Tennessee Code Title 30. Administration of Estates § 30-2-318

(a) At any time prior to the expiration of the period fixed for the payment of claims, the personal representative may pay the preferred claims as provided in § 30-2-317 for which the estate may be liable, and upon order of court any debt of the decedent for which security may have been given that is in danger of being sold by way of foreclosure to the detriment of the estate.

(b) If the executor or administrator knows or is willing to undertake that an estate is solvent, the executor or administrator may pay debts, but if the executor or administrator pays any debts other than those specified in subsection (a) prior to the expiration of the time fixed for the payment of claims, and the estate proves insolvent, the executor or administrator and the sureties of the executor or administrator shall be liable to each and every creditor for the creditor's ratable share of the insolvent estate.