TCA 39-15-101
Nonsupport and flagrant nonsupport
What does this charge mean?
It is illegal for a parent or spouse to fail to provide financial support, food, shelter, clothing, or medical care to a minor child or disabled spouse when the person is able to do so and knows they have a legal duty—this is nonsupport, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. Nonsupport becomes the more serious crime of "flagrant nonsupport" (a Class E felony punishable by 1–6 years in prison) if the person leaves the state to avoid support obligations or has been convicted of nonsupport before.
Penalty Details
(a) 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. (b) “Child” includes legitimate children and children whose parentage has been admitted by the person charged or established by judicial action. (c) “Support” includes, but is not limited to, financial assistance, food, shelter, clothing, medical attention or, if determined elsewhere by law, other necessary care. (d) A person commits the offense of flagrant nonsupport who: (1) Leaves or remains without the state to avoid a legal duty of support; or (2) Having been convicted one (1) or more times of nonsupport or flagrant nonsupport, is convicted of a subsequent offense under this section. (e) (1) Nonsupport under subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. (2) Flagrant nonsupport under subsection (d) is a Class E felony.
Recent Bookings with this Charge
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