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Overton County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Overton County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Overton County Chancery Court |
| Filing office | Overton County Clerk and Master |
| Courthouse address | 100 E. Court Sq., Suite 100, Livingston, TN 38570 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 127, Livingston, TN 38570 |
| Phone | (931) 823-2536 |
| Fax | No fax number is published for the Clerk and Master. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call before visiting because the county site is marked under construction. |
| Probate estate fee | The statutory clerk fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, and rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit may be added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Overton County does not publish a local total on its Clerk and Master page. |
| County form postings | The Clerk and Master page does not publish local probate forms or packets. |
| Electronic filing | Tennessee does not provide a statewide trial-court electronic filing system for probate matters. The Overton County Clerk and Master page does not publish an electronic filing option. |
| Online lookup | The Clerk and Master page does not publish an online probate lookup. |
| Remote proceedings | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to the trial court's discretion. Ask the Clerk and Master how the Chancery Court handles a remote request. |
| Website | Overton County Clerk and Master page on overtoncounty.org |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Livingston, make a practical list of the person's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations and known creditors. That list drives estate settlement because it determines whether you need ordinary letters, whether a will must be offered, and whether a smaller limited-letters path under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 may fit.
Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they spend time and money at the courthouse. For Overton County families, that early asset discovery can make the first call to the Clerk and Master more focused and can reduce avoidable back-and-forth during estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Overton County Chancery Court in Livingston serves probate filings for estates venued in Overton County. Tennessee law sends the estate to the court that exercises probate jurisdiction in the county where the person lived at death, and the small-estate definition of court uses that county-of-residence rule (T.C.A. § 30-4-102). In most chancery counties, the Clerk and Master exercises probate functions under T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
For Overton County, the local filing office is the Clerk and Master at 100 E. Court Sq., Suite 100, Livingston, with mail directed to P.O. Box 127, Livingston, TN 38570.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate path before filing. If the estate may qualify for the limited-letters procedure, review T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 and call the Overton County Clerk and Master because the county page does not publish a local packet.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. A petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration must follow T.C.A. § 30-1-117, and the original will should be handled through the Chancery Court if there is one.
- File with the Overton County Clerk and Master. Deliver papers to 100 E. Court Sq., Suite 100, Livingston, TN 38570, or mail them to P.O. Box 127, Livingston, TN 38570 if the office tells you mailing is appropriate.
- Confirm the amount due before paying. The statutory clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, and rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028; state and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit may be added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Overton County does not publish a local total on its Clerk and Master page.
- Follow the correct notice track. Common form probate does not require notice of the probate proceeding, while solemn form requires notice to interested persons under T.C.A. § 30-1-117.
- After letters issue, track creditor notice and administration deadlines. The clerk gives notice to creditors within thirty days after issuance of letters under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative handles required inventory and beneficiary steps under T.C.A. § 30-2-301.
- Ask the Clerk and Master how hearings are scheduled. Overton County does not publish probate hearing days, motion days or filing cutoffs on its Clerk and Master page.
- If a remote appearance is needed, ask early. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, permits technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial court and sets no statewide default.
- Obtain the authority document from the Clerk and Master. Tennessee uses 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 through the Chancery Court. Keep receipts, creditor information, inventory information under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, and distribution records organized before asking the court to approve closing steps.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Overton County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set. Its self-help materials direct probate and estate matters to the Clerk and Master in the county.
The Overton County Clerk and Master page does not publish local probate forms, probate packets, a fee schedule or filing instructions. Call (931) 823-2536 before preparing the filing so the office can tell you what the Chancery Court currently requires for the type of petition you are filing.
If the estate may qualify for the limited-letters process, use the current statutory framework in T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 and ask the Overton County Clerk and Master for the current local paperwork.
Local nuance
Overton County-specific considerations
Overton County is a chancery probate county. Under T.C.A. § 16-16-201, chancery is the default court for probate matters unless a public, private, special or local act provides otherwise; Private Acts of 2000, ch. 67 places probate of wills and estate administration in the Overton County Chancery Court, with the Clerk and Master as probate clerk.
