Chasity S. Grice, Attorney at Law

Chasity S. Grice, Attorney at Law Passionate estate planning attorney servicing clients in Tennessee and Texas. It is never easy, but we definitely make it our business to make it easier on you.

Our focus is on probate, estate planning, and elder law issues, which affect everyone at one point or another in their lives. We help guide you through decisions that affect your disabled or elderly loved ones, or guide you through the probate process in case you have lost a loved one. We understand that all individuals and small businesses, at one point or another, will need legal representation.

We also understand that strong representation and sincere dedication allow individuals to have a peace of mind in the midst of difficult situations. We are passionate about providing quality representation and spend numerous hours ensuring that our clients receive the best service possible. Additionally, we devote hours of time to pro bono work to ensure that everyone gets their day in court. We service areas located in Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton County, Tennessee counties. We strive for excellence in our work and remain dedicated to being one of the most passionate and dedicated attorneys in the community.

What happens if I die without a will?Most people think their assets go to who they choose. The truth is, state law decid...
05/11/2026

What happens if I die without a will?

Most people think their assets go to who they choose. The truth is, state law decides for you if there's no will. Here's how it works:

In Tennessee, without a will and no beneficiaries, your estate goes to your spouse and children first, then parents, then siblings—in that exact order. If you're single with no kids, your parents inherit. If you have no close family, this could get interesting.

This means:
→ Your best friend gets nothing
→ Your chosen charities get nothing
→ Your ex could inherit if you're estranged from family

Probate without a will? That's 6-12 months and thousands in court costs.

The fix is simple: have a will drafted now. Even better, establish a trust and preserve your assets. Your wishes matter. Make them legal.

What happens to your home when you die — and why title matters more than you think.Real property is one of the most comm...
03/20/2026

What happens to your home when you die — and why title matters more than you think.
Real property is one of the most commonly misunderstood assets in estate planning. How your home is titled determines everything about what happens to it at your death.
Sole ownership: The property goes through probate. Your will directs who receives it — but the court process must be completed first, which takes time and costs money.

Joint tenancy with right of survivorship: The surviving owner inherits automatically, outside of probate. Simple — but creates complications if both owners die simultaneously or if the survivor later remarries.

Tenancy in common: Each owner's share passes through their estate — meaning your co-owner could end up owning property with whoever inherits your share.

Held in a revocable living trust: Transfers to named beneficiaries immediately at death, outside of probate, with no court involvement. In Tennessee, this is the most effective way to keep real property out of probate while maintaining full control during your lifetime.
Unlike some other states, Tennessee does not offer a transfer on death deed, which makes proper titling — and trust planning — especially important for homeowners.

Understanding how your home is titled is one of the first steps in knowing whether your estate plan is actually working.

📥 The toolkit helps you document your property and how it's held: https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

What your executor actually has to do — and why choosing the right person matters.Most people pick an executor based on ...
03/20/2026

What your executor actually has to do — and why choosing the right person matters.

Most people pick an executor based on trust and proximity. That's a good start. But it's worth understanding what you're actually asking someone to do.

In Tennessee, an executor (called a "personal representative") is responsible for:

📌 Locating and filing your will with the probate court
📌 Notifying creditors and beneficiaries of the estate opening
📌 Inventorying and appraising all assets
📌 Paying valid debts, taxes, and administrative expenses
📌 Managing estate assets during the probate process
📌 Filing final income tax returns and any required estate tax returns
📌 Distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries according to the will
📌 Providing a full accounting to the court and beneficiaries

This process can take months. It requires organization, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate with attorneys, financial institutions, courts, and grieving family members — often simultaneously.

The person you choose should be:

✅ Trustworthy and impartial
✅ Organized and detail-oriented
✅ Willing and able to serve (health, geography, and availability matter)
✅ Aware that they're named — surprises create delays

One of the most important things you can do for your executor right now: leave them an organized, complete picture of your finances and legal affairs.
That's exactly what the Plan Like a King and Plan Like a Queen toolkits are built to help you create.

https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

Get your toolkit: https://stan.store/protectourish

Five documents every Tennessee adult should have — and what each one does.1. Last Will and TestamentDirects who receives...
03/19/2026

Five documents every Tennessee adult should have — and what each one does.

1. Last Will and Testament
Directs who receives your assets, names a guardian for minor children, and designates an executor to administer your estate.

2. Revocable Living Trust
Holds and transfers assets outside of probate. Provides ongoing management if you become incapacitated and controls how and when beneficiaries receive assets.

3. Durable Power of Attorney
Names someone to manage your financial affairs — pay bills, manage investments, handle real estate — if you become unable to do so.

4. Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate your own wishes.

5. Advance Directive / Living Will
Documents your specific wishes about life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, and end-of-life care in writing.

Not every family needs all five immediately. But every adult should understand what each document does and whether a gap in their plan exists.

