Definitions of Domestic Violence - Tennessee

Date: March 2026

Defined in Domestic Violence Civil Laws
Citation: Ann. Code § 36-3-601

'Abuse' means any of the following:

  • Inflicting or attempting to inflict physical injury on an adult or minor by other than accidental means
  • Placing an adult or minor in fear of physical harm or physical restraint
  • Causing malicious damage to the personal property of the abused party
  • Intentionally engaging in behavior that amounts to financial abuse

'Abuse' includes acts inflicted directly by the offending party or indirectly through a third party, including, but not limited to, a family member, friend, significant other, or coworker, on behalf of the offending party.

'Domestic abuse' means committing abuse against a victim, as defined below.

'Financial abuse' means behavior that is coercive, deceptive, or unreasonably controls or restrains a person's ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic resources to which the person is entitled, including using coercion, fraud, or manipulation to do the following:

  • Restrict a person's access to money, assets, credit, or financial information
  • Unfairly use a person's economic resources, including money, assets, and credit, to gain an advantage
  • Exert undue influence over a person's financial behavior or decisions, including the following:
    • Forcing default on joint or other financial obligations
    • Exploiting powers of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship
    • Failing or neglecting to act in the best interests of the person to whom a fiduciary duty is owedting to act in the best interests of the person to whom a fiduciary duty is owed

Defined in Child Abuse Reporting and Child Protection Laws

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Defined in Criminal Laws
Citation: Ann. Code §§ 39-13-111; 39-13-101

A person commits 'domestic assault' when he or she commits an assault, as defined in § 39-13-101, against a domestic abuse victim.

A person commits assault when they do any of the following:

  • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another
  • Intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury
  • Intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another, and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative

Persons Included in the Definitions
Citation: Ann. Code §§ 36-3-601; 39-13-111

In civil and criminal law: 'Domestic abuse victim' means any person who falls within the following categories:

  • Adults or minors who are current or former spouses 
  • Adults or minors who live together or who have lived together
  • Adults or minors who are dating or who have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship
  • Adults or minors related by blood or adoption
  • Adults or minors who are related or were formerly related by marriage 
  • Adult or minor children of a person in a relationship that is described above

'Dating' and 'dated' do not include fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context.

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