🎸 How to Create a Trust in Tennessee (2025 Guide)

Tennessee families use trusts to skip probate, protect family property, and ensure their wishes are honored — without relying on a court or a $5,000 estate planning attorney.

This guide walks you through how to create a legal, enforceable trust in Tennessee — step by step.

🔎 What Is a Trust?

A trust is a legal arrangement where you (the grantor) give another person (the trustee) the authority to manage assets for someone else (the beneficiary).

The most popular option in Tennessee is the Revocable Living Trust, which:

• Avoids Tennessee probate court

• Keeps your estate private

• Transfers your assets automatically when you die

• Helps you plan for incapacity

• Gives you total control while you’re alive

📍 Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Trust in Tennessee

1. Choose Your Trust Type

Start with:
✅ Revocable Living Trust

Other trust types often used in TN:
☐ Minor’s Trust
☐ Special Needs Trust
☐ Spendthrift Trust
☐ Dynasty Trust

✅ TrustGenie includes all of these in a single affordable plan.

2. Assign the Key People

☐ Grantor – Person creating the trust (usually you)
☐ Trustee – Manages the assets in the trust
☐ Successor Trustee – Takes over if the trustee dies or is unable to serve
☐ Beneficiaries – People or entities who will receive trust property

3. List Your Assets

☐ Tennessee real estate (home, cabin, land, rental)
☐ Bank and credit union accounts
☐ Investment accounts
☐ Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA)
☐ Life insurance (optional)
☐ Business interests (LLCs, corporations)
☐ Vehicles
☐ Jewelry, collectibles, firearms, and heirlooms

✅ TrustGenie includes a Schedule A template and General Assignment form.

4. Sign and Notarize the Trust (TN Rules)

• Must be in writing

• Signed by the grantor

• Notarization is required for legal validity

• Witnesses are not required, but may be used for added protection

✅ TrustGenie provides full Tennessee-specific signing instructions.

5. Fund the Trust (Do Not Skip This Step)

☐ File a Tennessee Warranty or Quitclaim Deed for each property with the local Register of Deeds
☐ Retitle bank and investment accounts in the trust’s name
☐ Use a General Assignment to transfer personal property
☐ Update beneficiary designations (optional, for insurance or retirement)
☐ Keep documentation of every transfer for your trustee

🚨 An unfunded trust does NOT avoid probate — funding is essential.

⚠️ Common Mistakes in Tennessee

❌ Failing to fund the trust after signing it
❌ Using a will instead of a trust (TN probate is slow and public)
❌ Leaving minor children assets without a subtrust
❌ Forgetting to update the trust after major life changes
❌ Using a generic template not adapted for TN deed laws

💰 Cost of Creating a Trust in Tennessee

Method Average Cost TN Estate Planning Attorney$2,500 – $6,500 Basic Online Templates$100 – $400 TrustGenie Plan$150/year (includes Tennessee-specific documents + deed templates)

🧠 Can You Make a Trust in Tennessee Without a Lawyer?

Yes — under Tennessee law, any competent adult can create a trust if:

• The trust is in writing

• It names a trustee and beneficiaries

• It is signed by the grantor

• The trust is properly funded with real assets

✅ TrustGenie ensures legal compliance in plain English — with support built-in.

📎 Download: Tennessee Trust Setup Checklist

Stay on track with this printable checklist:

• Deed transfer steps

• Signing instructions

• Asset funding guide

• Maintenance reminders

📥 [Download the TN Trust Checklist]

✅ Ready to Get Started?

Tennessee families trust TrustGenie to protect their assets, avoid court, and keep control of their legacy.

👉 [Start Your Tennessee Trust – $150/year All-In-One Plan]

🔗 Related Posts:

• [How to Transfer Real Estate into a Trust in TN]

• [Avoiding Probate in Tennessee]

• [Tennessee Trusts vs. Wills: What’s Better for You?]

✍️ Written by:

TrustGenie Legal Team
Helping Tennessee families secure their future — simply, legally, and affordably.