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Robertson County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Robertson County Chancery Court, Nineteenth Judicial District |
| Filing office | Robertson County Clerk and Master |
| Courthouse address | 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield, TN 37172 |
| Mailing | The Clerk and Master publishes only the street address above and no separate mailing address. |
| Phone | (615) 384-5650 |
| Fax | (615) 382-3128. The office publishes a filled-in Tennessee Courts Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet with a fifty-page cap unless the Court authorizes more. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Central time, excluding state and federal holidays. |
| Probate cost to open | $454.50, effective January 1, 2026, on the Clerk and Master's schedule: $275.00 clerk fee under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401, $104.50 in state and local litigation taxes, and $75.00 publication, with service fee additional. The statutory clerk fee rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. |
| Forms | Yes. The Chancery Document Center has a Probate category with 15 documents, including a small estate petition packet under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. |
| Electronic filing | Tennessee has no statewide trial-court e-filing system. Robertson County publishes Nineteenth Judicial District Electronic Filing Rules for chancery and circuit courts under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 5B, but the Clerk and Master's site publishes no portal link and Robertson County Chancery Court was not listed on the eFlex Tennessee participating-courts list as of August 2026. Call (615) 384-5650 before planning an electronic submission. |
| Online records | Robertson County Online Court Records is at https://robertson.tncrtinfo.com/. The portal lets users select the Clerk and Master as a court office, but the county cautions that online public records are not the complete official court records. |
| Remote attendance | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion. Robertson County publishes a Virtual Zoom Request Form that must be submitted to the trial court clerk at least five business days ahead, with no email or phone requests. |
| Website | https://www.robertsoncountytn.gov/departments/clerk_and_master/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you prepare a petition in Robertson County, list the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and whether the person died with a will. That matters locally because Rule 17.03 of the Nineteenth Judicial District chancery local rules requires estate petitions to identify interested people and, for intestate estates, the approximate values of real and personal property if known.
Estate settlement is easier when the asset picture is complete before the first courthouse trip. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect the Robertson County filing path.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Robertson County probate filings are handled at the Robertson County Courthouse in Springfield. The Clerk and Master is in Room 102 at 422 West Court Square, and the county's Chancery Court page lists Probate among the Chancery Court case types.
Tennessee law sends an 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, chancery court is the default unless a public, private, special, or local act provides otherwise (T.C.A. § 16-16-201). Robertson County follows that chancery-court default, so Robertson County estate papers go to the Robertson County Clerk and Master.
The county's own contacts page lists municipalities including Springfield, White House, Greenbrier, Millersville, Coopertown, Cross Plains, Ridgetop, Orlinda, Adams, Cedar Hill, and Portland. If the person lived outside Robertson County at death, confirm the correct Tennessee county before starting the local estate settlement process.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, heirs, and beneficiaries. Robertson County's local rules require a verified petition to include the statutory information and, for a testate estate, the legatees and devisees plus the surviving spouse and next of kin.
- Choose the local route. For a small estate under The Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the Clerk and Master publishes a petition packet. For a full estate, Local Rule 17.01 says fiduciaries must be represented by a Tennessee attorney except for small estate applications and adult name changes.
- Submit the papers to the Robertson County Clerk and Master at 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield. Local Rule 4.01 says papers are filed with the Clerk and Master and should not be mailed to or left with the Chancellor.
- Pay the court costs at filing. The published probate estate total is $454.50, effective January 1, 2026, under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486: $275.00 clerk fee, $104.50 state and local litigation taxes, and $75.00 publication, with service fee additional.
- Handle notice under the local rule. Tennessee's common form statute says no notice of the probate proceeding is required except in solemn form (T.C.A. § 30-1-117), but Robertson County Local Rule 17.03(b) adds that the petitioner must give notice to all interested parties before presenting a will for common form probate. Solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 must be heard by the Court with service of process as required by statute.
- Get the hearing date if one is needed. Common form petitions and intestate administration petitions may be heard by the Court or by the Probate Master under Local Rule 17.03. For a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the Clerk and Master gives the petitioner a hearing date, and the petitioner must serve a Notice of Hearing at least seven days before that date.
