For purposes of determining whether an offense was committed under § 39-15-502:

(1) Any transfer of property valued in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) in a twelve-month period, whether in a single transaction or multiple transactions, by an elderly or vulnerable adult to a nonrelative whom the transferor has known for fewer than two (2) years before the first transfer and for which the transferor did not receive reciprocal value in goods or services creates a permissive inference that the transfer was effectuated without the effective consent of the owner.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-15-503

  • Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Deprive: means to:
    (A) Withhold property from the owner permanently or for such a period of time as to substantially diminish the value or enjoyment of the property to the owner. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Effective consent: means assent in fact, whether express or apparent, including assent by one legally authorized to act for another. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Owner: means a person, other than the defendant, who has possession of or any interest other than a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest in property, even though that possession or interest is unlawful and without whose consent the defendant has no authority to exert control over the property. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Property: means anything of value, including, but not limited to, money, real estate, tangible or intangible personal property, including anything severed from land, library material, contract rights, choses-in-action, interests in or claims to wealth, credit, admission or transportation tickets, captured or domestic animals, food and drink, electric or other power. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Services: includes labor, skill, professional service, transportation, telephone, mail, gas, electricity, steam, water, cable television, entertainment subscription service or other public services, accommodations in hotels, restaurants or elsewhere, admissions to exhibitions, use of vehicles or other movable property, and any other activity or product considered in the ordinary course of business to be a service, regardless of whether it is listed in this subdivision (a)(38) or a specific statute exists covering the same or similar conduct. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Vulnerable adult: means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older who, because of intellectual disability or physical dysfunction, is unable to fully manage the person's own resources, carry out all or a portion of the activities of daily living, or fully protect against neglect, exploitation, or hazardous or abusive situations without assistance from others. See Tennessee Code 39-15-501
(2) Subdivision (1) applies regardless of whether the transfer or transfers are denoted by the parties as a gift or loan except that it shall not apply to a valid loan evidenced in writing and which includes definite repayment dates. In the event repayment of any such loan is in default, in whole or in part, for more than sixty (60) days, the inference described in subdivision (1) applies. Subdivision (1) does not apply to persons or entities that operate a legitimate financial institution.
(3) This section does not apply to valid charitable donations to nonprofit organizations qualifying for tax exempt status under the internal revenue code.
(4) A court shall instruct jurors that they may, but are not required to, infer that the transfer of money or property was effectuated without the effective consent of the owner, with the intent to deprive the owner of the money or property, upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the facts listed in subdivision (1). The court shall also instruct jurors that they may find a defendant guilty only if persuaded that each element of the offense has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
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