Estate Planning Attorney in Nashville

June 14, 2026

An estate planning attorney helps Nashville residents put legally enforceable documents in place that direct how their property is managed during life and distributed at death. Unlike fill-in-the-blank online templates that apply generic language across all fifty states, a local attorney drafts a will, trust, or power of attorney that conforms to Tennessee statute and reflects a client’s family situation, business interests, and goals. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its mix of longtime residents, growing families, and business owners produces steady demand for wills, trusts, and probate guidance grounded in state law rather than national boilerplate.

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). A person choosing a Nashville estate planning attorney can confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing through the BPR before sharing personal or financial information. This verification step matters in estate planning because the documents involved, including wills and durable powers of attorney, carry legal effect for years and often take effect when the client can no longer 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. One feature that distinguishes Tennessee from many other states is its tax treatment: Tennessee has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, the latter having been fully repealed effective January 1, 2016.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 build plans around federal thresholds and gifting strategies. For most Nashville families, the absence of a state-level death tax simplifies planning, though probate, guardianship, and incapacity questions remain central reasons to consult an attorney.

When a Tennessee resident dies, the estate is generally administered through the probate process, which in Davidson County is handled by the local probate court. Probate validates a will, appoints a personal representative, resolves creditor claims, and oversees the distribution of assets, 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 are directed 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 Nashville

1. The Higgins Firm PLLC

Address: 200 Hart Street, Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: (615) 353-0930
Website: https://www.higginsestategroup.com
Services: wills and estate planning, living trusts, durable, springing, and healthcare powers of attorney, health care directives and living wills, probate and estate administration, small estate administration, conservatorships, will contests and estate litigation
Description: The Higgins Firm PLLC is a Nashville law firm whose estate group, led by attorney Jim Higgins, handles estate planning and probate matters for Davidson County and Middle Tennessee clients. The firm prepares the core estate planning documents, including wills, living trusts, and the durable, springing, and healthcare forms of power of attorney, along with health care directives and living wills. On the administration side it assists with full and small estate probate, conservatorships, and contested matters such as will contests and estate litigation. The firm states that it handles most estate planning services using fixed fees rather than hourly billing, an approach intended to make the cost of a will or basic plan predictable for clients.

2. Rochford Law & Real Estate Title

Address: 2200 Abbott Martin Road, Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 269-7676
Website: https://rochfordlawyers.com
Services: wills and last will and testament, trusts, limited, general, and durable powers of attorney, trust litigation, real estate title services
Description: Rochford Law & Real Estate Title is a Nashville firm led by attorney John Cobb Rochford, who the firm reports has more than 26 years of legal experience. Its estate planning practice covers wills, trusts, and powers of attorney in limited, general, and durable forms, and the firm also handles trust litigation when disputes arise among beneficiaries or fiduciaries. The practice is paired with a real estate title operation, reflecting the firm’s accreditation through the American Land Title Association and membership in the National Association of Realtors, which can be relevant when an estate plan involves transferring or retitling real property. The firm reports an AV rating through Martindale-Hubbell.

3. Frazier Law

Address: 555 Marriott Drive, Suite 356, Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 510-4000
Website: https://www.frazier.law
Services: wills and trusts, powers of attorney and living wills, probate administration, estate plan reviews and updates, planning for blended families, business owners, and high net worth estates
Description: Frazier Law, the practice of attorney Charles R. Frazier, maintains a Nashville office on Marriott Drive along with a nearby La Vergne location, and the firm also operates offices in Michigan and Texas. Its estate planning work spans wills and trusts, powers of attorney and living wills, probate administration, and periodic estate plan reviews and updates. The firm describes experience with a range of client situations, including blended families, unmarried couples, real estate investors, small business owners, LGBTQ families, and high net worth estates, as well as planning that addresses digital assets and cryptocurrency. The firm lists membership in the Tennessee Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning Attorney in Nashville

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 people who die as 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. For most Nashville households, the absence of a state death tax means estate planning focuses more on probate avoidance, incapacity planning, and clear distribution than on state tax reduction.

Q: How do I verify that a Nashville 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 check for any public disciplinary history, through the BPR before hiring. Verifying licensure is a sensible step before sharing financial details or signing documents that will 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, and often a revocable living trust, along with a durable financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and an advance directive or living will. Some plans add special needs trusts, business succession provisions, or conservatorship planning depending on the client’s circumstances. An attorney tailors the combination of documents to the individual’s family, assets, and goals rather than applying a one-size-fits-all template.

Q: Where is probate handled for a Nashville resident?

Probate for a Davidson County resident is handled through the local probate 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 those passing by beneficiary designation or joint ownership, generally avoid the probate process. An estate planning attorney can structure an estate to reduce what must pass through probate.

Q: Can a revocable living trust help avoid probate in Tennessee?

Yes. Assets that are properly transferred into a funded revocable living trust during a person’s lifetime generally pass to beneficiaries under the trust’s terms without going through probate. The key is that the trust must actually be funded, meaning assets are retitled into the trust, because an unfunded trust does not control property still held in the individual’s own name. An attorney can advise whether a trust-based plan or a will-based plan better fits a particular situation.

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.