{"data":{"id":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-34-6-302","jurisdiction":"us-tn","citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 34-6-302","heading":"Delegation of authority - \"Parent\" defined","body":"(a) (1) A parent or parents of a minor child may delegate to any adult person residing in this state temporary care-giving authority regarding the minor child when hardship prevents the parent or parents from caring for the child. This authority may be delegated without the approval of a court by executing in writing a power of attorney for care of a minor child on a form provided by the department of children's services. Hardships may include but are not limited to: (A) The serious illness or incarceration of a parent or legal guardian; (B) The physical or mental condition of the parent or legal guardian or the child is such that care and supervision of the child cannot be provided; or (C) The loss or uninhabitability of the child's home as the result of a natural disaster. (2) A local education agency (LEA) is not required to enroll a student with a power of attorney stating a hardship other than one (1) of the three (3) specifically stated in subdivisions (a)(1)(A)-(C). The LEA may, however, enroll a student with a properly executed power of attorney for other hardships on a case by case basis. (b) The power of attorney for care of the minor child shall be signed by the parent and acknowledged before a notary public or two (2) witnesses who shall sign and date their signatures concurrently and in each other's presence. (c) For purposes of this part the term \"parent\" includes a legal guardian or legal custodian of the minor child. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 696,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014. Acts 2003, ch. 71, § 1; 2004, ch. 521, § 1.\n(a) (1) A parent or parents of a minor child may delegate to any adult person residing in this state temporary care-giving authority regarding the minor child when hardship prevents the parent or parents from caring for the child. This authority may be delegated without the approval of a court by executing in writing a power of attorney for care of a minor child on a form provided by the department of children's services. Hardships may include but are not limited to: (A) The serious illness or incarceration of a parent or legal guardian; (B) The physical or mental condition of the parent or legal guardian or the child is such that care and supervision of the child cannot be provided; or (C) The loss or uninhabitability of the child's home as the result of a natural disaster. (2) A local education agency (LEA) is not required to enroll a student with a power of attorney stating a hardship other than one (1) of the three (3) specifically stated in subdivisions (a)(1)(A)-(C). The LEA may, however, enroll a student with a properly executed power of attorney for other hardships on a case by case basis.\n(1) A parent or parents of a minor child may delegate to any adult person residing in this state temporary care-giving authority regarding the minor child when hardship prevents the parent or parents from caring for the child. This authority may be delegated without the approval of a court by executing in writing a power of attorney for care of a minor child on a form provided by the department of children's services. Hardships may include but are not limited to: (A) The serious illness or incarceration of a parent or legal guardian; (B) The physical or mental condition of the parent or legal guardian or the child is such that care and supervision of the child cannot be provided; or (C) The loss or uninhabitability of the child's home as the result of a natural disaster.\n(A) The serious illness or incarceration of a parent or legal guardian;\n(B) The physical or mental condition of the parent or legal guardian or the child is such that care and supervision of the child cannot be provided; or\n(C) The loss or uninhabitability of the child's home as the result of a natural disaster.\nThe loss or uninhabitability of the child's home as the result of a natural disaster.\n(A) The serious illness or incarceration of a parent or legal guardian;\n(B) The physical or mental condition of the parent or legal guardian or the child is such that care and supervision of the child cannot be provided; or\n(C) The loss or uninhabitability of the child's home as the result of a natural disaster.\n(2) A local education agency (LEA) is not required to enroll a student with a power of attorney stating a hardship other than one (1) of the three (3) specifically stated in subdivisions (a)(1)(A)-(C). The LEA may, however, enroll a student with a properly executed power of attorney for other hardships on a case by case basis.\n(b) The power of attorney for care of the minor child shall be signed by the parent and acknowledged before a notary public or two (2) witnesses who shall sign and date their signatures concurrently and in each other's presence.\n(c) For purposes of this part the term \"parent\" includes a legal guardian or legal custodian of the minor child.","path":["TN Code","Title 34","Chapter 6"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_tn_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:26Z","sha256":"20f971cbb27b3d043f5a96569a7da83be0e39fb850920fed7b560de11a0af303","source_id":"us-tn","stale":false,"prev":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-34-6-301","next":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-34-6-303"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}