The county's Clerk and Master pages are marked under construction. They publish the address, mailing address, phone number and hours, but they do not publish a local probate form packet, a local total for court costs under T.C.A. § 8-21-401, a fax number, an office email, an electronic filing option or probate hearing dates.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Overton County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate property from assets that need Chancery Court authority. If letters testamentary or letters of administration are needed, file through the Overton County Clerk and Master under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and property interests before the spouse calls the Livingston office, so the filing is based on a fuller asset picture. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call the Overton County Clerk and Master before traveling. A limited-letters petition may be available only if the estate fits T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105, including the $50,000 personal-property limit in T.C.A. § 30-4-102. | Sunset can organize the asset list and help prepare questions for the Clerk and Master, including whether mailing papers is practical and how the court applies Rule 55 if a hearing is set. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually points away from relying only on the limited-letters small estate process under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105. The parent should ask the Overton County Clerk and Master what Chancery Court filing is needed for letters under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, title, account and creditor information and can connect the family with a local probate attorney when a home sale is part of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Overton County Clerk and Master | The filing office for Overton County probate matters in Chancery Court. The office can provide current filing logistics, but court staff cannot choose forms for you or give legal advice. | 100 E. Court Sq., Suite 100, Livingston, TN 38570. Mail: P.O. Box 127, Livingston, TN 38570. Phone: (931) 823-2536. |
| Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts Self-Help Center | The AOC Self-Help Center says probate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in your county. It also 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. | tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center |
| AOC clerks list | Use the statewide clerk directory if you need to confirm the correct Tennessee court office for a probate filing. | tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
| Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands | The Cookeville office serves Overton County. Its office-location page confirms county coverage, but it does not state that probate matters are covered, so call before relying on it for estate help. | Cookeville office: 931-528-7436. General number: 800-238-1443. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a Tennessee probate attorney if heirs disagree, a will may be contested, real estate must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, the personal representative lives outside Tennessee, or the estate may need solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a clearer inventory of bank accounts, investments, insurance, real estate leads, debts and other property before they file in Overton County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information a personal representative needs for the local filing conversation, including asset lists, debt details, family information and the questions to ask the Clerk and Master.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate settlement needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a Tennessee probate attorney who understands local court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to get organized, understand the next steps and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Overton County?
File through the Overton County Clerk and Master for the Overton County Chancery Court in Livingston. Tennessee venue for the limited-letters small estate process is tied to the county where the person lived at death under T.C.A. § 30-4-102, and Overton County's chancery probate jurisdiction is handled under T.C.A. § 16-16-201 and Private Acts of 2000, ch. 67.
What is the address for the Overton County Clerk and Master?
The office address is 100 E. Court Sq., Suite 100, Livingston, TN 38570. The mailing address is P.O. Box 127, Livingston, TN 38570. The phone number is (931) 823-2536.
Does Overton County publish probate forms online?
The Overton County Clerk and Master page does not publish local probate forms or packets. Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set and directs probate and estate matters to the Clerk and Master in the county.
Can I file electronically in Overton County probate?
Tennessee does not provide a statewide trial-court electronic filing system for probate matters, and the Overton County Clerk and Master page does not publish an electronic filing option. Call (931) 823-2536 for current filing logistics before sending papers.
How much does probate cost to start in Overton County?
The statutory clerk fee for a probate estate is $275, effective January 1, 2026 under 2025 Public Chapter 486, and rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and any costs deposit may be added under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Overton County does not publish a local total on its Clerk and Master page, so call before paying.
Is there an online case lookup for Overton County probate?
The Overton County Clerk and Master page does not publish an online probate lookup. If you need the status of an estate matter, call the Clerk and Master at (931) 823-2536.
Can I handle an Overton County estate if I live outside Tennessee?
You can begin by calling the Clerk and Master to ask about mailing, required originals and whether a hearing is expected. If a court appearance is scheduled and travel is difficult, ask how the Chancery Court applies Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, because remote technology is discretionary with the trial court.
Does a small estate filing go to the same Overton County office?
Yes, a limited-letters petition under T.C.A. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 is filed with the court exercising probate authority for the county, which in Overton County is the Chancery Court through the Clerk and Master. The $50,000 small-estate limit is in T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
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.