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Warren County, TN Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Warren County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Warren County Chancery Court, filings taken by the Clerk and Master |
| Courthouse address | 111 South Court Square, Suite 105, McMinnville, TN 37110 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 639, McMinnville, TN 37110 |
| Phone | (931) 473-2364. The court asks callers to listen to the automated phone system and choose the correct option. |
| Fax | (931) 473-3232 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court also posts a county holiday calendar. |
| Probate cost | Under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486, the statutory probate estate fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026. Warren County's posted cost list shows $482.00 for opening a testate or intestate estate, as of January 1, 2026, including a $95.00 creditor notice publication charge as of January 1, 2026. |
| Forms | The court posts a probate document request form. It does not post a self-represented probate petition template. |
| Electronic filing | No dedicated electronic filing portal is named. The office accepts fax or email filings subject to its posted service charge, but you should confirm with the office which probate documents qualify. |
| Online lookup | https://warren.tncrtinfo.com/ covers Circuit Court and General Sessions selections only. Chancery Court is not a selectable court type there. |
| Remote proceedings | Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, leaves remote proceedings to the trial court's discretion. No Warren County probate-specific remote practice is posted. |
| Website | https://www.warrenchancery.org/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you prepare a Warren County estate filing, make a working list of the person's accounts, debts, vehicles, real estate interests and beneficiary designations. That first asset map usually decides whether the estate settlement needs full letters, a limited route under T.C.A. § 30-4-101, or another path.
Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before paperwork is filed. For a Warren County estate settlement, that can reduce return trips to the McMinnville courthouse and make the petition more complete the first time.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Tennessee sends an estate to the court exercising probate jurisdiction in the county where the person had legal residence at death, under T.C.A. § 30-4-102. In counties not otherwise provided for by law, probate jurisdiction is in chancery court under T.C.A. § 16-16-201, and Warren County's own court site identifies the Warren County Chancery Court as the local Chancery and Probate Courts site.
The courthouse is in McMinnville and serves Warren County, including McMinnville, Morrison, Viola, Centertown and surrounding unincorporated areas.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct Warren County path. If the estate needs letters testamentary or letters of administration, the petition is filed under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. If it is a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103, confirm the limited-letter requirements before filing.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. Warren County does not post a self-represented probate petition template, so use the court's instructions, any attorney-prepared forms and the original will if there is one.
- Submit the papers to the Warren County Clerk and Master at 111 South Court Square, Suite 105, McMinnville, TN 37110, or by mail to P.O. Box 639, McMinnville, TN 37110. The office also accepts fax or email filings subject to its posted service charge, but you should call before using those methods for opening papers.
- Pay the required cost. Under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486, the statutory probate estate fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026. Warren County's posted January 1, 2026 cost list shows $482.00 to open a testate or intestate estate, including a $95.00 creditor notice publication charge as of January 1, 2026.
- Handle notice. In a regular estate, the clerk gives notice to creditors after letters issue under T.C.A. § 30-2-306, and the personal representative must mail or deliver the notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors. In a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-103, creditor notice is not published.
- Ask the clerk how the matter will be placed before the court. The 31st Judicial District local rules set general court session times and allow uncontested matters at 8:30 a.m. on days court is in session in Warren County, but they do not publish a separate probate motion day.
- Ask about remote participation if a hearing is needed. Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, permits remote proceedings only at the trial court's discretion and does not create a statewide default.
- Receive authority to act. Tennessee uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not, under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Small estate authority is limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103.
- Administer and close the estate. Track assets, claims, notices, distributions and any inventory required by T.C.A. § 30-2-301, then complete the court's closing requirements.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Warren County
Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts does not provide a statewide probate petition packet. Its self-help center says most probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in your county, and Warren County's local filing office is the Clerk and Master.
Warren County posts a probate document request form for copies of probate records or documents. It does not post a self-represented petition template for letters testamentary, letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117, or small estate limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-101.
