Private Acts of 1988 Chapter 135

SECTION 1. All jurisdiction relating to the probate of wills and the administration of estates and related matters heretofore vested in the Probate Court of Sullivan County is hereby transferred to the Chancery Court of Sullivan County at Blountville. The Chancery Court at Blountville shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the administration of estates, and all matters relating thereto, heretofore vested in the Probate Court of Sullivan County. All active probate matters pending before the Probate Court on the effective date of this act shall remain in such court until such matters are completed.

SECTION 2. The Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court at Sullivan County shall serve as clerk for probate matters and shall be vested with the same powers and authority in such matters as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-16-201(b). The Clerk and Master shall receive no additional compensation for the duties for probate matters.

SECTION 3. By no later than the last day of the month in which this act becomes effective, the clerk of the Probate Court shall transfer all files and records, except those files and records pertaining to active cases pending before the Probate Court, concerning a probate matter in Sullivan County to the office of Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court at Blountville.

SECTION 4. Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1983 is repealed.

SECTION 5. This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the county legislative body of Sullivan County. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of such body and certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 6. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall become effective upon being approved as provided in Section 5.
Passed: February 18, 1988.