Tennessee § 24-1-203 - Transactions with decedent or ward — Dead man's statute.

§ 24-1-203. Transactions with decedent or ward — Dead man's statute.

In actions or proceedings by or against executors, administrators, or guardians, in which judgments may be rendered for or against them, neither party shall be allowed to testify against the other as to any transaction with or statement by the testator, intestate, or ward, unless called to testify thereto by the opposite party. If a corporation is a party, this disqualification shall extend to its officers of every grade and its directors. Acts 1869-1870, ch. 78, § 2; Shan., § 5598; Code 1932, § 9780; Acts 1947, ch. 88, § 2; C. Supp. 1950, § 9780; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 24-105. Rule Reference. This section is referred to in the Advisory Commission Comments under Rule 601 of the Tennessee Rules of Evidence. Textbooks. Pritchard on Wills and Administration of Estates (4th ed., Phillips and Robinson), §§ 703, 704. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 1 Tenn. Juris., Advancements, § 4; 12 Tenn. Juris., Executors and Administrators, § 94; 20 Tenn. Juris., Parties, § 2; 23 Tenn. Juris., Stipulations, § 2; 25 Tenn. Juris., Witnesses, §§ 11, 13, 15, 21-24. Law Reviews. A Comparative Study of the Witness Rules in the Proposed Federal Rules of Evidence and in Tennessee Law (Jerry J. Phillips), 39 Tenn. L. Rev. 379. Competency and Impeachment of Witnesses (Leo Bearman, Jr.), 57 Tenn. L. Rev. 89 (1989). Evidence — Dead Man Statute — Observation of Physical Conditions Not a “Transaction” Within Meaning of Statute, 4 Vand. L. Rev. 913. Procedure and Evidence — 1957 Tennessee Survey (Edmund M. Morgan), 10 Vand. L. Rev. 1144. Procedure and Evidence — 1961 Tennessee Survey (Edmund M. Morgan), 14 Vand. L. Rev. 1353. Should Tennessee Bury the Dead Man Statute As Arkansas Has? (W. Dent Gitchel), 18 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. 195 (1989). The Dead Man's Statute (Donald F. Paine), 38 No. 3 Tenn. B.J. 23 (2002). The Howland Will Case: Mutual Wills and the Dead Woman's Statute (Donald F. Paine and Dan W. Holbrook), 39 No. 5 Tenn. B.J. 22 (2003). The Tennessee Dead Man's Statute, 49 Tenn. L. Rev. 343 (1982). Witnesses — Dead Man's Statute in Tort Actions, 21 Tenn. L. Rev. 788.