Tennessee Code Title 47. Commercial Instruments and Transactions § 47-50-105

(a) When any person, by a nonnegotiable order in writing, signed by the person's proper hand, directs the payment of any money in the hands of another person, to any person whatsoever, or to the bearer, the money shall, by virtue thereof, be due and payable to the person to whom the order is drawn payable.

(b) Such order may be put in suit by the person to whom the money is made payable, against the person who drew the same, or against the person on whom it is drawn, after acceptance.

(c) No holder of such order shall prosecute any suit against the drawer, for the money therein specified, before the order has been first protested for nonacceptance, and notice thereof given to the drawer before action brought. If any such action be brought on any such order before such notice and refusal of payment by the drawer, the plaintiff shall be nonsuited, and pay costs.