How to Fill Out Tennessee Power of Attorney for Minor Child

You have the official Tennessee Power of Attorney form for a minor child in front of you, and you need to get it right the first time. A form with missing fields, improper witnessing or no hardship ground will get rejected at the school registrar's desk — and every day without the paperwork is a day the child misses school or cannot see a doctor.

Here is how to complete it correctly.

Before You Start: What You Need Ready

Gather these before sitting down to fill out the form:

• Full legal names and current addresses for both the parent(s) and the caregiver
• The child's full legal name, date of birth and Social Security number
• A clear understanding of which hardship ground applies
• A notary public appointment scheduled, OR two adults who are not related to any party available to witness

Step 1: Parent Information and Hardship Designation

The parent completes this section. They write in their full legal name, address and relationship to the child.

Then the hardship ground. This is the section most people get wrong by leaving it blank. The parent must check at least one box:

• Serious illness or incarceration — covers parents in the hospital, in treatment facilities, or in jail/prison
• Physical or mental condition — covers chronic illness, disability, severe mental health conditions
• Loss or uninhabitability of the child's home — resulting from a natural disaster
• Need for treatment — covers parents entering rehab, psychiatric treatment, or extended medical care
• Other hardship — requires a written explanation; be specific ("I am deployed overseas for 12 months")

If you are not sure which one applies, pick the one that most accurately describes the situation. Vague write-ins under "other" can trigger follow-up scrutiny, especially in Knox County, where the Superintendent's office retains authority to investigate hardship claims.

Step 2: Caregiver Information

You (the caregiver) fill in your full legal name, address and relationship to the child. You affirm that you accept responsibility for the child's care.

Step 3: Signatures

Both the parent and the caregiver must sign the document with wet-ink signatures. Electronic signatures are not standard practice for this form.

Step 4: Witnessing or Notarization

You have two options — pick one:

Option A — Notary Public: Take the completed form (unsigned) to a notary. Both the parent and caregiver sign in front of the notary, who stamps and seals the document. This is the preferred option because schools and clinics rarely question a notarized form.

Option B — Two Concurrent Witnesses: If a notary is not accessible — the parent is incarcerated, for example, or you are in a rural area — two adult witnesses can observe the signatures instead. The rules:

• Both witnesses must be present simultaneously
• They must sign and date the document in each other's presence
• Neither witness can be related by blood or marriage to the child, the parent, or the caregiver
• Neighbors, coworkers or church members are fine; aunts, grandparents on the other side, or in-laws are not

Step 5: The Non-Signing Parent Notice

Both living parents who hold legal custody generally must execute the document, subject to the exceptions in T.C.A. § 34-6-303:

1. The non-executing parent is deceased
2. The executing parent has sole legal custody and the other parent consents in writing
3. The executing parent holds legal custody and sends a copy of the completed POA, together with formal notice of T.C.A. § 34-6-305 revocation rights, via certified mail, return receipt requested, to the non-custodial parent's last known address

Keep the certified mail receipt. The school may ask for proof.

After Execution

Make certified copies. Give one to each school, each health care provider, and any childcare facility. Keep the original in a fireproof location. Store a phone photo as a backup for emergencies.

The form does not expire on its own — it stays valid until the child turns 18, a parent revokes it in writing, or a court issues a custody/guardianship order.

The Tennessee School and Medical Consent Guide covers every field in detail, with a complete document preparation checklist and troubleshooting guide for common rejection scenarios.

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