Whenever a decedent leaves a small estate, it may be administered in the following
manner: after the expiration of forty-five (45) days from the date of decedent’s death
(the court may, for good cause shown, reduce the 45-day period), provided no petition
for the appointment of a personal representative of the decedent has been filed, one
(1) or more of the decedent’s competent, adult legatees or devisees or personal representatives
named in the decedent’s will, if a will was left, or heirs or next of kin, if no will
was left, or in either a testate or intestate estate, any creditor proving such creditor’s
debt on oath before the court, shall file an affidavit with the clerk of the court.
Tenn. Code Ann. §30-4-103(1) (2014)