Tennessee Laws
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Are Autopsy Reports Public in Tennessee? (2026)
Yes. Tennessee autopsy and toxicology reports are public records you can request from the regional forensic center or county medical examiner, with a few exemptions.
Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Tennessee? (2026 T.C.A. 39-17-1302)
Tennessee bans knuckles: possession or sale is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months 29 days, $2,500 fine) and can be a Class E felony at schools or courthouses.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in Tennessee? Psilocybin Laws (2026)
Psilocybin is Schedule I in Tennessee. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor and sale a Class B felony, with higher tiers by weight, for minors and near schools.
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Bankruptcy in Tennessee (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Tennessee opted out of federal exemptions. See the $35,000 homestead ($52,500 for joint owners), the $10,000 personal-property wildcard, and the means test.
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Common Law Marriage in Tennessee: Is It Recognized? (2026)
Tennessee does not allow couples to form a common-law marriage. Under Tenn. Code Ann. section 36-3-103, marriage requires a license. Tennessee does recognize valid common-law marriages from other states.
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How Long Is a Life Sentence in Tennessee? (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to life sentences in Tennessee: parole eligibility, LWOP rules, notable cases, recent legislative changes, and sentencing statutes. Updated March 2026.
How to Find a Cause of Death in Tennessee (2026)
How to find someone's cause of death in Tennessee: it is on the certified death certificate (restricted to close family for 50 years) and the autopsy report.
How to Get a Tennessee Death Certificate (2026)
Order a Tennessee death certificate from the Department of Health Office of Vital Records for $15 per copy. See who is eligible and how to request one.
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Is Blackmail Illegal in Tennessee? Extortion Laws and Penalties
Tennessee charges blackmail as extortion under 39-14-112, a Class D felony with a 2 to 12 year statutory range. Covers the threat list and the restitution defense.
Is Embezzlement a Felony in Tennessee? Theft, Forgery and Penalties
Tennessee treats embezzlement as theft under T.C.A. 39-14-101 and 39-14-103, generally a felony above $1,000. Forgery is never less than a Class E felony.
Is Jaywalking Illegal in Tennessee? Crosswalk Rules and Penalty
Tennessee pedestrians crossing outside a crosswalk must yield, and cities may require crosswalks. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor: fine up to $50, plus court costs.
Is Kratom Legal in Tennessee? (2026 Law)
Tennessee banned kratom on July 1, 2026. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor and sale is a Class C felony under Public Chapter 950, with no age exception.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Tennessee? (2026 Law)
No. T.C.A. 55-8-182(c) bars riding a motorcycle between lanes or rows of vehicles in Tennessee. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor, up to $50 and 30 days.
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Legal Separation in Tennessee: Grounds, Orders and Divorce (2026)
Tennessee allows legal separation under T.C.A. 36-4-102 on divorce grounds. Learn what the court can order and how separation can become a divorce after two years.
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Medical Malpractice Laws in Tennessee (2026): Caps
Tennessee medical malpractice in 2026: a 1-year deadline, 3-year repose, a $750,000 noneconomic cap ($1M catastrophic), plus pre-suit notice rules.
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Tennessee Adoption Records: Original Birth Certificates and Sealed Files
Tennessee adult adoptees and other eligible relatives can request sealed adoption records through DCS for $150. Here is who qualifies and how it works.
Tennessee Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting
How Tennessee criminal law protects minors by age, with rape of a child, statutory rape tiers, authority-figure offenses, grooming, penalties and reporting.
Tennessee Age Verification Law: Protect Tennessee Minors Act Explained
Tennessee's Protect Tennessee Minors Act requires age verification for adult content. The 6th Circuit stayed an injunction against it in January 2025, not 2026.
Tennessee AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
Guide to Tennessee AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.
Tennessee AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)
Learn how Tennessee consent laws apply to AI meeting recorders. One-party consent rules, penalties, and compliance.
Tennessee Alimony Laws: The Four Types of Spousal Support (2026)
Tennessee recognizes four types of alimony under Tenn. Code Ann. section 36-5-121: rehabilitative (preferred), alimony in futuro, transitional, and alimony in solido. No formula; courts weigh 12 factors.
