronic filing instructions or a standing remote practice. Call the Clerk and Master before traveling, especially if you live outside Tennessee, need to mail original documents, or want to ask how Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, may apply to a hearing.
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.