Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204 (2026)

Endorsement

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) "Endorsement" means a signature, other than that of a signer as maker, drawer, or acceptor, that alone or accompanied by other words is made on an instrument for the purpose of (i) negotiating the instrument, (ii) restricting payment of the instrument, or (iii) incurring endorser's liability on the instrument, but regardless of the intent of the signer, a signature and its accompanying words is an endorsement unless the accompanying words, terms of the instrument, place of the signature, or other circumstances unambiguously indicate that the signature was made for a purpose other than endorsement. For the purpose of determining whether a signature is made on an instrument, a paper affixed to the instrument is a part of the instrument.

(b) "Endorser" means a person who makes an endorsement.

(c) For the purpose of determining whether the transferee of an instrument is a holder, an endorsement that transfers a security interest in the instrument is effective as an unqualified endorsement of the instrument.

(d) If an instrument is payable to a holder under a name that is not the name of the holder, endorsement may be made by the holder in the name stated in the instrument or in the holder's name or both, but signature in both names may be required by a person paying or taking the instrument for value or collection.

Acts 1995, ch. 397, § 2.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2021 · leading case: Ingram v. Earthman, 993 S.W.2d 611 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998).

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Ingram v. Earthman, 993 S.W.2d 611 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204 (2) (1979). 21 .”

Lawyers Title Ins. v. United Am. Bank of Memphis, 21 F. Supp. 2d 785 (W.D. Tenn. 1998). · cites it 2× “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-3-204. 13 . UAB also relies on Bon Bon Prods.”

Mostoller v. Saxon Mortg. Servs., Inc. (In re Hunter), 466 B.R. 439 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2012). “§ 47-3-204(a), (c) (2001). “If an endorsement is made by the holder of an instrument and it is not a special endorsement [payable to an identified person], it is a ‘blank endorsement.”

Sheila Whitmore v. Green Tree Servicing, 658 F. App'x 793 (6th Cir. 2016). · cites it 2× “See Tenn. Code § 47-3-204(a) (defining endorsement).”

Deutscher v. Tennesco, Inc. (In re S. Indus. Banking Corp.), 45 B.R. 97 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 1984). · cites it 2× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-3-204(1) (1979). As a garnishor, plaintiff’s rights against the garnishees are no greater than those of Tennesco.”

Harpeth Fin. Servs., LLC v. Jim Clay Pinson, Jr. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 3× “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204 (d). “[B]ecause an [i]ndorsement in a name different from that used in the instrument may raise a question about its validity and an [i]ndorsement in a name that is not the correct name of the payee may raise a problem of identifying the…”

Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Ashmore, 698 F. App'x 286 (6th Cir. 2017). · cites it 2× “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204 (a). The Note was not signed on its face by Citizens.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204(1) — 1 case

Deutscher v. Tennesco, Inc. (In re S. Indus. Banking Corp.), 45 B.R. 97 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 1984). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-3-204(1) (1979). As a garnishor, plaintiff’s rights against the garnishees are no greater than those of Tennesco.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204(a) — 2 cases

Sheila Whitmore v. Green Tree Servicing, 658 F. App'x 793 (6th Cir. 2016). “See Tenn. Code § 47-3-204(a) (defining endorsement).”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204(d) — 1 case

Harpeth Fin. Servs., LLC v. Jim Clay Pinson, Jr. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-3-204 (d). “[B]ecause an [i]ndorsement in a name different from that used in the instrument may raise a question about its validity and an [i]ndorsement in a name that is not the correct name of the payee may raise a problem of identifying the…”

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