---
title: Healthcare Directive in Tennessee (2026)
state: Tennessee
state_abbreviation: TN
document_type: Healthcare Directive
updated: '2026-08-26T19:40:02Z'
reading_time: 2 min read
url: https://killswitch.rip/states/tennessee/healthcare-directive
requirements:
  witnesses: 2
  minimum_age: 18
  dnr_separate: true
  special_rules:
  notary_required: true
  witness_restrictions: Cannot be the agent or healthcare provider
laws:
  estate_tax: false
  inheritance_tax: false
  primary_statute: Tenn. Code §32-1-104
  probate_threshold: 50000
  community_property: false
costs:
  diy_range: 39-99
  attorney_range: 500-1500
  attorney_average: 800
  killswitch_price: 39
  probate_cost_percentage: 3
---

# Healthcare Directive in Tennessee (2026)

An Advance Healthcare Directive in Tennessee is your way of telling doctors what to do when you can't tell them yourself. It's also how you pick someone to make medical decisions for you, because "I dunno, ask my mom" isn't a viable healthcare strategy when you're unconscious.

## Requirements

Tennessee requires 2 witnesses and a notary for a valid healthcare directive. You need to be at least 18 and mentally competent. **Witness restrictions:** Cannot be the agent or healthcare provider.

## What it covers

Your healthcare directive in Tennessee addresses the big uncomfortable questions: Do you want life-sustaining treatment? What about artificial nutrition? Pain management preferences? Organ donation? These are conversations nobody wants to have, which is exactly why you need to have them now, in writing, before someone else has to guess.

**Important:** In Tennessee, a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a separate document from your healthcare directive. You'll need to talk to your doctor about that one separately.

## Choosing your healthcare agent

Pick someone who can handle pressure, knows your values, and won't crumble when a doctor asks them hard questions at 3 AM. This person should know you well enough to make decisions you'd make for yourself, not the decisions *they'd* want for you.

## Tennessee law

Under Tenn. Code §32-1-104, your healthcare directive is legally binding in Tennessee. Healthcare providers who refuse to follow it must transfer your care to someone who will. Your agent has the legal authority to access your medical records, talk to your doctors, and make treatment decisions.

## Don't wait

Here's the thing about medical emergencies: they don't send a calendar invite. One car accident, one stroke, one bad fall, and suddenly your family is making gut-wrenching decisions with zero guidance. A healthcare directive takes 15 minutes to fill out. That's less time than you spent choosing what to watch on Netflix last night.




## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is an advance healthcare directive in Tennessee?

It's a legal document that tells Tennessee doctors what medical treatment you want (or don't want) if you can't speak for yourself. It also names someone to make healthcare decisions for you. Think of it as your medical voice when you've lost yours.

### Do I need a notary for a healthcare directive in Tennessee?

Yes, Tennessee requires notarization for healthcare directives. One more hoop to jump through, but it ensures your wishes are taken seriously when it matters most.

### Can I change my healthcare directive in Tennessee?

Yes, you can update or revoke your Tennessee healthcare directive at any time while you're mentally competent. Just make sure you destroy old copies and distribute the new one to your healthcare agent, doctor, and anyone else who had a copy.

### Who can be a witness for a healthcare directive in Tennessee?

Cannot be the agent or healthcare provider