(a) The death of a principal who has executed a written power of attorney, durable or otherwise, does not revoke or terminate the agency as to the attorney in fact or other person, who, without actual knowledge of the death of the principal, acts in good faith under the power. Any action so taken, unless otherwise invalid or unenforceable, binds successors in interest of the principal.

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 34-6-105

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Person: means any individual, nonhuman entity or governmental agency. See Tennessee Code 34-1-101
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) The disability or incapacity of a principal who has previously executed a written power of attorney that is not a durable power does not revoke or terminate the agency as to the attorney in fact or other person, who without actual knowledge of the disability or incapacity of the principal, acts in good faith under the power. Any action so taken, unless otherwise invalid or unenforceable, binds the principal and the principal’s successors in interest.
(c) As to acts undertaken in good faith reliance thereon, an affidavit executed by the attorney in fact under either a durable power of attorney, stating that the attorney in fact does not have actual knowledge of the termination of the durable power of attorney by revocation or death of the principal at the time of the exercise of the power, or a power of attorney that is not durable, stating that the attorney in fact does not have actual knowledge of the termination of the power of attorney by revocation or disability, incapacity or death of the principal at the time of the exercise of the power, is conclusive proof of the nonrevocation or nontermination of the power at that time. If the exercise of the power of attorney requires execution and delivery of any instrument that is recordable, the affidavit when authenticated for record is likewise recordable. This subsection (c) does not affect any provision in a power of attorney for its termination by expiration of time or occurrence of an event other than express revocation in the principal’s capacity.