When an Individual Dies Without a Will (Intestate) what County Handles the Probate of the Estate in Tennessee?

Analysis:  When an individual dies without a will (this is called “intestate”) then the probate court of the county where the intestate individual had usual residence at the time of death is the appropriate jurisdiction for the probate of the estate.  Specifically, T.C.A. § 30-1-102 provides as follows:

Letters of administration shall be granted by the probate court of the county where the intestate had usual residence at the time of the intestate's death, or, in case the intestate had fixed places of residence in more than one county, the probate court of either county may grant letters of administration upon the intestate's estate.

As a result when an individual dies without a will and the estate needs to be probated under Tennessee law, the appropriate jurisdiction is the county where the deceased had a usual residence.  If the individual had multiple places of residence, then the probate court of any of these counties can grant letters of administration for probate.