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Newly
released statistics on the number of Tennessee Probate and Conservatorship
cases filed each year show that annual filings of Probate and Trust matters are
increasing on a consistent basis.
Conservatorship matters, on the other hand, remain at a pretty
consistent level over the last 6 years. The
Tennessee
Judiciary recently published their annual report providing
statistics on case filings and other important Tennessee legal system
information. This new report covers
fiscal year 2012-2013 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) and is the most recent
report available.
The
total number of Probate and Trust case filings in Tennessee courts from 2007 to
2013 are as follows:
2007-2008 11,875
2008-2009 11,785
2009-2010 12,246
2010-2011 12,914
2011-2012 13,409
2012-2013 14,105
Obviously
as the population gets older across the United States of America, and in
Tennessee, there will be more and more Probate matters filed in Tennessee. Obviously, more education and online
information will teach people how to avoid Probate in Tennessee where it is
possible, which could lessen the number of Probate matter filings. However, I expect the number of Probate
matters to continue to increase across Tennessee.
The
total number of Conservatorship case filings in Tennessee courts from 2007 to
2013 are as follows:
2007-2008 3,713
2008-2009 3,788
2009-2010 3,468
2010-2011 3,253
2011-2012 3,501
2012-2013 3,205
I
am actually surprised that the number of Conservatorships filed in Tennessee
has not increased more over the last few years.
Once again, our aging population has made Conservatorships more common
in many situations. Also, more and more
banks and companies will simply not deal with people who are helping their
loved ones unless they have formal legal authority to do so. So, I expect this number to increase in the
coming years but as of this time, the number of Conservatorship case filings appear
to be at a consistent level.
Follow me on Twitter at @jasonalee for updates from the Tennessee Wills and
Estates blog.
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