Name Who Inherits Your Assets and Handles Your Money
You’ve worked hard to build your life, and you should be the one to decide what happens to it. Without a plan, Tennessee law decides who receives your property and who handles your affairs, and the result may not be what you would have chosen.
Betz & Baril helps Knoxville families put those decisions in writing. Linda Garner Betz and Jason Baril have more than 35 years of combined legal experience, and they explain every step in plain language so you always know where your plan stands.
Estate Planning Services
No two families are alike, so no two plans should be. Betz & Baril drafts each document around your family, then reviews your will, trust, beneficiary forms, and property titles together so they all say the same thing.
Wills
A will names who inherits your property, who serves as executor, and who is guardian of your minor children. Without one, Tennessee law and the court make those choices for you.
Trusts
Revocable and irrevocable trusts can keep assets out of probate and give you more say in how and when your family receives them. We help you decide which type fits your goals.
Powers of Attorney
A financial power of attorney names someone you trust to pay bills, manage accounts, and handle other financial matters if you become incapacitated, so your family may not need to ask a court for that authority.
Healthcare DIrecting
A financial power of attorney lets someone you trust handle your finances if you become incapacitated. This can include paying bills, managing investments, or making other financial decisions on your behalf—giving your family stability and security when you can’t act for yourself.
Beneficiary Designations
Retirement accounts, life insurance, and other accounts with a named beneficiary generally pass to that person no matter what your will says. We review those designations, along with how your home and accounts are titled, so the plan you sign is the plan your family receives.
Asset Protection Planning
Asset protection planning arranges your property, sometimes with trusts or other tools, to reduce your exposure to future claims. Timing matters, because transfers made after a problem arises can be undone. We review your situation and explain what planning can and can’t do before you decide.
CLIENT FEEDBACK
Answering Commonly Asked Estate Planning Questions
What happens if I die without a will in Tennessee?
Tennessee’s intestacy statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-104, decides who inherits. A spouse with no surviving children receives the entire intestate estate. If children survive, the spouse takes the greater of one-third or a child’s share, and the children split the rest. A friend, an unmarried partner, or a charity receives nothing unless your will says so.
Does Tennessee have an estate or inheritance tax?
No. Tennessee repealed its inheritance tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2016, so Tennessee estates no longer file a state estate tax return. Very large estates may still owe federal estate tax, so it’s worth reviewing your situation with an attorney.
What does it take to sign a valid will in Tennessee?
Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 32-1-104, you must sign the will, or acknowledge your signature, in front of at least two witnesses. The witnesses must then sign in your presence and in each other’s presence. A will that misses these steps can be challenged, so we walk you through the signing.
How does a healthcare directive work in Tennessee?
Tennessee’s standard Advance Directive for Health Care lets you name someone to make medical decisions for you and record your treatment wishes in one document. It must be notarized or signed in front of two witnesses, and the person you name as your agent can’t be one of them.
Can I leave my spouse out of my will in Tennessee?
Generally, no. Tennessee law gives a surviving spouse the right to claim a share of the estate, called the elective share, even if the will says otherwise. Tennessee also protects the family homestead for a surviving spouse. We explain how these rights affect your plan before you sign.
Because We Handle Probate, We Know How to Plan Around It
Betz & Baril handles both sides of an estate. Linda spent more than a decade in the courtroom before focusing on estate planning, and she and Jason also guide families through uncontested probate in Tennessee. Because we know what probate involves, we know how to plan around it, and we’re here to guide your family through it when it can’t be avoided.
Together, Linda and Jason bring more than 35 years of combined legal experience. They listen first, explain your options clearly, and keep you informed at every step.
Schedule a Consultation to Start Your Tennessee Estate Plan
Whether you’re writing your first plan or updating one that’s years old, Linda and Jason will listen first and explain your options in plain language.