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Obion County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Obion County Chancery Court, functioning as Probate Court through the Clerk and Master. Tennessee probate jurisdiction is in chancery court unless a public, private, special or local act provides otherwise (T.C.A. § 16-16-201). |
| Courthouse address | 6 Bill Burnett Circle, Union City, TN 38281 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 187, Union City, TN 38281-0187 |
| Phone | (731) 507-0999, extension 1, then 3 |
| Fax | (731) 885-7922 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Current statutory cost | 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. State and local litigation tax and any costs deposit are additional under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Obion County's Clerk and Master page does not publish a local total. |
| Forms | Obion County's page points readers to the statewide court forms site and the 27th Judicial District local rules, but it does not publish a distinct local probate petition packet. |
| Electronic filing | No dedicated online filing portal is published. New estate petitions, wills, codicils, bonds and sealed documents must be filed on paper. Under 27th Judicial District Rule 6.05, fax and email filing may be used for many documents after a case is open. |
| Case lookup | obion.tncrtinfo.com publishes an Obion County Online Court Records System search page. Confirm with the Clerk and Master whether the case type you need is searchable there. |
| Remote proceedings | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion. 27th Judicial District Rule 9.01(b) also allows the court to hear motions by telephone or Zoom, or decide a motion without argument, when the rule's conditions are met. |
| Website | https://www.obioncountytn.gov/clerk_master.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Obion County, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, titles, beneficiaries and likely probate property. That determines whether the estate settlement needs ordinary letters under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, a petition under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, or another path a Tennessee lawyer should review.
Sunset can help you find accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions before you prepare the petition, so you do not open the wrong kind of estate settlement or leave out property that should be listed for the Clerk and Master.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Obion County courthouse for probate is in Union City. The Clerk and Master serves Obion County residents and estates filed in the county's court exercising probate jurisdiction.
Tennessee law sends the estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person had legal residence at death (T.C.A. § 30-4-102). In counties where no public, private, special or local act provides otherwise, that court is chancery court and the filing officer is the Clerk and Master (T.C.A. § 16-16-201). Obion County's own Clerk and Master page states that the office also functions as Probate Court and handles intestate administration, small estate matters under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, guardianships and conservatorships.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Obion County is the proper filing county under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 by checking where the person had legal residence at death.
- Choose the filing path before drafting. A petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration must comply with T.C.A. § 30-1-117; a small estate petition proceeds under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. Under 27th Judicial District Rule 25(a), a petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration that does not comply with T.C.A. § 30-1-117 will not be filed by the Clerk.
- File the opening papers on paper with the Obion County Clerk and Master at 6 Bill Burnett Circle in Union City or by mail to P.O. Box 187, Union City, TN 38281-0187. New cases may not be opened by fax or email under 27th Judicial District Rule 6.05.
- Pay the required cost at filing. The clerk's fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026, under 2025 Public Chapter 486, and state and local litigation tax and any costs deposit are additional under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Call the Clerk and Master before filing because the county page does not publish the local total.
- If the will is offered in common form, T.C.A. § 30-1-117 provides that no notice of the probate proceeding is required except for solemn form. If notice or a hearing is needed, use the court's motion setting process.
- Use the local calendar rules when a hearing or motion is needed. 27th Judicial District Rule 9.01(a) sets Obion County Chancery Court motion days on the first and third Monday, and motions are set through the judge's office.
- Ask the Clerk and Master how the court wants any remote request handled. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, makes remote technology discretionary with the court, and 27th Judicial District Rule 9.01(b) allows motion practice by telephone or Zoom in the circumstances stated by the rule.
- After appointment, obtain the Tennessee authority document. Tennessee uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not (T.C.A. § 30-1-117).
- Administer the estate and close it. The clerk gives notice to creditors within thirty days after letters issue under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative must handle the inventory and related sixty-day filings under T.C.A. § 30-2-301 unless an exception applies.
Executor duties
Obion County is governed by 27th Judicial District Rule 25 for probate administration. At appointment, each personal representative signs a statement acknowledging the duty to file required documents within sixty days. If required notices, affidavits or the inventory under T.C.A. § 30-2-301 have not been filed within seventy days after letters issue, the attorney for the personal representative must file a motion seeking additional time, or the Clerk schedules a hearing and costs may be assessed to the personal representative.
Rule 25 also requires a similar extension process for accountings and states that personal representative and attorney fees require court approval before payment from estate funds.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Obion County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Its self-help page sends estate readers to the clerk in their own county.
Obion County's Clerk and Master page links to the statewide court forms site and the 27th Judicial District local rules. It does not publish a separate Obion County probate petition packet. For an ordinary estate, make sure the petition satisfies T.C.A. § 30-1-117 because 27th Judicial District Rule 25(a) says a noncompliant petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration will not be filed by the Clerk.
For documents after an estate is already open, 27th Judicial District Rule 6.05 allows fax and email filing in many situations, but it excludes new cases, documents that require a filing fee or litigation tax under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, wills, codicils, bonds and documents requiring an official seal.
Timeline
- Sessions of court open at 9:00 a.m. or another time set by the court under 27th Judicial District Rule 2.01.
- Terms of court are abolished under 27th Judicial District Rule 2.02, and the court is considered continuously available for settings.
- Obion County Chancery Court motion days are the first and third Monday under 27th Judicial District Rule 9.01(a).
- Motions are set by the judge's office at counsel's request, and Chancery Court motions are set for 9:00 a.m. under Rule 9.01(b).
