A will is a document that contains the final will of its owner (testator) and decides precisely how and by whom his or her estate will be used in case of death. As a preventative measure, it is highly recommended to come up with a last will and testament.
A thought-out and properly created will can be essential to your loved ones and relatives upon your passing even if you don’t possess lots of property and assets.
Here, you can find a Tennessee last will and testament form for download and the information that will settle your slightest doubts in relation to estate planning, kinds of last will, and ways to make a sound document.
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Requirements | State laws | |
Signing requirement | Two witnesses | 32-1-104. Will other than holographic or nuncupative — Signatures |
Age of testator | 18 or older | 32-1-102. Persons qualified to make a will |
Age of witnesses | 18 or older | 32-1-103. Witnesses — Who may act |
Self-proving wills | Allowed | 32-2-110. Affidavit of witnesses to prove will |
Handwritten wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | 32-1-104. Will other than holographic or nuncupative — Signatures |
Oral wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | 32-1-106. Nuncupative will. |
Holographic wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | 32-1-105. Holographic will |
Depositing a will | Possible with a Tennessee county chancery court A fee is $5 | 32-1-112. Deposit of will with probate court |
A power of attorney is a legal document that names a person, known as your agent or proxy (doesn’t need to be an attorney), to handle important things on your behalf when you are alive. There are two principal ones among the power of attorney kinds:
An executor is a person you trust and assign to make sure the will’s directions are executed. The same individual could be your will’s executor and power of attorney proxy.
A will in Tennessee is effective without notarization. However, in case you intend to add a self-proving affidavit to the last will and testament, you’ll have to attest it. Making your last will self-proving is actually a great idea because it quickens the probate and provides another level of security if the will’s credibility is contested.
For a holographic last will to be considered legally binding, you must handwrite the whole document, indicate the date of creating, and put your signature on it. Remember that such will is usually made when there is no other option and is replaced by a much more detailed document made with the help of a fillable will template or legal professional. Holographic wills can include unclear directions and could miss important terms, so they are harder to put in force and can hinder the probate substantially. Thus, it would be a better choice to go for the second solution we discuss below.
An attested will is usually typewritten since it’s commonly prepared by a legal professional or is based upon a last will form, like the one you may get here. You will need to have two witnesses (18 years and more) sign the last will and testament in your presence for it to be considered valid. In some states, you’d have to notarize the document as well, but in Tennessee, there’s no such prerequisite.
In order to make your will and modify it (to be testamentary capable), you have to fulfill certain requirements relating to your legal and mental capabilities (sound mind) first.
There are usually two requirements to meet: age and soundness of mind. In most states, you’ve got to be over 18 years old to be able to make a last will. Soundness of mind ensures that you’re mindful of your property and the beneficiaries of your belongings and understand the aftereffects of your actions fully.
It isn’t necessarily in Tennessee. Yet, if you wish to include a self-proving affidavit, it can be rather beneficial given that the document acts as an alternative for in-court testimony of witnesses at the time of probate.
In Tennessee, there’s no such term as community or marital property. That suggests that all of the possessions gained or increased while in the marriage do not have to be evenly shared between the two spouses.
Tennessee law permits you to exclude your marriage partner from your last will entirely, but your spouse will have the right to own a set minimum amount of your estate.
For everyone else, it is legal in Tennessee to disinherit family members in the will. Your adult children or any other family members can be legally disinherited completely in your last will and testament. To do that, include corresponding sections to your last will.
No, nobody but you is allowed to change your last will and testament. There is just one case when a third party can intervene. When you’re physically unable to sign your last will, another person is allowed to do it in your stead yet only with you present.
Yes, you’re allowed to alter it.
A testator can change or revoke their last will at any moment. The sole case that may disallow you to do it is when such doing is prohibited under the agreement you signed.
It’s recommended to modify your will if a serious event takes place in your life. These include but aren’t limited to:
In Tennessee, the law indicates that the court will accept a last will in case it’s destroyed or lost. Nevertheless, the probate court will be less likely to admit anything except for the initial version of the will to probate.
Tennessee law can make a supposition that the absence of the will means it’s revoked. That puts the responsibility on the advocate of the will to provide evidence of the mentioned last will and testament.
Things may get much more complicated when it comes to a holographic last will and testament. To provide evidence of its legality, the court requires testimony and sword witnesses. The reason for not providing the will and its elements is to be proven as well.
Based on Tennessee Estate Code, it’ll be possible for an individual to sign their last will and testament given that it’s your (as a testator) instruction and with you present.
It is possible to give a certain instruction via some ways, which include voice communication, a positive answer to an inquiry, or gesticulation. It is possible to have a notary sign the name of a testator who is physically incapable of doing it if the latter directs the notary in the presence of a witness. Such a witness is chosen the same way one would select a trustee – they must not have any legal or equitable interest in any property being the concern of or influenced by the last will.
Related documents | When to make it |
Codicil | There are several small adjustments you’d like to make to your will. |
Self-proving affidavit | You need to facilitate the probate in the future. |
Living will | You want to be sure that, in case you become incapacitated, you get treated exactly how you’d wish to. |
Living trust | You want to think about an alternative to a will. |