Starting July 1, 2026, document requests must use the posted request form. The court states that emailed document requests cost $7.00 per request as of July 1, 2026, plus $0.50 per page as of July 1, 2026, and that the turnaround is seven days.
Fees
| Cost item | Amount and date |
|---|---|
| State statutory probate estate fee | $275, effective January 1, 2026, under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486. The same law raises the amount to $300, effective January 1, 2027, and $325, effective January 1, 2028. |
| Open a testate or intestate estate in Warren County | $482.00 total as of January 1, 2026. The county list says this includes a $95.00 creditor notice publication charge as of January 1, 2026, leaving a $387.00 base charge as of January 1, 2026. |
| Small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-101 | $387.00 as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Muniment of title under T.C.A. § 32-2-111 | $387.00 as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Ancillary probate | $387.00 as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Creditor opens estate | $482.00 plus service as of January 1, 2026, and the creditor must also file a claim. |
| Creditor claim or amended claim | $50.00 as of January 1, 2026, filed in triplicate with documentation. |
| Exception to claim | $100.00 as of January 1, 2026, filed in triplicate. |
| Exempt property, homestead, insolvency, interpretation of will, request to sell property or year's support | $200.00 as of January 1, 2026, for each listed request. |
| Will contest | $275 clerk fee as of January 1, 2026, under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486, plus a $500 bond as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Miscellaneous probate filing | $7.00 as of January 1, 2026, under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and Warren County's cost list. |
| Motions and requests | $25.00 as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Notices issuing | $10.00 as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Orders | $20.00 as of January 1, 2026, on Warren County's cost list. |
| Fax or email filing service charge | $5.00 plus $1.00 per page as of January 2, 2024, for pleadings filed by facsimile or email. |
Timeline
- The Warren County Chancery Court office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except posted county holidays.
- The 31st Judicial District local rules state that regular sessions open at 9:00 a.m.
- The same local rules state that uncontested matters can generally be brought before the court at 8:30 a.m. on any day court is in session in Warren County.
- The local rules name the second and fourth Tuesdays as civil non-jury days, but they do not name a dedicated probate day. Ask the Clerk and Master how your estate matter will be scheduled.
Local nuance
Warren County-specific considerations
Warren County's Chancery Court site is also the local probate site, so estate papers go through the Clerk and Master in McMinnville. The site identifies the court as serving the 31st Judicial District for Warren and Van Buren Counties, but probate is still filed by county under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and T.C.A. § 16-16-201.
The court accepts pleadings by fax or email subject to a posted service charge of $5.00 plus $1.00 per page as of January 2, 2024. Because the linked email-filing order's scope is not clear from the posted materials, call before relying on email or fax for a new probate petition.
Fees are due when filed. The court states that payment may be made online by credit card through its website, or by mail after the office sends a cost bill.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means in Warren County |
|---|---|
| Fax and email filing service charge, beginning January 2, 2024 | Pleadings filed by facsimile or email carry a $5.00 service charge as of January 2, 2024, plus $1.00 per page as of January 2, 2024. |
| New probate cost list as of January 1, 2026 | Warren County posts a Chancery Court cost list dated January 1, 2026, aligned with the current T.C.A. § 8-21-401 fee structure and 2025 Public Chapter 486. |
| Document request process starting July 1, 2026 | The office requires probate document requests to use its posted request form and states a seven-day turnaround. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Warren County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming whether the home passes outside probate and whether any solely owned assets still require letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. If an estate must be opened, papers go to the Warren County Clerk and Master in McMinnville. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse decides whether a court filing is needed for the estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Tennessee probate property fits the small estate route under T.C.A. § 30-4-102 and § 30-4-103, ask the Clerk and Master what Warren County requires for limited letters. The court accepts mail and may accept fax or email filings for qualifying documents, subject to its posted charge, but the office should confirm what can be sent that way. | Sunset helps organize the asset list and can generate a probate packet so the child can work with the McMinnville office or a local attorney without starting from scratch. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually needs careful authority from the court. Warren County's cost list has a request to sell property line at $200.00 as of January 1, 2026, and the estate may need full letters under T.C.A. § 30-1-117 rather than limited letters under T.C.A. § 30-4-102. | Sunset helps gather account information, create an estate settlement checklist and connect the parent with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Warren County Clerk and Master, https://www.warrenchancery.org/ | The local office provides the filing address, phone number, fax number, hours, cost list, document request form and payment information. Court staff cannot choose forms for you or give legal advice. |
| Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts self-help center, https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center | The self-help center says most probate and estate matters are handled by the Clerk and Master in your county. It also notes that state court employees may not engage in the practice of law under T.C.A. § 16-3-804. |
| Tennessee court clerk finder, https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center/find-court-clerk | Use this statewide tool to locate court clerk offices when a Tennessee estate involves more than one county. |
| Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tullahoma office, https://las.org/ | The organization lists Warren County in its service area. Its site does not list probate or estate administration among the described case categories, so ask whether your issue fits before relying on it. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Tennessee probate attorney if the will may be challenged, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor claims are expected, TennCare issues may arise under T.C.A. § 71-5-116, or you live outside Tennessee and need someone to coordinate with the Warren County Clerk and Master. Sunset connects families to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts and other assets that can be missed during estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized probate paperwork and a filing checklist tailored to the Warren County court process.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Warren County estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Tennessee probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Warren County, Tennessee?
Estate filings go through the Warren County Chancery Court, with filings taken by the Clerk and Master at 111 South Court Square, Suite 105, McMinnville, TN 37110. Tennessee's county-by-county probate jurisdiction rule comes from T.C.A. § 16-16-201 and the residence rule for the court exercising probate authority comes from T.C.A. § 30-4-102.
Can I use an electronic filing portal for a Warren County probate case?
No dedicated electronic filing portal is named on the Warren County Chancery Court site. The office accepts fax or email filings subject to a $5.00 service charge as of January 2, 2024, plus $1.00 per page as of January 2, 2024, but you should call before sending a new probate petition that way.
What does it cost to open an estate in Warren County?
Under T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and 2025 Public Chapter 486, the statutory probate estate fee is $275, effective January 1, 2026. Warren County's posted cost list shows $482.00 to open a testate or intestate estate as of January 1, 2026, including a $95.00 creditor notice publication charge as of January 1, 2026.
Does Warren County publish probate forms?
Warren County posts a probate document request form, but it does not post a self-represented petition template for letters testamentary or letters of administration under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. It also does not post a petition template for a small estate under T.C.A. § 30-4-101.
How do I look up a Warren County probate case online?
The Warren County online case search at https://warren.tncrtinfo.com/ lists Circuit Court and General Sessions selections only. Chancery Court, where Warren County estate matters are filed, is not a selectable court type on that search page.
Does Warren County have a probate hearing day?
The 31st Judicial District local rules do not publish a dedicated probate motion day. They state that regular sessions open at 9:00 a.m. and that uncontested matters can generally be brought before the court at 8:30 a.m. on days court is in session in Warren County.
Can I appear remotely for a Warren County probate hearing?
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 55, adopted by order filed June 8, 2023, says remote proceedings are permissible at the discretion of the trial court. Warren County does not post a probate-specific remote practice, so ask the Clerk and Master how the court wants you to appear.
Do I have to travel to McMinnville to start probate?
You may be able to handle some filing steps by mail, fax or email, depending on the document and the office's instructions. Because original wills and opening papers can have special handling requirements, call the Warren County Clerk and Master before assuming a trip is unnecessary.
What are letters testamentary and letters of administration in Warren County?
They are the Tennessee authority documents issued under T.C.A. § 30-1-117. Letters testamentary are used when there is a will, and letters of administration are used when there is not. In Warren County, the Clerk and Master issues them through the Chancery Court process.
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.