Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Tennessee criminal defense attorneys realize that parents should always contribute to the upbringing of their children. It is important for parents to be emotionally, physically, and monetarily involved with their children. The Tennessee legislature takes the offense of nonsupport seriously.

Under Tennessee law, a person commits the crime of nonsupport who fails to provide support which that person is able to provide and knows the person has a duty to provide to a minor child or to a child or spouse who, because of physical or mental disability, is unable to be self-supporting.

• "Child" includes legitimate children and children whose parentage has been admitted by the person charged or established by judicial action.
• "Support" includes financial assistance, food, shelter, clothing, medical attention or, if determined elsewhere by law, other necessary care. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-15-101 (2007).

Under Tennessee law, a person commits the offense of flagrant nonsupport who:

• Leaves or remains without the state to avoid a legal duty of support; or
• Having been convicted one or more times of nonsupport or flagrant nonsupport, is convicted of a subsequent offense under this section.

Nonsupport is a Class A misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by imprisonment not greater than eleven months, twenty-nine days or a fine not to exceed $2,500.00, or both. Flagrant nonsupport under subsection is a Class E felony. Class E felonies are punishable by imprisonment of 1 to 6 years and a fine not to exceed $3,000.00. If you have been charged with nonsupport or any other criminal offense, contact a criminal defense attorney. Our lawyers handle all types of criminal cases in Knoxville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Morristown, Maryville, Newport, and Johnson City.