- If video attendance is needed, use the local form. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion. Robertson County's Virtual Zoom Request Form says the request must be submitted to the trial court clerk at least five business days before the hearing, and no email or phone requests are permitted.
- After appointment, obtain the correct letters. Tennessee calls the 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 under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., limited letters issue after any required bond is posted.
- Administer the estate using the local forms where they fit. Robertson County publishes a Personal Representative Oath, a Corporate Surety Bond under T.C.A. § 30-4-103, a Consent to Serve Without Bond, a Waiver of Inventory, a Waiver of Annual Accountings, an Estate Inventory, a Request for TennCare Release, and a Distributee Statement. Inventory duties are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-301, and TennCare notice connects to T.C.A. § 71-5-116.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. The Clerk and Master publishes a Final Accounting form and a Personal Representative Statement under T.C.A. § 30-2-601(b)(1)(A). Local Rule 17.09 requires court approval of personal representative and attorney fees unless they are approved in writing by all interested parties or fall within the rule's presumed-reasonable schedules.
Executor duties
Robertson County adds several local duties to the statewide personal representative role. Local Rule 17.03(b) requires notice to all interested parties before presenting a will for common form probate, even though T.C.A. § 30-1-117 does not require notice of the proceeding except for solemn form probate.
Local Rule 17.07 requires verified claims to be filed with the Clerk and Master in triplicate within four months from the first notice to creditors, with the T.C.A. § 8-21-401 claim fee paid at filing. Notice to creditors and the four-month claims framework come from T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and claims against the estate are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-307.
Local Rules 17.05 and 17.08 give interested parties ten days to file exceptions to the Clerk and Master's reports. Local Rule 17.09 also controls attorney and personal representative fee approval, including percentage schedules that are presumed reasonable unless an objection or other approval issue is raised.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Robertson County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not publish a statewide probate form set; its self-help center directs probate and estate matters to the appropriate county clerk. In Robertson County, the Clerk and Master publishes a local Chancery Document Center with a Probate category of 15 documents.
| Form group | What Robertson County publishes |
|---|---|
| Opening support forms | Personal Representative Oath, Corporate Surety Bond under T.C.A. § 30-4-103, Consent to Serve Without Bond, Waiver of Inventory, and Waiver of Annual Accountings. |
| Small estate packet | A petition packet captioned for the Chancery Court for Robertson County at Springfield under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. The packet includes instructions, the petition for limited letters, the personal representative oath, consent to serve without bond, and an order for limited letters. |
| Administration forms | Estate Inventory, Annual Status Report, Request for TennCare Release, Distributee Statement, Annual Accounting, and Final Accounting. Inventory duties are tied to T.C.A. § 30-2-301, and TennCare notice connects to T.C.A. § 71-5-116. |
| Claims | Verified Claim Against Estate, revised January 30, 2026. Local Rule 17.07 requires claims against the estate to be filed in triplicate with the required T.C.A. § 8-21-401 fee. |
| Filing and hearing forms | Notice of Hearing, Civil Summons, Civil Subpoena, Tennessee Courts Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet, and Virtual Zoom Request Form. |
| Full estate opening petition | The Clerk and Master does not publish a local form for a full estate petition to probate a will, for letters testamentary, or for letters of administration. Local Rule 17.02 says pleadings are prepared by counsel, and Local Rule 17.01 requires fiduciaries to be represented by a Tennessee attorney except for small estate applications and adult name changes. |
Fees
Robertson County publishes a current Chancery Court fee schedule labeled effective January 1, 2026. The schedule follows T.C.A. § 8-21-401 as amended by 2025 Public Chapter 486, which sets the probate estate clerk fee at $275.00 effective January 1, 2026, rising to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028. State and local litigation taxes and publication are added on top.