- For a probate administration, track the sixty-day duties tied to the inventory and related filings under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, plus any local Rule 25 extension motion if those filings cannot be completed on time.
Local nuance
Obion County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Obion County |
|---|---|
| Probate forum | The Obion County Clerk and Master page states that the office also functions as Probate Court. That fits the chancery default in T.C.A. § 16-16-201. |
| Street spelling | Use 6 Bill Burnett Circle. The county page spells Burnett without a final e. |
| Phone menu | Call (731) 507-0999, extension 1, then 3 for the relevant line. |
| Local probate rule | 27th Judicial District Rule 25 adds local filing and follow-up duties for petitions, sixty-day filings, extension motions, accountings and fee approval. |
| After-opening filing | Rule 6.05 allows fax and email filing for many papers in already-open cases, but new estate cases and original wills are paper filings. |
| Motion practice | Obion County Chancery Court motion days are the first and third Monday, and the court may hear a motion by telephone or Zoom under Rule 9.01(b). |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | 2025 Public Chapter 486 set the current statutory clerk's fee for a probate estate at $275 effective January 1, 2026, with increases to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation tax and costs deposits remain additional under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| April 15, 2026 | The 27th Judicial District local rules used for Obion County include probate Rule 25 and Rule 6.05 on fax and email filing for already-open cases. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate property from property that needs Obion County court authority. If the home passes outside probate, the estate may still need letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 for accounts or other probate assets. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse files, so the estate settlement matches the property actually needing court authority. |
| out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the estate fits the Tennessee small estate petition route under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, plan for an Obion County paper opening because Rule 6.05 does not allow new cases by fax or email. Call the Clerk and Master about signatures, originals and payment before mailing anything. | Sunset helps gather asset information and can generate an organized packet for attorney review or filing preparation. |
| parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually needs ordinary probate authority rather than the personal-property-only small estate route under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. The parent should expect a petition under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 and possible court approval steps in Obion County Chancery Court. | Sunset helps organize property, account and debt information and can connect the parent with an Obion County probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Obion County Clerk and Master | The local filing office for Obion County probate. Court staff can provide filing logistics, but cannot give legal advice under T.C.A. § 16-3-804(b). | 6 Bill Burnett Circle, Union City, TN 38281. Phone: (731) 507-0999, extension 1, then 3. Website: https://www.obioncountytn.gov/clerk_master.html |
| Tennessee courts self-help center | The statewide self-help page explains that most estate matters are handled through the county Clerk and Master and links readers to court clerk resources. | https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center |
| Tennessee court clerks list | Use the statewide clerks list if you need to confirm the correct court office for a Tennessee county. | https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| West Tennessee Legal Services | Free legal-help resource serving a published county list that includes Obion County. Contact the organization directly about eligibility and matter type. | https://www.wtls.org/ |
| Justice for All Tennessee | Statewide access-to-justice resource linked from the Tennessee courts self-help center. | https://justiceforalltn.com |
When to hire an attorney
Consider speaking with a Tennessee probate attorney if the will may be contested, a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditors are significant, required filings are already late, or you are trying to handle Obion County filings from outside Tennessee. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts and other assets that may affect the Obion County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for a petition, supporting documents and next-step checklist so you can submit papers to the Obion County Clerk and Master office or review the packet with counsel.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney who understands the local court process.
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 Obion County?
File with the Obion County Clerk and Master at 6 Bill Burnett Circle in Union City, or mail papers to P.O. Box 187, Union City, TN 38281-0187. Obion County's Clerk and Master office functions as Probate Court, consistent with the chancery-court probate jurisdiction structure in T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
What phone number should I use for the Obion County probate office?
Call (731) 507-0999, extension 1, then 3. The office lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Can I start an Obion County estate by fax or email?
No dedicated online filing portal is published for Obion County probate. Under 27th Judicial District Rule 6.05, new cases may not be filed by fax or email, and wills, codicils, bonds and sealed documents are excluded. Many documents in an already-open case may be filed by fax or email if the rule's requirements are met.
Does Obion County publish local probate forms?
Obion County's Clerk and Master page does not publish a separate local probate petition packet. Tennessee's statewide courts site does not publish a statewide probate form set, so petitions for letters testamentary or letters of administration must be prepared to meet T.C.A. § 30-1-117 and the 27th Judicial District local rules.
How much does it cost to file probate in Obion County?
The statutory 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. State and local litigation tax and any costs deposit are additional under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, and Obion County's page does not publish a local total, so call the Clerk and Master before filing.
When are Obion County probate motions heard?
27th Judicial District Rule 9.01(a) sets Obion County Chancery Court motion days on the first and third Monday. Rule 9.01(b) says Chancery Court motions are set for 9:00 a.m. by the judge's office at counsel's request.
Can an Obion County probate motion be handled by phone or video?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, makes remote technology discretionary with the court. 27th Judicial District Rule 9.01(b) also allows the court, on its own initiative or by agreement of counsel with the court's consent, to hear a motion by telephone or Zoom or decide it without argument.
Can I look up an Obion County probate case online?
Obion County has a public online case lookup at obion.tncrtinfo.com. Confirm with the Clerk and Master whether the Chancery or Probate case type you need is available in that search.
Do I have to travel to Union City for every Obion County probate step?
Not necessarily for every step. New estate filings and original wills are paper filings, but 27th Judicial District Rule 6.05 allows many later filings by fax or email in already-open cases, and Rule 9.01(b) allows some motion practice by telephone or Zoom when the court permits it. Call the Clerk and Master before relying on a remote or non-counter option.
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.