What Do I Need to Sign My Will in Tennessee?
Witness, notary, and remote online notarization (RON) requirements for wills in Tennessee.
Tennessee requires 2 witnesses for a willT.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. A witness must be at least 18 years old.
Tennessee does not require notarization for a will to be validT.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The notary's usual role in Tennessee is the optional self-proving affidavit: a notarized statement signed with the will that lets it enter probate without locating the witnesses.
Tennessee has authorized remote online notarization for many documentsTenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-301 et seq.Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, but wills are excludedTenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-301 et seq.Verified Sep 9, 2026View source; the notarization happens in person.
To execute a will in Tennessee: Find 2 adults to serve as witnesses. Review witness restrictions to ensure eligibility. Get the document notarized (standard practice, not required). Wet signature and in-person signing required
Yes. Tennessee has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code, but its probate code accepts a will that was valid under the law of the place it was signed. The practical wrinkle is the self-proving affidavit: a foreign will without one forces the witnesses to be located and either appear or sign declarations, and re-executing on a Tennessee form, or adding a Tennessee affidavit, removes that step. The Tennessee document portability tool carries the recognition rule by document type.
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Free forms for planning your estate in Tennessee: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
In Tennessee, a will is signed before 2T.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyT.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Tennessee allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-1805; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-36-.13Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Financial Power of Attorney
Tennessee requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityT.C.A. §§ 34-6-101 to 34-6-112; §§ 66-22-101, 66-24-101, 66-26-101, 66-26-103Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementT.C.A. §§ 34-6-101 to 34-6-112; §§ 66-22-101, 66-24-101, 66-26-101, 66-26-103Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.
Living Will
In Tennessee, the living will is the Living WillTenn. Code Ann. §§ 32-11-101 to 32-11-113 (Tennessee Right to Natural Death Act)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.
Pour-Over Will
In Tennessee, a pour-over will is signed before 2T.C.A. § 32-1-104Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Tennessee
Free tools for planning your estate in Tennessee: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Tennessee, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Tennessee runs $3,150Estimate: 10 hours at $315, Clio's Tennessee Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,725Estimate: 15 hours at $315, Clio's Tennessee Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in Tennessee runs $903Estimate: 3 hours at $301, Clio's Tennessee Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,806Estimate: 6 hours at $301, Clio's Tennessee Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $24,527T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
In Tennessee, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingT.C.A. § 34-2-103 (priority of persons; parent designation in a will or other written document)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18T.C.A. § 1-3-105(a)(1), (a)(17) (age of majority = 18; minor = under 18); § 34-2-106(a) (guardianship of the person terminates at 18)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Tennessee takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.7%T.C.A. § 30-2-317(a)(1) (attorney fees are a first-priority cost of administration — "reasonable compensation to the personal representative and the personal representative's counsel"); see also § 30-2-606. No statutory percentage or fee schedule.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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Tennessee Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Tennessee probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.