| Charge | Robertson County amount |
|---|---|
| Open a probate estate | $454.50, effective January 1, 2026: $275.00 clerk fee under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401, $104.50 in state and local litigation taxes, and $75.00 publication. Service fee additional. |
| Request to sell real property, year's support, exempt property, homestead, insolvency, or interpretation | $200.00, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Service fee additional. |
| Claim against an estate | $50.00, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| Exception to claim | $100.00, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| Letters testamentary or letters of administration | $5.50 each, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. Letters terminology comes from T.C.A. § 30-1-117. |
| Annual accounting | $75.00, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| Copies | $0.50 per page, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| Certification and seal | $5.00, effective January 1, 2026, under the Robertson County schedule and T.C.A. § 8-21-401. |
| Small estate card payment service charge | 3.00% additional for debit or credit card payments on a small estate petition under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., per the Clerk and Master's instructions, with no separate effective date published. |
Timeline
- Before filing, gather the people and property information required by Robertson County Local Rule 17.03. A testate petition identifies the legatees, devisees, surviving spouse, and next of kin. An intestate petition states the approximate real and personal property values if known, the spouse and next of kin, and whether bond, inventory under T.C.A. § 30-2-301, and annual accountings are waived in writing.
- For motions, Local Rule 8.01 says the hearing date must be at least five business days after service of notice, and motions are heard on regular motion days provided by the Clerk and Master. No specific motion-day calendar was published in readable form.
- For a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the Clerk and Master gives the petitioner a hearing date. The petitioner must complete the Notice of Hearing and give notice to all interested parties at least seven days before the expected hearing date.
- For video attendance, Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves the decision to the trial court. Robertson County's Virtual Zoom Request Form says it must be submitted to the trial court clerk at least five business days before the hearing and cannot be requested by email or phone.
- After a small estate hearing under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., the Chancellor or Clerk and Master enters an order granting or denying the petition. If granted, limited letters issue after bond is posted and remain in effect for one year from the date of appointment.
- Local Rules 17.05 and 17.08 give parties ten days after the Clerk and Master's report to file exceptions. If no exceptions are filed, the report may be confirmed.
- Local Rule 17.07 requires verified claims to be filed in triplicate within four months from the first date of notice to creditors, with the required T.C.A. § 8-21-401 claim fee. Notice to creditors and the four-month claims period are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and claims against the estate are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-307.
- Local Rule 19.01 allows the Court to purge cases that have been dormant for one year without cause shown.
Local nuance
Robertson County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Local notice before common form presentation | Robertson County Local Rule 17.03(b) requires notice to all interested parties before presenting a will for common form probate, even though the statewide common form rule in T.C.A. § 30-1-117 does not require notice of the proceeding except for solemn form probate. |
| Attorney rule for fiduciaries | Local Rule 17.01 says fiduciaries must be represented by Tennessee counsel, except for adult name changes and applications to open a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. Non-attorney fiduciaries may submit annual and final accountings and fee requests without their attorney. |
| Published cost breakdown | The January 1, 2026 schedule separates the $275.00 clerk fee under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401 from $104.50 in state and local litigation taxes and $75.00 publication. That makes the counter total clear for estate settlement planning. |
| Electronic-filing rules without a published portal link | The 19th Judicial District rules adopt eFlex for Robertson and Montgomery chancery and circuit courts, but the Clerk and Master's site does not publish a portal link and Robertson County Chancery Court was not on the eFlex Tennessee participating-courts list as of August 2026. Call before relying on electronic submission. |
| Fax cover sheet | The Clerk and Master publishes a pre-filled Tennessee Courts Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet for Robertson County Chancery Court with a fifty-page cap unless the Court authorizes more. Ask the office what estate documents may be sent by fax. |
| Virtual Zoom Request Form | The local form cites Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, and says requests must reach the trial court clerk at least five business days ahead, with no email or phone requests. |
| Courthouse electronics rule | The county's Circuit Court Clerk page states that cell phones, electronic devices, and watches are not allowed in the courtrooms and courthouse. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Robertson County's Chancery Court fee schedule took effect, with a published probate estate total of $454.50 under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486: $275.00 clerk fee, $104.50 state and local litigation taxes, and $75.00 publication, with service fee additional. |
| January 30, 2026 | The Clerk and Master's small estate petition packet under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. and the Verified Claim Against Estate form were revised. |
