Redact Legal Tennessee Pour Over Will Forms For Free

Not only must the witnesses and testator sign the will, but they must all do so in the presence of each other. If one signs the will without the other being present, the will cannot be accepted. Tennessee requires strict compliance with these rules. If you do not meet any of these requirements, the will is invalid.

Although the courts will recognize handwritten wills, they must comply with T.C.A. § 32-1-105: No witness to a holographic will is necessary, but the signature and all its material provisions must be in the handwriting of the testator and the testator's handwriting must be proved by two (2) witnesses.

No, in Tennessee, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, Tennessee allows you to make your will "self-proving" and you'll need to go to a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it.

Tennessee law requires testators to be 18 and of sound mind, while two or more witnesses must sign the will to make it valid. The state also accepts nuncupative (oral) wills under certain conditions, and holographic (handwritten) wills also are valid.

If you know what property you own and how you want to give it away, you are ready to make your will. You are not required to use an attorney to draft your will. However, you must follow state-specific guidelines for signing your will to make it a valid legal document in Tennessee.

Tennessee does recognize holographic wills that meet the statutory requirements (not all states recognize them). The statute governing the requirements for a holographic will in Tennessee is very short.