(a) Letters testamentary or of administration may be granted upon the estate of a person who resided, at the time of the person’s death, in some other state or territory of the union, or in a foreign country, by the probate court of any county in this state:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 30-1-103

  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probate court: means the court having jurisdiction over the administration of the estates of decedents. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Where the deceased had any goods, chattels, or assets, or any estate, real or personal, at the time of the person’s death, or where the goods, chattels, assets, or estate may be when the letters are applied for;
(2) Where any debtor of the deceased resides;
(3) Where any debtor of a debtor of the deceased resides, the debt being unpaid when the application is made; or
(4) Where any suit is to be brought, prosecuted, or defended, in which the estate is interested.
(b) In the case of subdivision (a)(4):

(1) If the suit is pending, or to be brought, in a chancery court composed of more than one county, the probate court of any one of the counties may grant the letters; and
(2) If the suit is pending in an appellate court, the letters shall be granted by the probate court of the county in which the suit originated.