Estate Planning Attorney in Chattanooga

June 14, 2026

An estate planning attorney helps Chattanooga residents create legally enforceable documents that direct how their property is managed during incapacity and distributed after death. Instead of relying on generic online forms written to apply nationwide, a local attorney drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that conform to Tennessee statute and reflect a client’s family, business, and financial circumstances. Chattanooga is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 186,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its mix of established families, retirees, and business owners, along with its location near the Georgia state line, keeps demand steady for wills, trusts, and probate guidance grounded in state law.

Tennessee attorneys are licensed by the Tennessee Supreme Court through the Board of Law Examiners, and lawyer conduct is overseen by the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). Before sharing personal or financial information, a Chattanooga resident can confirm that a prospective estate planning attorney is licensed and in good standing through the BPR. This step matters in estate planning because documents such as wills and durable powers of attorney carry legal effect over many years and frequently take effect when the client is no longer able to review them.

Estate planning in Tennessee commonly covers wills, revocable living trusts, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, advance directives or living wills, and probate and estate administration after a death. A notable feature of Tennessee law is its tax treatment: the state has no estate tax and no inheritance tax, with the inheritance tax having been fully repealed effective January 1, 2016. The federal estate tax can still apply to large estates that exceed the federal exemption, so attorneys serving higher net worth clients plan around federal thresholds and gifting strategies. For most Chattanooga families, the absence of a state death tax shifts the focus of planning toward probate, incapacity, and clear distribution of assets, though residents with property or family ties in nearby Georgia may have cross-border considerations to discuss with counsel.

When a Tennessee resident dies, the estate is generally administered through probate, which in Hamilton County is handled by the local probate or chancery court. Probate validates a will, appoints a personal representative, resolves creditor claims, and oversees distribution, while assets held in a properly funded revocable living trust can pass outside probate. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), addresses deceptive business practices generally, though complaints about an attorney’s professional conduct go to the Board of Professional Responsibility. This article is informational and not legal advice; individuals with specific questions should consult a licensed Tennessee attorney and verify any lawyer through the BPR.

Top Estate Planning Attorney Providers in Chattanooga

1. Buhrman Law Firm, P.C.

Address: The Terrace at Frazier, 345 Frazier Avenue, Suite 210, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: (423) 266-5691
Website: https://buhrmanlaw.com
Services: estate planning, probate and estate administration, elder law and special needs planning, guardianships, conservatorships, business law
Description: Buhrman Law Firm, P.C. is a Chattanooga firm led by attorney John R. Buhrman, who the firm reports has dedicated his career to estate planning, probate, trusts, guardianships, and business law for clients in the Chattanooga area for decades. The firm’s practice centers on estate planning and probate and estate administration, and it extends into elder law and special needs planning for families addressing long-term care and disability concerns. It also handles guardianships and conservatorships for individuals who can no longer manage their own affairs, along with business law matters that can intersect with succession planning. The firm reports an AV rating through Martindale-Hubbell.

2. Samples, Jennings, Clem & Fields, PLLC

Address: 130 Jordan Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 892-2006
Website: https://samplesjennings.com
Services: wills, trusts, financial power of attorney, healthcare directives, inheritance and guardianship arrangements for minor children, asset planning, probate administration
Description: Samples, Jennings, Clem & Fields, PLLC is a Chattanooga firm that has worked with residents of Chattanooga, north Georgia, and the greater Tennessee Valley in estate planning and probate for decades. Its estate planning practice prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, addresses healthcare directives, and helps clients arrange inheritance and guardianship for minor children as well as plan assets with tax considerations in mind. Attorneys featured in the firm’s estate planning practice include Nancy A. Cogar and Michael S. Jennings, with a broader roster that includes J. Christopher Clem and James A. Fields. The firm’s reach into north Georgia can be useful for Chattanooga-area clients whose families or property cross the nearby state line.

3. Jelks Law

Address: 1615 Bailey Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 602-2230
Website: https://www.jelkslaw.com
Services: wills and trusts, living wills and advance care directives, powers of attorney, probate, conservatorships and guardianships, Medicaid planning
Description: Jelks Law is a Chattanooga firm with attorneys Amanda Jelks and Leslie A. Starritt offering a full range of estate planning services. The practice prepares wills and trusts, living wills and advance care directives, and powers of attorney, and it handles probate matters after a death. The firm also assists with conservatorships and guardianships for individuals who need a court-appointed decision-maker, and it provides Medicaid planning for clients addressing long-term care costs. The firm describes its approach as personalized and focused on guiding families through both planning and administration.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning Attorney in Chattanooga

Q: Does Tennessee have an estate tax or inheritance tax?

No. Tennessee has no state estate tax, and its inheritance tax was fully repealed effective January 1, 2016, so estates of Tennessee residents are not subject to a state-level death tax. The federal estate tax can still apply to estates that exceed the federal exemption amount, so families with larger estates often plan around federal thresholds. Chattanooga residents with property or beneficiaries in nearby Georgia should ask their attorney whether any other state’s rules affect their plan.

Q: How do I verify that a Chattanooga estate planning attorney is licensed?

Tennessee attorneys are licensed by the Tennessee Supreme Court through the Board of Law Examiners, and their standing is overseen by the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). You can confirm that a lawyer is licensed and in good standing, and review any public disciplinary history, through the BPR before hiring. Verifying licensure is a prudent step before sharing financial details or signing documents that direct your assets.

Q: What documents are typically included in a Tennessee estate plan?

A typical Tennessee estate plan includes a last will and testament, often a revocable living trust, a durable financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and an advance directive or living will. Depending on circumstances, a plan may add special needs trusts, guardianship designations for minor children, or business succession provisions. An attorney tailors the combination of documents to the client’s family, assets, and goals.

Q: Where is probate handled for a Chattanooga resident?

Probate for a Hamilton County resident is handled through the local probate or chancery court, which validates the will, appoints a personal representative, addresses creditor claims, and oversees distribution of the estate. Assets titled in a properly funded revocable living trust, or passing by beneficiary designation or joint ownership, generally avoid probate. An estate planning attorney can structure an estate to reduce what must pass through the probate process.

Q: What if I own property in both Tennessee and Georgia?

Chattanooga’s location near the Georgia state line means some residents own real estate or have family connections across the border. Real property is generally subject to the laws and, where applicable, the probate process of the state where it is located, which can mean a separate or ancillary administration for out-of-state property. An attorney can advise whether tools such as a living trust can help consolidate the handling of property in more than one state.

Q: How do I file a complaint about an attorney’s conduct in Tennessee?

Complaints about a Tennessee lawyer’s professional conduct are directed to the Board of Professional Responsibility, which investigates ethics matters and administers attorney discipline. Consumer complaints about deceptive business practices more generally can go to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping copies of the engagement agreement, billing statements, and relevant correspondence supports any complaint.