(a) Any person who takes or destroys any valuable papers with intent to injure or defraud shall be punished as if for theft. If the value of the papers is not ascertainable, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor.(b) For the purposes of this section, 'valuable papers' includes: (1) Any bond, promissory note, bill of exchange, order, or certificate;(2) Any book of accounts respecting goods, money or other things;(3) Any deed or contract in force;(4) Any receipt, release, or defeasant;(5) Any instrument of writing whereby any demand, right or obligation is created, ascertained, increased, extinguished or diminished; or(6) Any other valuable paper writing.Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.
Tennessee Legal Code