Estate Planning Attorney in Clarksville

June 14, 2026

An estate planning attorney helps Clarksville residents put legally enforceable documents in place that direct how their property is managed during incapacity and distributed after death. Rather than relying on generic online templates written to apply across all fifty states, a local attorney drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that conform to Tennessee statute and reflect a client’s family, military, business, and financial circumstances. Clarksville is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 176,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its growing population, including many families connected to nearby Fort Campbell, 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 Clarksville 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 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 states is its tax treatment: the state has no estate tax and no inheritance tax, with the inheritance tax having been fully repealed effective January 1, 2016.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 build plans around federal thresholds and gifting strategies. For most Clarksville families, including service members who may have specific concerns about powers of attorney and survivor planning during deployments, the absence of a state death tax shifts the focus toward probate, incapacity planning, and clear distribution of assets.

When a Tennessee resident dies, the estate is generally administered through probate, which in Montgomery 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 Clarksville

1. Crow Estate Planning & Probate, PLC

Address: 512 Madison Street, Suite A, Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (931) 218-7800
Website: https://www.johnwcrow.com
Services: wills, living trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, elder law, probate and estate and trust administration, will contests, digital asset planning, conservatorships and financial guardianships, business planning, real estate
Description: Crow Estate Planning & Probate, PLC is a firm focused specifically on estate planning and probate, with a Clarksville office on Madison Street and attorneys including John Crow, Kyle Shannon, Deborah Moore, Wess Inscoe, and Jaclyn Walliser. The firm prepares the core estate planning documents, including last wills and testaments, living trusts, living wills, and powers of attorney, and it addresses elder law concerns for aging clients. On the administration side it handles probate and estate and trust administration, will contests, conservatorships, and financial guardianships, and it also offers digital asset planning and business and real estate services. The firm’s concentration on estate planning and probate gives it a focused practice in this area for Montgomery County clients.

2. Patton | Pittman

Address: 101 N. Third Street, Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (931) 361-4477
Website: https://www.pattonandpittman.com
Services: simple wills, durable power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, living wills, appointment of guardians and trustees for minor children, family limited partnerships, trusts, conservatorships, estate administration
Description: Patton | Pittman is a Clarksville firm with a roster of attorneys including Gregory P. Patton and Christopher J. Pittman whose practice includes estate planning and administration. The firm prepares simple wills, durable and healthcare powers of attorney, and living wills, and it helps parents appoint guardians and trustees for minor children. Its planning work also extends to family limited partnerships, trusts, and conservatorships, along with estate administration services after a death. The firm notes that it coordinates with certified public accountants and financial advisers as part of its planning process, which can be helpful for clients whose estates involve significant tax or financial complexity.

3. Runyon & Runyon

Address: 301 Main Street, Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (931) 805-4445
Website: https://www.runyonandrunyon.com
Services: wills, living wills, financial powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney and advance care plans, probate and estate administration, high net worth estate planning
Description: Runyon & Runyon is a Clarksville firm describing three generations of service to the area, with attorneys including Frank J. Runyon III and Raymond Freeman Runyon, the latter of whom leads the firm’s estate planning and probate practice. The firm prepares wills and living wills, financial powers of attorney, and medical powers of attorney and advance care plans, and it handles probate and estate administration, including high net worth estates. The firm reports that Ray Runyon brings knowledge of finances, business law, and the tax consequences of estate planning instruments, along with more than 19 years of experience addressing clients’ estate planning concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning Attorney in Clarksville

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. For most Clarksville households, the absence of a state death tax means estate planning focuses more on probate, incapacity planning, and clear distribution than on state tax reduction.

Q: How do I verify that a Clarksville 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 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 guardianship designations for minor children, trusts, or business succession provisions. An attorney tailors the combination of documents to the client’s family, assets, and goals rather than applying a uniform template.

Q: Are there estate planning considerations specific to military families near Fort Campbell?

Service members and military families often have particular needs around powers of attorney, guardianship designations for children during deployments, and survivor benefit planning. While these involve federal benefits and military programs in addition to state documents, a Tennessee attorney can prepare the durable and healthcare powers of attorney, wills, and guardianship provisions that fit alongside military resources. Families should discuss their specific situation with counsel, including any documents prepared through a military legal assistance office.

Q: Where is probate handled for a Clarksville resident?

Probate for a Montgomery 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: 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.