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EspañolA brief description of the difference between state laws and federal laws.
Know the Laws - By State
Please see below for state-specific laws that might be useful for victims and survivors of domestic violence. This information is written in a Q & A format and is meant to provide you with easy-to-understand information. You can also reach us at our Email Hotline if you have more specific questions.
Tennessee offers protection orders to victims of domestic violence as well as anyone who has been stalked or sexually assaulted, regardless of their relationship to the abuser, elderly adults and “vulnerable adults” who are being abused by a caregiver or anyone else, and employees who experience violence at their workplace.
State-specific information about custody in Tennessee.
This page has some general information (not state-specific) about when one parent takes a child out of the state or country without the other parent’s consent.
Basic information about divorce in Tennessee.
Information about crimes the abuser may have committed in Tennessee and victim assistance programs.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, it may be illegal for the abuser to buy or have a gun.
You may have a right to sue an abuser for medical costs, lost wages, and to recover your property. You may also have the right to stop an abuser from suing you to “primarily harass or maliciously injure” you.
Information about abusive civil actions in Tennessee.
