Probate Attorney in Memphis, Tennessee

In Memphis, Tennessee, probate is a legal procedure that a court must go through before giving effect to a will. Before putting a will into effect, a court has to determine that it is valid.

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As part of this process, the Memphis, Tennessee probate court will determine the validity of the will, inventory the decedent's assets and debts, and then, finally, distribute the estate according to the will, assuming it is found to be valid.

Most wills name a specific person as the executor of the estate, but sometimes they don't, or the named executor is dead, out of the court's jurisdiction, or otherwise unfit to serve in this capacity. In these cases, a Memphis, Tennessee probate court has to appoint one.

Because the executor is responsible for actually initiating probate proceedings and seeing them to completion, the person chosen for this role is often the one who stands to inherit the most from the will - giving them an incentive to put in the necessary time and effort.

Duties of the Executor in Memphis, Tennessee

The executor has many duties concerning the will. First, they have to actually initiate the probate proceedings, which must be completed before the will is effectuated.

Additionally, the executor has to make sure that the decedent's relatives and other people named in the will have notice of the testator's death, usually through the filing of a copy of the official death certificate.

The executor will also have to compile and make available a list of all of the decedent's debts and assets, as well as a list of those who stand to inherit from the decedent.

Because the executor serves as the living embodiment of the decedent's estate, they are solely responsible for proving the validity of the will. This is a lot of work, but because executors are usually chosen based on how much they stand to inherit from a will once its validity is confirmed, they have a good incentive to see the process to completion.

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How Can A Memphis, Tennessee Lawyer Help?

Because this can be (though isn't always) a fairly complex process, it's a good idea to get a good probate lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee, especially if you find yourself being the executor of an estate, and aren't sure how to proceed.

There are 176 Wills, Trusts and Estates cases posted in Memphis

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Life in Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee has something for everyone.  Popular family attractions include Graceland, Main Street Trolley, AutoZone Park, and the Gibson Factory.  Memphis is also known as a city rich in history, so there are many museums to see!  Some museums include the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Mississippi River Museum at Mud Island, and the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum. 

Amongst all the cities in the United States, Memphis is deemed the twentieth largest city in the U.S.  Along with Nashville, Memphis is known to be one of Tennessee's most exciting and metropolitan cities with a population of around 1,316,100 people.  Downtown Memphis lies along the Mississippi River and is home to many companies and law firms.  Memphis attorneys have a reputation of being competent and client oriented, focusing on providing excellent legal services to Memphis residents.  

Probate Lawyers in Other Tennessee Cities and Towns


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Top Rated Lawyers

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Wills, Trusts and Estates cases posted in Memphis as mapped below.

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