What are Tennessee's adoption laws?

Tennessee adoption is governed by Tennessee Code Annotated Title 36, Chapter 1. Here are the key provisions:

Residency: 6 months (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-115)

Court: Chancery or Circuit Court

Child Consent: Age 14+ (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-117)

Abandonment: 4 months no contact (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113)

Termination: Can be included in adoption proceeding

Home Study: Typically waived for stepparents (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-116)

Timeline: Minor: 3-6 months | Adult: 4-8 weeks

Tennessee has 95 counties, each with its own Chancery or Circuit Court. Our documents are customized for your specific countie's requirements.

We've helped 967+ families in Tennessee navigate these laws successfully.