Fact Sheet:
Marriage and Emancipation
Rights and Responsibilities of an
emancipated minor
A minor who gets married is fully emancipated. What is
“emancipation” or what does it mean to be “emancipated”? It
means you have all the rights and responsibilities of an adult,
such as:
• Your parents no longer have control or authority over you.
• Your parents are not required to support you, including
providing housing or insurance, or pay your taxes.
• You are no longer required by law to attend school.
• You may manage your own property.
• You have the right to your own earnings, income, or salary.
• You may sue and you may be sued.
• You may enter into contracts (such as to lease an apartment
or borrow money).
• You may engage in a profession or vocation as if you were
18 years old.
• Even if you divorce, or the marriage is annulled, before you
turn 18 years old, you remain emancipated.
HOWEVER,
• You may not legally drink/purchase alcohol until you are 21
years of age.
• You may not vote until you are 18 years old.
Rights and Responsibilities of
parties to a marriage
• Only parties 17 years old or older may be issued a marriage
license.
• Parties may le for divorce for certain reasons.
• Being married could affect how you le your income tax
return.
• You may be able to obtain health benets through your
spouse’s employer.
• You have a legal responsibility for a child born during the
marriage.
• If you divorce after having a child or children, you may be
responsible for the payment of child support.
• If you divorce, you may be responsible for the payment of
alimony to the other party.
• Being a married person affects how property is distributed
upon the death of a spouse.
• Marriage could affect your nancial responsibilities for
debts incurred during the marriage.
• You may be entitled to receive certain government benets
(such as Social Security, disability benets) for spouses.
• You may be entitled to other benets as a spouse of certain
qualifying persons (such as veterans, members of the
military).
e rights and responsibilities listed are not necessarily exhaustive and you are encouraged to
contact one of the oces below if you have questions or would like more information.
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands
(Oces in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin,
Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, Tullahoma)
1321 Murfreesboro Pike, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37217
Nashville: (615) 244-6610; Toll Free: (800) 238-1443
www.las.org
West TN Legal Services, Inc.
(Oces in Jackson, Dyersburg, Huntington, and Selmer)
210 W. Main Street; P. O. Box 2066
Jackson, TN 38302-2066
Jackson: (731) 423-0616; Toll Free: (800) 372-8346
www.wtls.org
Legal Aid of East Tennessee
(Oces in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Maryville,
Johnson City, and Morristown)
607 W Summit Hill Dr. SW, Knoxville, TN 37902
Knoxville: (865) 637-0484; www.laet.org
Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.
(Oces in Memphis and Covington)
22 N. Front St., 11th Floor
Memphis, TN 38103
Memphis: (901) 523-8822; www.malsi.org
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
If you are a victim of domestic violence and are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. You may seek an Order of Protection if you are a victim
of domestic abuse or violence. Contact your county’s Circuit Court or General Sessions Court Clerk’s oce. You should also contact law
enforcement.
e National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
www.theHotline.org
e National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org
Created per TN Public Chapter 1049 (2018) by the Administrative Oce of the Courts
Statewide: www.justiceforalltn.com or www.tals.org, 1-844-HELP4TN
