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Age of Majority and Emancipation in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the age of majority is 18 (21 for alcohol), and a chancery court may remove the disabilities of minority, with no minimum age stated in the statute.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee at a glance

Age of majority
18
The age is 21 for purchasing, consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages.
Emancipation by court petition
Yes
Procedure: Removal of disabilities of minority. A chancery court (or circuit court) may remove a minor's disabilities as fully as if the minor were 18.
Minimum age to petition
No minimum age stated
Tenn. Code Ann. 29-31-101 does not set a minimum age.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Tennessee

What is the age of majority in Tennessee?

Age of majority in Tennessee: 18. The age is 21 for purchasing, consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages.

Does Tennessee have a statute that lets a minor petition a court for emancipation?

Yes. Emancipation by court petition in Tennessee: yes. Procedure: Removal of disabilities of minority. A chancery court (or circuit court) may remove a minor's disabilities as fully as if the minor were 18.

How old must a minor be to petition for emancipation in Tennessee?

Minimum age to petition in Tennessee: No minimum age stated. Tenn. Code Ann. 29-31-101 does not set a minimum age.

Where do the Tennessee age of majority laws come from?

The rules above come from Tenn. Code Ann. 1-3-105 and Tenn. Code Ann. 29-31-101. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

The age of majority is not the same as every age limit in the law. Separate rules can set the age for drinking alcohol, buying tobacco, making a will, marrying without consent or ending child support, so check the specific rule that applies to the question you have.

Emancipation usually requires a court petition and proof that the minor can support and manage themselves. A court order may grant full adult status or only specific rights, and it can end a parent's duty of support. Read the order and the statute together to see exactly what changes.

Documents signed for a minor, such as a medical consent form or a power of attorney for a child, generally stop being needed once the child reaches the age of majority. Contracts signed by a minor may be voidable, so adults dealing with minors often ask a parent or guardian to sign as well.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.