2018 Tennessee Code
Title 10 - Public Libraries, Archives and Records
Chapter 7 - Public Records
Part 5 - Miscellaneous Provisions
§ 10-7-515. Personally identifying information on documents -- Redaction.

(a) The preparer of any document recorded in the office of the county register of deeds shall not place personally identifying information on any document filed or recorded in the office of the county register of deeds, other than a power of attorney. However, the county register shall not refuse to record a document for failure of the preparer to comply with the prohibition contained in this section regarding use of personally identifying information; nor shall the failure to comply with such prohibition affect the validity or recordability of any document.

(b) Any person or the surviving spouse, attorney-in-fact, or court appointed guardian of the person, may request that a county register of deeds redact the person's personally identifying information from any recorded document, if the records are stored in a manner that permits redaction.

(c) The request for redaction of personally identifying information pursuant to subsection (b) shall be made on a paper writing, in a form substantially as follows:

• REQUEST FOR REDACTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FROM ELECTRONIC DATABASES

• 1. Full name of individual whose personally identifying information will be redacted as it appears on the document: ______________________

• 2. Name of person making the request if different than above: ______________________

• 3. If not the individual whose personally identifying information will be redacted, identify the legal relationship that entitles you to make the request: (check one)

  • a. Surviving spouse _____

  • b. Attorney-in-fact _____

  • c. Court appointed guardian _____

  • 4. Type of record:______________________

  • 5. Book and page number or other reference identifying where the document is recorded in the _____ County Register's office:

  • Book No. __________ Page No. __________ or Instrument No. __________

  • 6. Signature of person making the request: ___________________

  • State of Tennessee

  • County of ___________________

  • Personally appeared before me, ___________________ (person duly authorized to take acknowledgments in [__________] county), the within named _________________, with whom I am personally acquainted (or proven to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) and who acknowledges that such person executed the within instrument for the purpose of making a request of the Register of Deeds of ___________________ County, Tennessee, to redact personally identifying information from the aforementioned record, excepting microfilm records.

  • Witness my hand this __________ day of ___________________, 20

  • _________________

  • (signature of person taking acknowledgement)

  • [Space for Seal of Office]

  • ..................…

(d) The completed request form provided in subsection (c) may be recorded in the office of the county register of deeds where submitted. The register has no duty to inquire beyond the acknowledged request to verify the identity or authority of the person requesting the redaction.

(e) Upon recording the written request, the county register shall act in accordance with the request to redact the personally identifying information from electronic databases in the office of the county register where practicable. If redaction is not practicable, the county register shall not record the request form and shall verbally or by writing explain why redaction is impracticable to the person making the request.

(f) [Deleted by 2015 amendment.]

(g) A county register of deeds may redact any personally identifying information that is found on a recorded document maintained on a computer or removable computer storage media, including CD-ROM disk, if the records are stored in a manner that permits redaction.

(h) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, compliance with this section shall satisfy all of the obligations of a county register of deeds under § 10-7-504(a)(29) relative to the nondisclosure of personally identifying information.

(i) As used in this section, "personally identifying information" has the same meaning as defined in § 10-7-504(a)(29).