Q: Initiating ancillary probate in TN for FL estate with property in TN.

A: You can file a full ancillary probate if you would like , but most often that is not necessary. An easier way is to file and record an exemplified copy of the will.

A: Yes. Hire an attorney to file the ancillary estate. It will be opened only to transfer title.

A: Since your father was a Florida resident but owned real property in Tennessee, you’ll need to initiate ancillary probate in Tennessee to handle that property. Tennessee doesn’t automatically recognize the Florida Letters of Administration, so yes—you will need to file a petition for ancillary probate in the probate court of the county where the Tennessee property is located, which is Bledsoe County in your case.

In your petition, you’ll need to present authenticated copies of the Florida probate documents, including the will, the Florida court order admitting the will to probate, and your Letters of Administration. The court will use these to establish your legal authority to act in Tennessee. Once approved, the Tennessee court can issue its own Letters of Ancillary Administration, which allow you to manage or transfer the property located in that state.

You’re not starting over—you’re just extending your authority across state lines so you can take care of your father’s full estate. It’s a common process when someone dies owning property in more than one state. Call the Bledsoe County probate clerk to ask about local forms and filing fees. You’ve already done the hard part in Florida; now it’s about following through so you can settle everything properly.