{"id":376498,"date":"2018-08-13T16:10:54","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T21:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/tennessee-law\/tennessee-self-defense-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-09-15T15:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T20:43:09","slug":"tennessee-self-defense-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/tennessee-law\/tennessee-self-defense-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Self-Defense Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tennessee Self-Defense Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Tennessee<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>self-defense<\/span> laws<\/span> allow individuals to use force if they reasonably believe they are in imminent danger of death<\/span> or serious bodily harm<\/span>. This includes the use of lethal force. While Tennessee<\/span> lacks an affirmative \u201cstand your ground<\/span>\u201d law, the \u201ccastle doctrine<\/span>\u201d does not require a duty to retreat in one\u2019s home or legal space.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Under the castle doctrine<\/span>, you have no duty to retreat if you are in your own home or other place you have a legal right<\/span> to be, such as your own business. If you are not engaged in an illegal activity<\/span> in any other location, you do not have to retreat if you believe you are in imminent danger of attack.<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/span> does not have an affirmative stand your ground<\/span> law<\/span><\/a>. In a few states, the stand your ground<\/span> law<\/span> shifts the burden from the defendant to the prosecution. In a self-defense<\/span> case, the prosecution must show that the defendant did not have a reasonable belief<\/span> that they were in fear of their life.<\/p>\n

Elements of Self-Defense<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

To have a successful claim of self-defense<\/span><\/a> in the state of <\/span>Tennessee<\/span>, the defendant must show:<\/p>\n