The Plan Like a King and Plan Like a Queen toolkits help you organize the information you'll need before drafting any of these documents.

https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

What do you want your family to know when you're no longer here to tell them?A will transfers assets. A trust manages th...
03/19/2026

What do you want your family to know when you're no longer here to tell them?

A will transfers assets. A trust manages them. But neither document answers the questions your family will actually carry:

What were your values? What did you believe in?
How did you want your children raised?
What do you wish you'd told them while you were alive?
Are there family stories, history, or lessons you want passed down?
What do you want them to know about how you built what you had?

An ethical will — sometimes called a legacy letter — captures this. It's not a legal document. It's a personal one, and it may be the most meaningful thing you leave behind.
The Plan Like a Queen toolkit includes reflection prompts and legacy-focused exercises that help you start putting this into words.

See what's inside: https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

Beneficiary designations override your will. Most people don't know this.Your will does not control what happens to your...
03/18/2026

Beneficiary designations override your will. Most people don't know this.
Your will does not control what happens to your:

401(k) or IRA
Life insurance proceeds
Payable-on-death (POD) bank accounts
Transfer-on-death (TOD) investment accounts

These assets pass directly to whoever is named as beneficiary — regardless of what your will says.

This creates serious problems when:
❌ An ex-spouse is still named as beneficiary after a divorce
❌ A deceased person is named and no contingent beneficiary was designated
❌ A minor child is named and receives funds directly (requiring court oversight)
❌ The beneficiary designation conflicts with your trust or estate plan

Review your beneficiary designations every 2–3 years and after every major life event.

The Plan Like a King and Plan Like a Queen toolkits include a dedicated beneficiary checklist so nothing slips through the cracks.

See what's inside: https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

7 steps to organize your legal life.Most people miss something crucial in their estate plan. Do you know what it is?Our ...
03/17/2026

7 steps to organize your legal life.

Most people miss something crucial in their estate plan. Do you know what it is?

Our 7-module course breaks it all down, from protecting your home to making sure your family is covered. Each module gives you a simple, actionable tip you can use right now.

Ready to feel secure about your future? Click to see what you’re missing.

https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

Business owners: your estate plan and your business succession plan are not the same thing.Many business owners focus en...
03/17/2026

Business owners: your estate plan and your business succession plan are not the same thing.

Many business owners focus entirely on their operating agreements and business insurance — and never address what happens to the business at death or incapacity.

Here's what's left unresolved without a plan:
❓ Who has authority to sign contracts or make payroll if you're incapacitated?
❓ Does your business interest pass through your will (and probate) or outside of it?
❓ Have you documented where business accounts, passwords, and key contacts are?
❓ Is there a buy-sell agreement in place if you have partners?

Start with what you can control right now: getting your financial and legal information organized and accessible to the people who need it.

The Plan Like a King toolkit includes asset, insurance, and beneficiary checklists built for people who take charge of family and financial security.

📥 Learn more: https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

The #1 thing your attorney wishes you'd bring to your first estate planning meeting:A list of your assets. Not a perfec...
03/16/2026

The #1 thing your attorney wishes you'd bring to your first estate planning meeting:

A list of your assets. Not a perfect one. Not a notarized one. Just a working list. Most consultations spend the first 30–45 minutes covering information you already know — accounts, properties, insurance policies, beneficiary designations — because clients come in unprepared. Here's what that list should include:

✅ Bank and investment accounts (with approximate balances)
✅ Real property (address, how it's titled)
✅ Life insurance policies (insurer, policy number, named beneficiaries)
✅ Retirement accounts (401k, IRA — and who's listed as beneficiary)
✅ Business interests, if any
✅ Digital assets (online accounts, crypto, etc.)
✅ Outstanding debts

Our Command Center estate organizer — included in both the King and Queen toolkits — walks you through exactly this process with guided prompts.

See what's inside:
https://protectourish-kq-toolkit.sintra.site/

What Happens to Your Family Without an Estate PlanMost people don't realize that dying without a will — called dying "in...
03/14/2026

What Happens to Your Family Without an Estate Plan

Most people don't realize that dying without a will — called dying "intestate" — doesn't mean your assets disappear. It means the state decides who gets them, according to a fixed formula.

In Tennessee, intestate succession laws determine distribution based on your marital status and surviving relatives. Your actual wishes don't factor in.

Beyond asset distribution, here's what's also unresolved without a plan:

For parents of minor children: No named guardian means a judge appoints one. It may not be who you would have chosen.

For blended families: Stepchildren typically have no inheritance rights under intestate laws unless legally adopted.

For unmarried partners: Without a will, a long-term partner may receive nothing.

For anyone: Without a healthcare directive and power of attorney, family members may disagree — or be legally blocked from making decisions on your behalf.

These are solvable problems. A basic estate plan addresses all of them.

Download my free checklist to see exactly what documents your family needs — and what each one does.

stan.store/protectourish

Address

1755 Lynnfield Road, Suite 103
Memphis, TN
38119

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19012900650

Website

http://chasitygrice.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chasity S. Grice, Attorney at Law posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Chasity S. Grice, Attorney at Law:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category