Tennessee Supreme Court to Attorneys: You Don’t Have to Swear

“If I lose mine honour I lose myself.”

Antony and Cleopatra III, 4; Antony to Cleopatra

          On May 23rd, the Tennessee Supreme Court decided to streamline the declaration process applicable to Tennessee attorneys. Amendments adopted to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 46 now allow attorneys to use electronic signatures on unsworn declarations when filing electronically. No notary now necessary. The Court followed the actions of the General Assembly, approving changes to Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure 22, which allow the use of unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury instead of notarized affidavits.

         This move should accelerate the motion filing process for oft-harried practitioners such as yourselves and the present author.  A seemingly small adjustment, but any obstacle removed makes for a smoother procedural path.