Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley P.C.
Eddy R. Smith

Eddy R. Smith, Esq.

Estate Planning; Trust, Probate, and Estate Administration and Litigation; and Business Succession and Planning

Since 1998, Eddy R. Smith has worked with individuals and families to explore their goals and to match strategies and resources to their needs. He identifies planning issues and opportunities, works to enhance family dynamics, and helps navigate life, business, and financial transitions.

Eddy’s practice is devoted to planning, administration, and litigation related to estates, trusts, businesses, and nonprofits. He has argued three reported Tennessee Court of Appeals cases.

Eddy is a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, serving on the Fiduciary Litigation and Fiduciary Administration Committees, and previously served as Chair of the TBA Estate Planning and Probate Section and President of the Knoxville Estate Planning Council.

U.S. News & World Report named Eddy in The Best Lawyers in America© in the practice areas of Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates every year he's practiced law from 2012, including 2025. In 2024 and 2025, he also received recognition for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Tax Law.

Cityview Magazine recognized Eddy as a Top Attorney in Knoxville in the practice areas of Estate Planning/Trusts, Taxation, and Wills/Probate for 2022-2024, alongside previous recognitions in Appellate Practice and Contract Law in 2021 and Income Tax/IRS Solutions in 2022 and 2024. He was also recognized for Business Litigation in 2022 and 2023.

About Eddy

Eddy was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1998. Eddy is also a member of the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) and Tennessee Bar Association (TBA).

Eddy brings significant experience in advanced wealth planning. Prior to joining Kennerly Montgomery, he practiced trust and estate law for 20 years as a principal of the Knoxville law firm Holbrook Peterson Smith and worked two years for Merrill Lynch Private Wealth. Prior to law school, Eddy served two years on U.S. Army active duty and worked five years as a full-time college minister.

He and his wife have been married since 1988 and have three adult children.

Education

Eddy received a B.A. in Economics from Virginia Tech (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), an M.A. in Religion from Lipscomb University, and a J.D. from The University of Tennessee College of Law (summa cum laude, Order of the Coif).

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    Reported Cases

    Publications

    Eddy writes a trusts and estates column appearing three times per year in the Tennessee Bar Journal called “Where There’s A Will,” and has authored articles on trusts, estate planning, charitable giving, and nonprofits in the Tennessee Bar Journal, Tennessee CPA Journal, Dicta (Knoxville Bar Association), Maine Bar Journal, Louisville Bar Briefs, Across the Bar (San Joaquin County, CA Bar), and The Barrister (Camden County, NJ Bar).

    Reach out to Eddy Today!

    Phone: (865) 546-7311

    Fax: 865-524-1773

    Or message them directly below:

    Eddy R. Smith (Direct Form)

    Speaking Engagements

    • Tennessee Bar Association Estate Planning & Probate Forum, "Planning and Administration Impacts of Recent Modifications to Tennessee's Uniform Trust Code," 2022
    • ACTEC Podcast, "An Overview of Tennessee Trust Law," 2021
    • Knoxville Bar Association, "Now is the Time: Succession Planning for Solo and Small Firms" (Co-presenter), 2021
    • Knoxville Bar Association, "Retirement Plan Administration and Planning for Law Firms and Lawyers in the Wake of the SECURE Act, CARES Act, and More" (Co-presenter), 2021
    • Smoky Mountain Planned Giving Council, “The Philanthropic Conversation: Understanding Advisor Approaches & Client Expectations,” 2020
    • Tennessee Bankers Association, Trust and Wealth Management Conference, “And Now for Something Completely Different: Recent Legal Developments Change the Landscape for Trust Planning and Administration,” 2016
    • Knoxville Bar Association, “Smooth Sailing Ahead: Keeping the Nonprofit Ship off the Rocks and Lawyers, Board Members, Staff, and Donors from Falling Overboard,” 2015, 2013
    • National Business Institute, “Tax-Exempt Organizations from Start to Finish,” 2014
    • Tennessee Bar Association Tax Section, “Update on Estate Planning and Asset Protection in Tennessee,” 2013
    • Tennessee Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Forum, “Clayton QTIP Trusts (They Have Nothing to Do with Trailers or Ear Wax),” 2012
    • Tennessee Bankers Association Trust and Wealth Management Conference, “The 2010 Window on Generation-Skipping Transfers or How to Double the Value of a Trust,” 2010
    • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Southern Region Meeting, “Nonprofit Governance and the New IRS Form 990,” 2010
    • Knoxville Bar Association, “What Will Congress Do? Estate Planning and Administration in 2010 and Beyond,” 2010
    • Knoxville Estate Planning Council, “Uncertain Death Taxes,” 2010
    • Professional Education Systems Institute, “The Complete Trust Workshop,” 2003-10
    • Singleton B. Wolfe Memorial Federal Tax Conference, “Significant Changes for Tax-Exempt Entities,” 2009
    • Society of Financial Service Professionals, Knoxville Chapter, “Estate Planning for Family Business Owners,” 2009
    • Singleton B. Wolfe Memorial Federal Tax Conference, “Selected Estate and Charitable Planning Developments,” 2008
    • University of Tennessee MBA Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program, “Nonprofit Organizations,” 2008
    • Knoxville Bar Association, “Lawyers and Philanthropy,” 2005-07
    • East Tennessee Financial Planners Association, “Estate Planning Interactive Case Study,” 2007
    • Tennessee Bar Association, “Estate Planning and Charitable Giving Aspects of the Pension Protection Act of 2006,” 2006
    • Tennessee Leadership Conference Association of Community Leadership, “Creating and Funding a Legacy: Planned Giving from the Charity’s and Donor’s Perspectives,” 2006
    • Sevier County Bar Association, “Top Ten Estate Planning Mistakes in Tennessee,” 2006
    • Smoky Mountain Planned Giving Council, “Charitable Bequests,” 2005, 2002
    • Tennessee Bar Association, “Lawyers and Philanthropy,” 2004
    • Lorman Education Services, “Trust Administration in Tennessee,” 2004
    • Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, Knoxville Chapter, “Getting Your House in Order: An Overview of Estate Planning,” 2003
    • East Tennessee Financial Planners Association, “Legal and Tax Issues in Estate Planning,” 2003
    • Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council, “All in the Family: The Use of Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies in Estate Planning,” 2002
    • Singleton B. Wolfe Memorial Federal Tax Conference, “Estate Planning for IRAs and Qualified Plan Benefits,” 2002
    • Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council, “Estate Planning and Drafting in Response to the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act,” 2001
    • United Way Nonprofit Management Center, “Creating and Funding a Legacy: Planned Giving from the Charity’s and Donor’s Perspectives,” 2001
    • Knoxville Estate Planning Council, “What You Need to Know About the Biggest Estate and Gift Tax Changes in 20 Years,” 2001
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