Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Legal Age Of Consent For Marriage In Tennessee

Under Tennessee law, TCA 36-3-104, a person must be at least 16 years old before they can geta marriage license, and a marriage license is required for anyone to get married. For anyone less than18, both parents or the guardian or next of kin must join in the application for a marriage license. Ifeither party is less than 18, even if both parents sign the application, there will be a three day waitingperiod before the marriage license is issued. TCA 36-3-104 to TCA 36-3-106. If the parents or guardian or next of kin won't join in applying for a marriage license, the couplecan still get a marriage license in Tennessee if they get the judge of the probate, juvenile, circuit orchancery court, or county executive approves it. In fact with the judge of the probate, juvenile, circuitor chancery court, or county executive can also waive the three day waiting period required for anyoneunder 18 to get a marriage license. And even if you there was some defect in the way the license was issued, or either party wasless than 18 and failed to get the required approval and the license was issued anyway, the marriage isstill considered legal, although it can be annulled.