Document end-of-life preferences in Tennessee: Tennessee Living Will
What is a Tennessee Living Will?
A Tennessee Living Will is a legal document that outlines your preferences with regard to health care, such as your refusal of or request for a specific medical treatment, in addition to the (optional) naming of a chosen healthcare agent.
The individual making a Living Will is known as the "principal," while the person or entity gaining authority to carry out the principal's wishes is called the "agent." Designed for Tennessee residents, this free Living Will is made for use in Hamilton County, Davidson County, Knox County, and in every other county throughout the state. Any Tennessee Living Will form from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized for your particular situation. As a result of this document, your healthcare facilities will have a record of your preferences, and your representative can provide proof that they have the authority to act in your interest.
When to use a Tennessee Living Will:
- You want to specify your wishes so that it is more likely they will be carried out.
- You are facing the possibility of surgery or a hospitalization.
- You have declining health.
- You have been diagnosed with a terminal condition.
How do I get my Tennessee Living Will reviewed?
If you already have a Tennessee Living Will and want to have it reviewed, or if you have questions about creating or using one, there are a few ways to get help.
Use Rocket Copilot to ask questions or review your document; this helps you better understand what it says and identify anything that may need a closer look.
If you are looking for help from a Legal Pro, you can also ask a question and receive a response within one business day, or request a more in-depth document review.
Sample Tennessee Living Will
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Alternate Agent: If the person named above is unable or unwilling to make health care decisions for me, I appoint as alternate:
| Alternate Agent Name: |
| Address: |
,
| Phone: | Home: Work: |
| ) Permanent Unconscious Condition: I become totally unaware of people or surroundings with little chance of ever waking up from the coma. |
| ) Permanent Confusion: I become unable to remember, understand or make decisions. I do not recognize loved ones or cannot have a clear conversation with them. |
| ) Dependent in all Activities of Daily Living: I am no longer able to talk clearly or move by myself. I depend on others for feeding, bathing, dressing and walking. Rehabilitation or any other restorative treatment will not help. |
| ) End-Stage Illnesses: I have an illness that has reached its final stages in spite of full treatment. Examples: Widespread cancer that does not respond anymore to treatment; chronic and/or damaged heart and lungs, where oxygen needed most of the time and activities are limited due to the feeling of suffocation. |
I WANT the following treatment:
| ) CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): To make the heart beat again and restore breathing after it has stopped. Usually this involves electric shock, chest compressions, and breathing assistance. |
| ) Life Support / Other Artificial Support: Continuous use of breathing machine, IV fluids, medications, and other equipment that helps the lungs, heart, kidneys and other organs to continue to work. |
| ) Treatment of New Conditions: Use of surgery, blood transfusions, or antibiotics that will deal with a new condition but will not help the main illness. |
| ) Tube Feeding/IV fluids: Use of tubes to deliver food and water to patient's stomach or use of IV fluids into a vein which would include artificially delivered nutrition and hydration. |
I DO NOT WANT the following treatment:
| ) CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): To make the heart beat again and restore breathing after it has stopped. Usually this involves electric shock, chest compressions, and breathing assistance. |
| ) Life Support / Other Artificial Support: Continuous use of breathing machine, IV fluids, medications, and other equipment that helps the lungs, heart, kidneys and other organs to continue to work. |
| ) Treatment of New Conditions: Use of surgery, blood transfusions, or antibiotics that will deal with a new condition but will not help the main illness. |
| ) Tube Feeding/IV fluids: Use of tubes to deliver food and water to patient's stomach or use of IV fluids into a vein which would include artificially delivered nutrition and hydration. |
. Organ Donation: Upon my death, I wish to make the following anatomical gift:
Any organ/tissue
My entire body
Only the following organs/tissues:
. OTHER SPECIFIC REQUESTS:
I understand that I may revoke this by either of the following methods:
(a) Written revocation dated and signed by me, and effectively communicated to the attending physician or other concerned health care provider; or
(b) Oral statement of revocation effectively communicated to the attending physician.
I understand the full import of this declaration, and I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this declaration. In acknowledgment whereof, I do hereinafter affix my signature on this the __________ day of ____________________, 20____.
Signature(s)
Your signature should either be witnessed by two competent adults or notarized. If witnessed, neither witness should be the person you appointed as your agent, and at least one of the witnesses should be someone who is not related to you or entitled to any part of your estate.
| Signature: | ________________________________________ |
| Name: |
Last 4 digits of my SSN: ____________
| _____ | (your Agent) |
| * | You should discuss the document and your wishes with any person you want to designate as an agent before doing so to assure they agree to act on your behalf. |
Tennessee Living Will FAQs
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How do I write a Living Will in Tennessee?
It is very simple to document your medical preferences using a free Tennessee Living Will template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Living Will - Provide a few details, and we will do the rest
- Send or share - Discuss your wishes with your healthcare agent(s) or seek legal help
- Sign it and make it legal - Mandatory or not, witnesses and notarization are encouraged
This method will often end up being much less time-consuming than hiring a conventional lawyer. If needed, you may start a Living Will on behalf of your spouse or another family member, and then have them sign when ready. Please keep in mind that for this document to be accepted as legally valid, the principal must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. If the principal is already unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship could be necessary. When managing such a situation, it's a good idea for you to speak with an Legal Pro.
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Who should make a Living Will?
Anyone who is over 18 ought to have a Living Will in place. Though it can be difficult to acknowledge, a time might come when you are not able to make medical decisions on your own. Here are a few typical occasions where you might find it helpful to make or update your Living Will:
- You've been given a terminal diagnosis
- You are facing the possibility of surgery or period of hospitalization
- You have plans to live in an adult care facility
- You are aging or have declining health
Whether this Tennessee Living Will has been drafted as part of a long-term plan or created as a result of a recent change in your health, witnesses and/or notarization can help to protect your document if someone challenges its validity.
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Do I need to work with a lawyer for my Living Will in Tennessee?
It’s a good idea to have important documents like your Tennessee Living Will reviewed before signing, so you fully understand your choices and help avoid unintended outcomes. The problem is that some attorneys may not review documents they didn’t prepare, while others may require a retainer or high hourly fees. This can make getting a legal review of your Tennessee Living Willdifficult and time-consuming.
Rocket Lawyer makes the process easier. With Rocket Lawyer, you can request a review from a Legal Pro or ask questions about your document. You can also use Rocket Copilot to review your document, identify potential issues, and check that everything is complete before signing.
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What might I usually need to pay to make a Living Will in Tennessee?
Attorney fees for drafting or reviewing a Tennessee Living Will can vary widely. Many lawyers charge hourly rates that may range from around $100 for less experienced attorneys to $350 or more per hour for highly experienced attorneys in major metropolitan areas. For more routine documents, some attorneys may offer flat-fee pricing.
The total cost will depend on several factors, including your location, the attorney’s experience, and the complexity of your agreement. More documents or situations involving negotiation will typically require more time and increase the overall cost.
With Rocket Lawyer, you can create a personalized Tennessee Living Will tailored to your specific needs—without the high cost typically associated with hiring a lawyer. If you have questions or want additional peace of mind, you can also get your document reviewed or ask a Legal Pro for guidance.
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Does a Living Will need to be notarized or witnessed in Tennessee?
The guidelines for Living Wills will vary in each state; however, in Tennessee, your document needs to be acknowledged by a notary public or signed by two witnesses. At least one witness should not be a relative, spouse, adopted child, heir or any other beneficiary. Your healthcare provider and their employees are also prohibited. As a basic principle, your witnesses must not be under 18 years old, and none of them should simultaneously be your healthcare agent.
