Nix v. Cantrell (In re J.M.N.)
Court of Appeals of Tennessee
No. W2007-00615-COA-R3-JV (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008)
Relevant factsFree
Fourteen-year-old Jacy's mother, Cantrell (defendant), took Jacy and her 18-year-old boyfriend to juvenile court without the custodial father Nix's (plaintiff's) knowledge, obtained a waiver of Tennessee's marriage-age consent requirement, and the two married. After learning of the marriage, Nix moved to set aside the juvenile court's waiver order, and the juvenile court did so, also declaring the marriage itself void; Cantrell appealed the void ruling.
IssueFree
Whether a marriage between a minor and an adult is voidable, rather than automatically void, once the underlying order permitting it is set aside.