Tennessee Annulment Laws: Void and Voidable Marriages (2026)
How annulment works in Tennessee: T.C.A. 36-4-119, void marriages (kinship, bigamy, forced marriage), voidable grounds from case law, and underage marriages.
Tennessee Assault Laws: Simple vs Aggravated Assault and Penalties
Tennessee has one assault offense, no separate battery crime. See when assault becomes a felony, protected victims, domestic assault and penalty ranges.
Tennessee At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights
Is Tennessee an at-will state? Yes. Learn the public-policy, implied-contract, and right-to-work rules that limit at-will employment in Tennessee.
Tennessee Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties
Understand Tennessee audio recording laws under Tenn. Code Ann. 39-13-601. One-party consent rules for conversations, wiretapping penalties, and legal exceptions.
Tennessee Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
Tennessee background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
Tennessee Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)
Tennessee biometric privacy law guide covering TIPA sensitive data consent rules, consumer rights, AG enforcement penalties, and the pending biometric data protection act.
Tennessee Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Eligibility
Tennessee Vital Records charges $15 per certified birth certificate at the Nashville office or any county health department. How to order, who can, and how to amend.
Tennessee Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim
Tennessee car accident laws: at-fault state, 25/50/25 minimums, modified comparative fault 50% bar, and a critical 1-year injury deadline. Know your rights.
Tennessee Car Seat Laws (2026): 5 Stages, Ages & Penalty
Tennessee stages car seats by age and size through age 15, under Tenn. Code Ann. 55-9-602. See rear-seat rules, exemptions, and the unattended-child law.
Tennessee Child Custody Laws (2026): Parenting Plans, Best Interests, and Your Rights
Tennessee child custody explained: permanent parenting plan, primary residential parent, 17 best-interests factors (TCA 36-6-106, eff. 7/1/2025), relocation rules, and how to modify an order.
Tennessee Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator
Tennessee uses the Income Shares Model for child support. Learn how orders are calculated, modified, and enforced under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04.
Tennessee Court Records: How to Search, What's Public, and How to Seal Them (2026)
Tennessee has no statewide trial court portal. Learn how Davidson, Shelby, and other counties handle court records search, plus appellate PCH access.
Tennessee Dashcam Laws: Legality, Mounting Rules, and Evidence Use
Learn Tennessee dashcam laws including mounting rules, audio recording consent, insurance implications, and using dashcam footage as evidence in court.
Tennessee Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)
Tennessee requires data breach notification within 45 days under Tenn. Code 47-18-2107. Learn about the private right of action, FIPS 140-2 encryption safe harbor, and CRA reporting at 1,000+.
Tennessee Data Privacy Laws: TIPA Consumer Rights Guide (2026)
Tennessee Information Protection Act (TIPA) gives consumers opt-out rights for data sales and targeted ads. Learn about TIPA thresholds, penalties up to $7,500, the NIST defense, and breach notification rules.
Tennessee Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One
Tennessee is a closed-record state: certified death certificates go only to family or legal reps until records are 50 years old. See who qualifies, the $15 fee, and how to order.
Tennessee Debt Collection Laws: The 25% Cap and the Child Credit Most Debtors Miss
Tennessee caps wage garnishment at 25%, plus a per-child credit and a way to pause it with a payment plan. What is verified, and what Tennessee law leaves open.
Tennessee Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
Tennessee has enacted multiple deepfake laws: the ELVIS Act (voice cloning, eff. July 2024), the Preventing Deepfake Images Act (NCII felony, eff. July 2025), and a new election-deepfake disclosure law (eff. July 2026).
Tennessee Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Tennessee defamation laws: slander is 6 months (T.C.A. 28-3-103), libel is 1 year (28-3-104), plus the Tennessee Public Participation Act anti-SLAPP.
Tennessee Disorderly Conduct and Trespass Laws: Penalties (2026)
Tennessee disorderly conduct (39-17-305) is a Class C misdemeanor. Trespass is Class C, Class A with a vehicle since July 2026; felony forms are narrow.
