Full question:
What are the responsibilities / liabilities of a parent in Tennessee who's 18 year old daughter has moved out of our home to live elsewhere? She is still enrolled in high school - so does the age of majority change to 19? We want nothing to do with with her but are concerned that we could still be held liable for her actions outside of our home...
- Category: Minors
- Subcategory: Age of Majority
- Date:
- State: Tennessee
Answer:
The fact alone of being in high school will generally not prevent a child from being emancipated after the age of 18 in Tennessee unless there is a court order, such as a child support order or guardianship, requiring the parent to care for the child past the age of majority. Please see the following TN statutes:
37-10-101. Recovery for injury or damage by juvenile.
Any municipal corporation, county, town, village, school district or
department of this state, or any person, or any religious organization,
whether incorporated or unincorporated, shall be entitled to recover
damages in an action in assumpsit in an amount not to exceed ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) in a court of competent jurisdiction from the parents
or guardian of the person of any minor under eighteen (18) years of age,
living with the parents or guardian of the person, who maliciously or
willfully causes personal injury to such person or destroys property,
real, personal or mixed, belonging to such municipal corporation,
county, town, village, school district or department of this state or
persons or religious organizations.
37-10-103. Circumstances under which parent or guardian liable.
(a) A parent or guardian shall be liable for the tortious activities of
a minor child that cause injuries to persons or property where the parent
or guardian knows, or should know, of the child's tendency to commit
wrongful acts that can be expected to cause injury to persons or property
and where the parent or guardian has an opportunity to control the child
but fails to exercise reasonable means to restrain the tortious conduct.
(b) A parent or guardian shall be presumed to know of a child's
tendency to commit wrongful acts, if the child has previously been
charged and found responsible for such actions.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
