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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 30-1-106

  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • 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

When any person dies intestate in this state, administration shall be granted to the spouse of that person, if the spouse makes application for administration. For want of application for administration upon the part of the spouse, the administration shall be granted to the next of kin, if such next of kin apply for it. If neither the spouse nor next of kin make application for administration, then administration shall be granted to a creditor proving the decedent‘s debt on oath before the probate court; provided, that when there is more than one next of kin, the probate court may decide which of the kin shall be entitled to the administration.