Detailed answer — how this works under Tennessee practice

Start with the basics: a buyout usually means one heir pays the others an amount equal to their share of the property’s fair market value so the buyer gets full title. The appraisal determines that fair market value. Whether a co‑heir must reimburse you for the appraisal depends on several facts:

• Who hired and paid for the appraisal? If one heir hired and paid for an appraisal on their own initiative, courts frequently treat that as a voluntary expense unless the other heirs agreed beforehand to share costs.
• Is the estate open and is there an executor or administrator? If an executor/administrator ordered and paid for the appraisal as part of estate administration, the appraisal may be payable from estate funds as an administration expense. Tennessee probate practice permits necessary and reasonable costs of administration to be paid from the estate; in that situation individual heirs cannot later refuse to account for their pro rata share of estate expenses without a court determination.
• Was there a written agreement among heirs? A signed agreement saying the appraisal cost will be split or reimbursed by the buying heir is enforceable as a contract. Absent a written agreement, enforcement is harder but still possible in some circumstances (e.g., equitable claims in a partition action).
• Is there a partition or buyout process pending in court? In a filed partition action, the court can require appraisal, allocation of costs, and can direct reimbursement or set off costs in the final accounting. Tennessee courts have equitable power to allocate costs fairly when dividing property among co‑owners.

Typical scenarios and likely outcomes

Here are common fact patterns and what they usually mean under Tennessee practice:

• Executor orders appraisal during probate: The executor can generally pay reasonable appraisal fees from estate funds and later account for those as estate expenses. Heirs receive distributions net of administration costs unless the court orders otherwise.
• One co‑heir hires an appraisal to negotiate a buyout and asks for reimbursement before closing: If the other co‑heirs agreed in writing (or agreed orally in a clearly provable way), you can enforce reimbursement as a contract claim. If there is no agreement, the paying heir may have to seek a court order (often in a partition or probate accounting) to recover the cost or have it credited against the buyout price.
• Heirs disagree and one files for partition: The court may order an appraisal, allocate appraisal costs between the parties, and either adjust distributions or order reimbursement depending on fairness and who benefited.

Practical legal mechanisms in Tennessee

Under Tennessee practice you can use these mechanisms to require or seek reimbursement:

• Ask the executor to treat the appraisal as an administration expense paid from estate funds and reflected in the estate accounting.
• Obtain a written reimbursement agreement before finalizing the buyout. A short contract specifying appraisal cost sharing or that the appraisal cost will be credited against the buyer’s buyout amount avoids disputes.
• If negotiations fail, ask the probate or chancery court to resolve cost allocation — for example, in a partition action the judge can allocate costs equitably and enter an enforceable order.
• When a co‑heir refuses payment, you may be able to: (a) offset the appraisal cost against what the co‑heir owes in the buyout; (b) file a small claims or circuit court claim for reimbursement; or (c) ask the probate court to include the cost in the estate accounting.

Evidence that helps your claim

Collect and preserve these items to improve your chance of reimbursement:

• Written estimate/invoice from the appraiser showing date, amount, and what was appraised.
• Any written communications (emails, texts) in which heirs discuss splitting costs or using the appraisal for a buyout.
• Proof of payment (cancelled check, bank record) showing who actually paid the appraiser.
• If applicable, an administrator’s receipts and estate accountings filed with the probate court.

Timing and practical advice

Require reimbursement before closing by using clear, time‑limited written demands and, if necessary, escrow instructions. If the buyer is closing through an attorney or title company, ask the closing agent to hold funds in escrow pending resolution or to accept a written offset documented in the closing statement.

What to do step‑by‑step

1. Confirm whether an executor or administrator is appointed; if so, raise the issue with them and request the appraisal be treated as an estate expense.
2. Demand reimbursement in writing from the co‑heir, attach the invoice, and state a deadline.
3. If the co‑heir is the buyer, propose a written offset or credit in the buyout agreement for the appraisal cost.
4. If the co‑heir refuses, consider filing a motion in probate (for an accounting or order) or a small civil claim for reimbursement; in contested ownerships consider a partition action where the court can allocate costs.
5. Consider mediation — it’s faster and cheaper than litigation and effective in many sibling/heir disputes.

Resources

For general Tennessee probate and court information, start with the Tennessee Judicial Branch: https://www.tncourts.gov/. For legislative materials and the Tennessee Code, use the Tennessee legislature website: https://www.capitol.tn.gov/. Your local county probate court clerk can also explain local procedures and filing steps.

Final takeaway

You can sometimes require a co‑heir to reimburse appraisal costs before a buyout, especially when there is a written agreement, an executor treats the cost as an administration expense, or a court orders reimbursement. Absent agreement or an order, recovery is possible but typically requires negotiation or court action. The safest route is a short written agreement allocating appraisal costs or asking the court to resolve cost allocation before closing.

Disclaimer: This article is educational and informational only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney‑client relationship. For advice about your specific situation in Tennessee, consult a licensed Tennessee attorney or contact your local probate court.

Helpful Hints

• Get everything in writing — oral agreements on cost sharing are harder to enforce.
• Ask the estate’s executor to pay reasonable appraisal fees from the estate if the appraisal benefits all heirs.
• Use escrow language or a closing credit to protect yourself if you plan to accept a buyout but want reimbursement first.
• If you plan to start a partition or probate dispute, track all receipts, communications, and appraiser credentials.
• Consider mediation before filing court actions — it preserves relationships and usually costs less.
• Check with your county probate clerk for local rules; procedures can vary by county in Tennessee.