| November 25, 2025 | The Estate Inventory, Estate Annual Accounting, and Estate Final Accounting forms were revised. Inventory duties are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-301. |
| August 12, 2025 | The Virtual Zoom Request Form was revised. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, governs discretionary use of remote technology. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Robertson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating probate property from jointly held property. If an estate still must be opened, Robertson County Local Rule 17.03 requires the petition to identify the surviving spouse and next of kin, even in a testate estate. File through the Clerk and Master in Springfield. | Sunset helps organize assets, debts, title clues, and beneficiary information so the spouse and attorney can see what belongs in the estate settlement and what may pass outside the estate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | The Robertson County Clerk and Master publishes a small estate petition packet under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. The office gives a hearing date, and the petitioner serves a Notice of Hearing at least seven days ahead. A Virtual Zoom Request Form is available for discretionary video attendance under Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023. | Sunset can help find accounts before the petition is prepared and can help generate a probate packet so the adult child knows what to discuss with the Clerk and Master or a Tennessee attorney. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A full estate and a real-property sale request may be needed. Robertson County Local Rule 18 requires a complaint seeking sale of real property to include the complete legal description, map-parcel-group number, and street address if there is one. The county schedule lists a $200.00 request-to-sell-real-property charge effective January 1, 2026, under T.C.A. § 8-21-401. | Sunset helps identify mortgages, accounts, insurance, and other assets, then connects the family with a local probate attorney for the sale and estate settlement steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Robertson County Clerk and Master | The estate filing office. It publishes local rules, a January 1, 2026 fee schedule, a Probate form category, a small estate petition packet under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., a Virtual Zoom Request Form, and a fax filing cover sheet. The office can provide procedural information and form clarification, but court staff may not give legal advice or engage in the practice of law under T.C.A. § 16-3-804. | 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield, TN 37172. Phone (615) 384-5650. Fax (615) 382-3128. https://www.robertsoncountytn.gov/departments/clerk_and_master/ |
| Robertson County Chancery Document Center | The local source for Probate forms, plus Notice of Hearing, Civil Summons, Civil Subpoena, Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet, and Virtual Zoom Request Form. | https://www.robertsoncountytn.gov/departments/clerk_and_master/chancery_document_center.php |
| Robertson County Chancery Court fee schedule and local rules | The fee schedule gives Robertson County's current probate court costs under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486. The local rules include Rule 17 on probate practice and Rule 18 on selling real property. | https://www.robertsoncountytn.gov/departments/clerk_and_master/chancery_court_fee_schedule.php and https://www.robertsoncountytn.gov/departments/clerk_and_master/chancery_court_local_rules.php |
| Robertson County Online Court Records | The county's public records portal. It lets users select the Clerk and Master as a court office. The county cautions that online public records are not the complete official court records and should not be used for legal purposes. | https://robertson.tncrtinfo.com/ |
| Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Clarksville office | A nonprofit civil legal-help organization whose published Clarksville office service area includes Robertson County. Call before visiting and ask whether the estate issue fits its services. | 109 South Third Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Phone 931-552-6656 or 800-238-1443. https://las.org/ |
| Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts self-help center and court clerk directory | The Judiciary's self-help center says most probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in the county. The clerk directory helps families identify the right filing office if the person lived in another Tennessee county. | https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center and https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks/clerks-list |
When to hire an attorney
A Tennessee probate attorney is especially important in Robertson County because Local Rule 17.01 requires fiduciaries to be represented by a Tennessee attorney except for small estate applications and adult name changes, and because full estate opening petitions are not published as fill-in local forms. Counsel also makes sense for solemn form probate under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, disputed claims, real-property sale requests, insolvent estates, and fee-approval questions under Local Rule 17.09. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for bank accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, and other assets so the family can understand what may need to be handled in Robertson County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the asset and family information into an organized probate packet, including the details a Robertson County attorney or the Clerk and Master may need for the next step.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs counsel, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney who can handle Robertson County Chancery Court filings.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, find assets, and get connected with legal help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Robertson County?
