Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-122
This is the official text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-122, part of Tennessee’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Tennessee, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Binding effect of adoption
Official statutory text
(a) When a child is adopted pursuant to this part, the adoptive parents shall not thereafter be deprived of any rights in the child, at the insistence of the child's biological or prior legal parents or guardian of the child or any other person or agency except in the same manner and for the same causes as are applicable in proceedings to deprive biological or legal parents or guardians of their children or wards as provided by law. (b) (1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law. (2) In no event, for any reason, shall an adoption be overturned by a trial court or collaterally attacked by any person or entity after nine (9) months from the date of entry of the final order of adoption by a court of competent jurisdiction. This subdivision (b)(2) is intended as a statute of repose. (3) The failure of the clerk of the court, the department, a licensed child-placing agency, or a licensed clinical social worker to perform any of the duties or acts with the time requirements of this part shall not affect the validity of any adoption proceeding. (4) After a final order of adoption is entered, an order shall not be entered requiring visitation or other contact between an adopted person and a biological parent or other related person unless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 . Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 263, s 8, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 363, s 6, eff. 5/5/2023. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 937, s 8, eff. 7/1/2022. Acts 1951, ch. 202, §§ 27, 30 (Williams, §§ 9572.41, 9572.44); impl. am. Acts 1975, ch. 219, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 36-127; § 36-1-127 ; Acts 1995, ch. 532, § 1.
(a) When a child is adopted pursuant to this part, the adoptive parents shall not thereafter be deprived of any rights in the child, at the insistence of the child's biological or prior legal parents or guardian of the child or any other person or agency except in the same manner and for the same causes as are applicable in proceedings to deprive biological or legal parents or guardians of their children or wards as provided by law.
(b) (1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law. (2) In no event, for any reason, shall an adoption be overturned by a trial court or collaterally attacked by any person or entity after nine (9) months from the date of entry of the final order of adoption by a court of competent jurisdiction. This subdivision (b)(2) is intended as a statute of repose. (3) The failure of the clerk of the court, the department, a licensed child-placing agency, or a licensed clinical social worker to perform any of the duties or acts with the time requirements of this part shall not affect the validity of any adoption proceeding. (4) After a final order of adoption is entered, an order shall not be entered requiring visitation or other contact between an adopted person and a biological parent or other related person unless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 .
(1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law.
nless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 .
(1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law.
(2) In no event, for any reason, shall an adoption be overturned by a trial court or collaterally attacked by any person or entity after nine (9) months from the date of entry of the final order of adoption by a court of competent jurisdiction. This subdivision (b)(2) is intended as a statute of repose.
(3) The failure of the clerk of the court, the department, a licensed child-placing agency, or a licensed clinical social worker to perform any of the duties or acts with the time requirements of this part shall not affect the validity of any adoption proceeding.
(4) After a final order of adoption is entered, an order shall not be entered requiring visitation or other contact between an adopted person and a biological parent or other related person unless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 .
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 263, s 8, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 363, s 6, eff. 5/5/2023.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 937, s 8, eff. 7/1/2022.
Acts 1951, ch. 202, §§ 27, 30 (Williams, §§ 9572.41, 9572.44); impl. am. Acts 1975, ch. 219, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 36-127; § 36-1-127 ; Acts 1995, ch. 532, § 1.
(a) When a child is adopted pursuant to this part, the adoptive parents shall not thereafter be deprived of any rights in the child, at the insistence of the child's biological or prior legal parents or guardian of the child or any other person or agency except in the same manner and for the same causes as are applicable in proceedings to deprive biological or legal parents or guardians of their children or wards as provided by law.
(b) (1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law. (2) In no event, for any reason, shall an adoption be overturned by a trial court or collaterally attacked by any person or entity after nine (9) months from the date of entry of the final order of adoption by a court of competent jurisdiction. This subdivision (b)(2) is intended as a statute of repose. (3) The failure of the clerk of the court, the department, a licensed child-placing agency, or a licensed clinical social worker to perform any of the duties or acts with the time requirements of this part shall not affect the validity of any adoption proceeding. (4) After a final order of adoption is entered, an order shall not be entered requiring visitation or other contact between an adopted person and a biological parent or other related person unless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 .
(1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law.
nless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 .
(1) After the final order of adoption is entered, no party to an adoption proceeding, nor anyone claiming under such party, may later question the validity of the adoption proceeding by reason of any defect or irregularity therein, jurisdictional or otherwise, but shall be fully bound by the order, except for such appeal as may be allowed by law.
(2) In no event, for any reason, shall an adoption be overturned by a trial court or collaterally attacked by any person or entity after nine (9) months from the date of entry of the final order of adoption by a court of competent jurisdiction. This subdivision (b)(2) is intended as a statute of repose.
(3) The failure of the clerk of the court, the department, a licensed child-placing agency, or a licensed clinical social worker to perform any of the duties or acts with the time requirements of this part shall not affect the validity of any adoption proceeding.
(4) After a final order of adoption is entered, an order shall not be entered requiring visitation or other contact between an adopted person and a biological parent or other related person unless the order is entered pursuant to § 36-1-145 .
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 263, s 8, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 363, s 6, eff. 5/5/2023.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 937, s 8, eff. 7/1/2022.
Acts 1951, ch. 202, §§ 27, 30 (Williams, §§ 9572.41, 9572.44); impl. am. Acts 1975, ch. 219, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 36-127; § 36-1-127 ; Acts 1995, ch. 532, § 1.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Tennessee?
Find a Tennessee lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.