September 2025

Key Takeaways: Without an estate plan, Tennessee’s default intestacy laws — not you — decide who inherits your assets. If both parents die without naming a guardian, a Tennessee court decides who raises the children. Naming your own decision-makers now keeps that choice with your family, not the court. Dan Widboom, Attorney at Linville Estate

Key Takeaways: Creating an estate plan typically takes just a couple hours of actual meeting time. Most of the time comes from decisions, like choosing a guardian, not paperwork. A complimentary 15-minute phone consultation with a Tennessee estate planning attorney shows what the process involves. Trent Linville, Owner and Lead Attorney at Linville Estate Law

Key Takeaways: Preparing to make an estate plan starts with three steps: inventory assets, gather documents, think through goals. Most estate planning documents can be changed later, so early decisions don’t have to be perfect. A free discovery call with a Tennessee estate planning attorney is a good first step. Dan Widboom, Attorney at Linville

Key Takeaways: Unfamiliar legal terms like “trust,” “probate,” and “executor” make estate planning feel confusing. Fear of choosing the wrong executor or guardian can stall people, even though documents can be changed later. A free discovery call is a low-pressure way to start sorting through the confusion. Ryan Alspaugh, Attorney at Linville Estate Law Starting

Key Takeaways: Estate planning typically costs far less than people assume, and skipping it usually costs more. Updating an existing estate plan typically costs less than creating a new one from scratch. Asking a Tennessee estate planning attorney about flat-fee options is a low-pressure way to get real numbers. Trent Linville, Owner and Lead Attorney

Key Takeaways: Estate planning is about protecting your family, not just your fortune — your “estate” is any money or property you own. Tennessee probate can take many months, sometimes years, to settle an estate without a plan. Thinking about what happens to your family, not just your assets, is a good place to start.