Tennessee Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process
Tennessee divorce laws: irreconcilable differences requires a written MDA, 2-year separation option, 60/90-day wait, equitable distribution. Residency: 6 months.
Tennessee Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights
Tennessee dog bite laws explained: strict liability under TCA 44-8-413, the residential exclusion, one-year filing deadline, and damages caps.
Tennessee Drone Laws (2026): Warrants, Privacy & Shoot-Downs
Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-13-609 requires police to get a warrant before using a drone to gather evidence. See the exceptions and evidence-deletion rule.
Tennessee DUI Laws: Penalties, BAC & License (2026)
Tennessee DUI laws: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense penalties under TCA 55-10-402, the mandatory 1-year interlock, license revocation, and the look-back.
Tennessee E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)
Tennessee's electric foot scooter law caps device eligibility at 20 mph, but the actual operating speed limit is 15 mph under T.C.A. 55-8-306. Full rules here.
Tennessee Easements, Landlocked Property and Eminent Domain (2026)
Tennessee prescriptive easements generally take 20 years of adverse use. See the landlocked right-of-way statute, post-Kelo limits and condemnation deadlines.
Tennessee Emancipation Laws: How to Get Emancipated in Tennessee (2026)
Tennessee removes the disabilities of minority under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 29-31-101 to 29-31-105. A minor petitions by next friend in chancery or circuit court. Marriage and military service also emancipate. No fixed minimum age.
Tennessee Employee Monitoring Laws: Workplace Surveillance and Social Media (2026)
Tennessee employee monitoring laws explained: the social media password ban under the Employee Online Privacy Act, one-party consent recording, and GPS tracking rules.
Tennessee Expungement Laws: T.C.A. § 40-32-101 Explained
Learn how Tennessee expungement works under T.C.A. § 40-32-101: eligible misdemeanors and felonies, the 5-year waiting period, the $100 fee, dismissed charges, diversion, and how to file your petition.
Tennessee Felony Classes and Misdemeanor Penalties (2026)
Tennessee felony classes run from Class E (1 to 6 years) to Class A (15 to 60 years); some offenses carry their own life terms. See offender ranges and probation.
Tennessee Final Paycheck Laws: The Payday-or-21-Days Rule
Tennessee requires final wages by the next regular payday or 21 days after separation, whichever is later. See the deadline, penalties, and property-hold rule.
Tennessee Fireworks Laws (2026): Windows, Age, Penalties
Tennessee allows Class C fireworks statewide. Seasonal retailers sell June 20-July 5 and Dec 10-Jan 2; year-round retailers sell anytime. Age 16 to buy.
Tennessee GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
Tennessee makes it a Class A misdemeanor to put a GPS tracker on a car without the consent of all owners. See T.C.A. 39-13-606 exceptions and penalties.
Tennessee Grandparents' Rights: Hawk v. Hawk and the Substantial Harm Standard
Tennessee requires grandparents to prove danger of substantial harm to win visitation, a rule its own courts set in Hawk v. Hawk before Troxel existed.
Tennessee Guardianship and Conservatorship Laws (2026 Guide)
How Tennessee guardianship of minors and conservatorship of adults work: clear and convincing proof, guardian ad litem vs attorney ad litem, and alternatives.
Tennessee Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do
Learn Tennessee hit and run laws, penalties for leaving the scene, driver duties under TCA 55-10-101 through 55-10-104, and how to protect your legal rights.
Tennessee Homestead Exemption: Tax Relief, Freeze and $35,000 Limit
Tennessee has no homestead tax exemption. How state tax relief for seniors, disabled owners and veterans, the local freeze and the $35,000 homestead work.
Tennessee Identity Theft Laws: Treble Damages Under TCA 39-14-150
Tennessee's Identity Theft Victims' Rights Act lets victims recover triple damages plus fees, sue where they live, and get a new license number.
Tennessee Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules
Tennessee jury duty rules: most employers must keep paying you, a $10 daily state floor, the age 75 declaration, hardship excuses, postponements and penalties.