What is the Statute of Limitations for a Tennessee Probate Estate to be Opened to Prosecute a Claim Against the United States Government?

Tennessee has a specific statute that provides there is no statute of limitations for opening up an estate in Tennessee in order to prosecute a claim against the United States Government.  Specifically, T.C.A. § 30-1-110(3) provides as follows:

The time within which administration may be granted shall be as follows:

(3) Prosecuting Claims against Government. A special administration may be granted for the purpose of prosecuting any claim against the government of the United States, without any limitation of time.

As a result, if an estate needs to be opened in Tennessee for the purpose of prosecuting a claim against the United States Government, this can be done at any time after the decedent’s death.  Obviously, there may still be an underlying statute of limitations for the claim against the United States Government, but there is no limitation of time for the actual opening of the estate under Tennessee law.  An example of a claim that has been brought against the United States Government to which this statute would apply would be the “Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation”.  In order to get a paid out settlement in the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation case in Tennessee (or elsewhere) for a deceased person, an estate must be opened up in Tennessee.