Robertson County probate matters are filed through the Robertson County Clerk and Master for the Robertson County Chancery Court at 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield, TN 37172. The phone number is (615) 384-5650. Tennessee's county venue rule is T.C.A. § 30-4-102, and Robertson County follows the chancery-court probate jurisdiction default in T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Robertson County?
The Clerk and Master's schedule lists $454.50, effective January 1, 2026, to open a probate estate: $275.00 clerk fee under 2025 Public Chapter 486 and T.C.A. § 8-21-401, $104.50 in state and local litigation taxes, and $75.00 publication, with service fee additional. The statutory clerk fee rises to $300 in 2027 and $325 in 2028.
Does Robertson County publish probate forms?
Yes. The Chancery Document Center has a Probate category with 15 documents, including a personal representative oath, corporate surety bond under T.C.A. § 30-4-103, consent to serve without bond, waivers of inventory and annual accountings, an estate inventory, annual and final accountings, a verified claim against estate, a TennCare release request, and a small estate petition packet under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. Inventory duties are governed by T.C.A. § 30-2-301, and TennCare notice connects to T.C.A. § 71-5-116.
Can I use electronic filing for a Robertson County estate?
Tennessee has no statewide trial-court e-filing system. Robertson County publishes 19th Judicial District Electronic Filing Rules for Chancery and Circuit Courts, but the Clerk and Master's site publishes no portal link and Robertson County Chancery Court was not listed on the eFlex Tennessee participating-courts list as of August 2026. Call (615) 384-5650 before planning an electronic submission.
Can I fax a filing to the Robertson County Clerk and Master?
The Clerk and Master publishes a Tennessee Courts Uniform Facsimile Filing Cover Sheet filled in for Robertson County Chancery Court, with fax number (615) 382-3128. The cover sheet says that, unless authorized by the Court, a fax transmission exceeding fifty pages including the cover page shall not be filed by the clerk. Ask the office what estate documents may be sent by fax.
Can I look up a Robertson County estate online?
Robertson County Online Court Records is at https://robertson.tncrtinfo.com/. The portal lets users select the Clerk and Master as a court office, but the county cautions that online public records are not the complete official court records and should not be used for legal purposes. Call the Clerk and Master at (615) 384-5650 if a file does not appear.
How do I ask for video attendance in Robertson County Chancery Court?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion. Robertson County publishes a Virtual Zoom Request Form that says the request must be submitted to the trial court clerk at least five business days before the hearing, no email or phone requests are permitted, and the Chancellor grants or denies the request on the form.
Do I need a lawyer to open an estate in Robertson County?
Usually, yes for a fiduciary in a full estate. Robertson County Local Rule 17.01 says that, except for adult name changes and applications to open a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq., fiduciaries must be represented by Tennessee counsel and petitions and motions must be filed by Tennessee counsel. The rule also says non-attorney fiduciaries may submit annual and final accountings and fee requests without their attorney.
How does a Robertson County small estate proceed?
The Clerk and Master publishes a petition packet under The Small Estate Probate Act, T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. The office gives the petitioner a hearing date, the petitioner serves a Notice of Hearing at least seven days ahead, and the Chancellor or Clerk and Master grants or denies the petition. If granted, limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 et seq. issue after bond is posted and run one year from appointment.
Do I have to travel to Springfield?
Robertson County papers are submitted to the Clerk and Master at 422 West Court Square, Room 102, Springfield, and Local Rule 4.01 says papers should not be mailed to or left with the Chancellor. The office publishes no separate mailing address. If a hearing is set and video attendance is needed, use the Virtual Zoom Request Form under Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted June 8, 2023, at least five business days ahead. The county's Circuit Court Clerk page also states that cell phones, electronic devices, and watches are not allowed in the courtrooms and courthouse.
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.