Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-103
This is the official text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-2-103, part of Tennessee’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Tennessee, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Vesting of estate - Net estate
Official statutory text
The real property of an intestate decedent shall vest immediately upon death of the decedent in the heirs as provided in § 31-2-104 . The real property of a testate decedent vests immediately upon death in the beneficiaries named in the will, unless the will contains a specific provision directing the real property to be administered as part of the estate subject to the control of the personal representative. Upon qualifying, the personal representative shall be vested with the personal property of the decedent for the purpose of first paying administration expenses, taxes, and funeral expenses and then for the payment of all other debts or obligations of the decedent as provided in § 30-2-317 . If the decedent's personal property is insufficient for the discharge or payment of a decedent's obligations, the personal representative may utilize the decedent's real property in accordance with title 30, chapter 2, part 4. After payment of debts and charges against the estate, the personal representative shall distribute the personal property of an intestate decedent to the decedent's heirs as prescribed in § 31-2-104 , and the property of a testate decedent to the distributees as prescribed in the decedent's will. Acts 1977, ch. 25, § 3; 1978, ch. 763, §§ 4, 5; T.C.A., §31-602; Acts 1985, ch. 140, § 27.
The real property of an intestate decedent shall vest immediately upon death of the decedent in the heirs as provided in § 31-2-104 . The real property of a testate decedent vests immediately upon death in the beneficiaries named in the will, unless the will contains a specific provision directing the real property to be administered as part of the estate subject to the control of the personal representative. Upon qualifying, the personal representative shall be vested with the personal property of the decedent for the purpose of first paying administration expenses, taxes, and funeral expenses and then for the payment of all other debts or obligations of the decedent as provided in § 30-2-317 . If the decedent's personal property is insufficient for the discharge or payment of a decedent's obligations, the personal representative may utilize the decedent's real property in accordance with title 30, chapter 2, part 4. After payment of debts and charges against the estate, the personal representative shall distribute the personal property of an intestate decedent to the decedent's heirs as prescribed in § 31-2-104 , and the property of a testate decedent to the distributees as prescribed in the decedent's will.
Acts 1977, ch. 25, § 3; 1978, ch. 763, §§ 4, 5; T.C.A., §31-602; Acts 1985, ch. 140, § 27.
The real property of an intestate decedent shall vest immediately upon death of the decedent in the heirs as provided in § 31-2-104 . The real property of a testate decedent vests immediately upon death in the beneficiaries named in the will, unless the will contains a specific provision directing the real property to be administered as part of the estate subject to the control of the personal representative. Upon qualifying, the personal representative shall be vested with the personal property of the decedent for the purpose of first paying administration expenses, taxes, and funeral expenses and then for the payment of all other debts or obligations of the decedent as provided in § 30-2-317 . If the decedent's personal property is insufficient for the discharge or payment of a decedent's obligations, the personal representative may utilize the decedent's real property in accordance with title 30, chapter 2, part 4. After payment of debts and charges against the estate, the personal representative shall distribute the personal property of an intestate decedent to the decedent's heirs as prescribed in § 31-2-104 , and the property of a testate decedent to the distributees as prescribed in the decedent's will.
Acts 1977, ch. 25, § 3; 1978, ch. 763, §§ 4, 5; T.C.A., §31-602; Acts 1985, ch. 140, § 27.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Tennessee?
Find a Tennessee lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.