Estate Planning Attorney in Knoxville

June 14, 2026

An estate planning attorney helps Knoxville residents put legally enforceable documents in place that direct how their property is managed during incapacity and distributed at 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, business, and financial situation. Knoxville is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its mix of longtime residents, university-area families, and business owners keeps demand steady 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). Before sharing personal or financial information, a Knoxville 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 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 sets Tennessee apart 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is its tax treatment: the state has no estate tax and no inheritance tax, with the inheritance tax having been fully repealed effective January 1, 2016.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 Knoxville families, the absence of a state death tax shifts the focus of planning toward probate, incapacity, and clear distribution of assets.

When a Tennessee resident dies, the estate is generally administered through probate, which in Knox 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 Knoxville

1. Carpenter & Lewis PLLC

Address: 10413 Kingston Pike, Suite 200, Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: (865) 509-9600
Website: https://carpenterlewis.com
Services: wills and trusts, living trusts, special needs trusts, community property trusts, durable power of attorney, health care power of attorney, living will and advance directives, probate and estate administration, business law
Description: Carpenter & Lewis PLLC is a Knoxville firm established in 1989, with attorneys Stephen Carpenter and Bradley Lewis leading a practice focused on estate planning, probate, and small business law. The firm prepares wills and trusts, including living trusts, special needs trusts, and community property trusts, along with durable and health care powers of attorney and living will and advance directive documents. It also handles probate and estate administration and advises business owners on related transactional needs. The firm reports decades of work helping individuals and families in the Knoxville area plan their estates and administer them after a death.

2. Foust & Foust, PLLC

Address: 4641 Chambliss Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 203-4041
Website: https://foustlaw.com
Services: estate planning, wills, revocable living trusts and asset protection trusts, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, trust administration, probate, estate litigation, conservatorships, incapacity planning, nursing home and Medicaid planning, elder law, business planning
Description: Foust & Foust, PLLC is a Knoxville estate planning firm led by attorneys John R. “Rusty” Foust and Neva Foust, with a second office in Morristown. The practice covers the core planning documents, including wills, revocable living trusts, asset protection trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives, and extends into trust administration, probate, estate litigation, and conservatorships. The firm also addresses elder law concerns such as nursing home planning, Medicaid planning, and incapacity planning, as well as planning for blended families and business owners. Neva Foust is a Certified Public Accountant who also holds an MBA and earned her law degree at the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, a background relevant to the tax and financial dimensions of estate planning.

3. Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC

Address: 445 S. Gay Street, Suite 401, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 205-6554
Website: https://www.hdclaw.com
Services: wills and trusts, revocable living trusts, special needs trusts, life insurance trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, asset protection, business succession planning, conservatorships and guardianships, estate and trust administration, probate, estate and trust litigation, taxation planning
Description: Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC is a long-established Knoxville firm tracing its experience to 1931, with estate planning team members including attorneys Donald J. Farinato and Lindsey L. Hobbs. The firm offers a comprehensive estate planning practice covering wills and trusts, including revocable living trusts, special needs trusts, and life insurance trusts, along with powers of attorney, health care directives, and asset protection. It also handles business succession planning, conservatorships and guardianships, estate and trust administration, probate, and estate and trust litigation, as well as taxation planning and representation. The firm represents individuals preparing estate plans, fiduciaries administering estates and trusts, and beneficiaries involved in trust and estate disputes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning Attorney in Knoxville

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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville 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 special needs trusts, life insurance trusts, business succession provisions, or asset protection tools. An attorney tailors the combination of documents to the client’s family, assets, and goals rather than applying a uniform template.

Q: Where is probate handled for a Knoxville resident?

Probate for a Knox 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: 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.