How old do you have to be to get married in Tennessee?

By Jedidiah McKeehan

In Tennessee, there are very specific rules about how old someone must be to legally get married. These rules are found in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-3-105, and they set firm age requirements that everyone must follow—no exceptions.

As of the most recent update to the law, no one under the age of seventeen can get married in Tennessee under any circumstances. That means even if someone is sixteen and has the permission of both parents, the law still does not allow them to legally marry. The state legislature made this change to protect minors from being pressured into early marriages and to prevent situations that could lead to abuse or exploitation.

If someone is seventeen years old, they can get married, but only under very strict conditions. The older person in the relationship cannot be more than four years older than the seventeen-year-old. So, for example, if a seventeen-year-old wants to marry someone who is twenty-two, that is allowed. But if the other person is twenty-three or older, then the marriage is not allowed under Tennessee law. In addition to the age difference restriction, the seventeen-year-old must also have written permission from a parent or legal guardian, and a judge has to approve the marriage.

Once both individuals are eighteen or older, they can marry without needing parental consent or court approval. At that point, they are considered legal adults and free to make that decision on their own.

These rules are in place for good reason. Tennessee, like many other states, has tightened its marriage laws in response to concerns about child marriage and its potential consequences. The goal is to make sure that young people are not pushed into adult relationships before they are emotionally or legally ready to handle them.

So, if you are considering marriage or know someone who is under the age of eighteen and thinking about it, know that Tennessee law draws a clear line. No one under seventeen may marry at all. And for those who are seventeen, the law adds layers of protection to ensure the decision is appropriate, lawful, and carefully reviewed.

Jedidiah McKeehan is an attorney practicing in Knox County and surrounding counties. He works in many areas, including family law, criminal, and personal injury. Visit attorney-knoxville.com for more information about this legal issue and other legal issues.