The Tennessee Last Will and Testament is a legal document that allows a testator the opportunity to provide exact instructions with regard to how they wish to have their estate distributed upon the death of the testator. This document usually allows for continued protective provisions for spouses and children, as well, may choose other beneficiaries such as friends, selected institutions for which they were involved among others. Once the document is satisfactorily completed by the testator, it must be provided signature by two witnesses and those signatures must be witnessed by a notary public. The contents of the document are generally read to all beneficiaries by a chosen, trusted executor on behalf of the testator.

Laws – Title 32 (Wills)

Signing (Section 32-1-104) – The Testator must sign in the presence of Two (2) or more Witnesses. Those witnesses must sign the Will in the presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other.

How to Write

Step 1 – The testator of this document may be established by placing their name in the first line at the top of the document. This should be followed by:

• The provision of the testator’s name
• City and County of testator’s residence
• Review the remainder of the paragraph
• Review “Expenses and Taxes”

Step 2 – Appointing an Executor:

• The Name the testator’s representative
• The Name of the representative’s City and County
• Representative’s State

In selecting an alternate executor, this will secure a second representative trusted by the testator to execute estate in the manor in which the testator would  have chosen. This step is necessary in the event that the initially selected executor, would become unable or unwilling to execute the will as stated- Testator must enter:

• The name of the second representative
• City
• County
• Alternate’s State

Step 3 – Disposition of Property – Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries – Enter the following information:

• Their name
• An address for any named beneficiary
• Describe the relationship to the testator
• Enter the last four digits of the SSN for all persons named
• Lists of property that the testator shall provide respectively

Step 4 – Read all titled sections:

• Omission
• Bond
• Discretionary Powers of Personal Representative
• Contesting Beneficiary
• Guardian Ad Litem  Not Required
• Gender
• Assignment
• Governing Law
• Binding Arrangement

Step 5 – Signatures – Anyone who shall serve as a signatory must be present to one to another at the time of the signing of this document. Enter:

• Name of the testator
• Date of testator’s signature in dd/mm/yyyy format
• Signature of testator
• Testator’s printed name

Witnesses – Witnesses should review the brief statement – then provide

• Date of the signatures – dd/mm/yyyy
• Name of the testator

Witness 1 – 

• Witness Signature
• Physical Address

Witness 2 –

• Witness Signature
• Physical Address

Step 6 – Affidavit of Testament – All must review, then enter:

• State
• County
• Testator’s name
• Name the 1st witness
• Name the 2nd witness
• AND
• Signature of testator
• Signature of 1st Witness
• Signature of 2nd Witness

Step 7 – Notary Public- As the testator completes the document, any signature shall be witnessed and acknowledge by a state notary public.