The Tennessee SF-0259 Minor/Teenage Affidavit is the form an eligible adult signs to accept financial responsibility for a teen driver before the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will issue a learner’s permit or intermediate restricted license. To complete it, fill in the teen’s and signer’s information in blue or black ink, leave the signature line blank, and sign in front of either a Driver Services Examiner at the licensing appointment or a notary public beforehand. Every applicant under eighteen needs one, with no exceptions.
Who Can Sign
Tennessee law limits who can take on this responsibility. Parents, grandparents, legal guardians, foster parents, and authorized representatives of the Department of Children’s Services all qualify.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-312 – Licensing of Minors A stepparent qualifies only if they share an address with the teen applicant.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance
If none of those people is available, another responsible adult can sign, but with an added obligation. That adult has to file an SR-22 proof of insurance on behalf of the minor and keep it active until the teen turns eighteen. If the coverage lapses or is cancelled while the teen is still a minor, driving privileges are suspended until a new application is filed and insurance is restored.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-312 – Licensing of Minors Parents, stepparents, grandparents, guardians, and foster parents do not have to file an SR-22.
The signer also needs to prove their relationship to the teen. Acceptable documents include the minor’s certified birth certificate listing the parents, a certified court order granting temporary or permanent custody, or a certified final adoption decree.3Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Teen/Graduated Driver License
Filling Out the Form
The SF-0259 is a single page available from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security website or at any Driver Services Center.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance Use blue or black ink throughout.
The top section is the teen’s information. Enter the teen’s full legal name exactly as it appears on their birth certificate, their date of birth in month/day/year format, and their Social Security Number.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Minor/Teenage Affidavit A small spelling difference between the form and a supporting document can hold up the whole application, so verify the name against the birth certificate before you write.
The lower section is for the adult signer: your full legal name, driver’s license number, the state that issued the license, your Social Security Number, and your complete residential address with house number, street, city, state, and zip code.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Minor/Teenage Affidavit
Do not sign yet. The signature has to be made in front of either a Driver Services Examiner or a notary, so leave that line blank.
Getting the Signature Witnessed
The simplest route is to go with the teen to the Driver Services Center and sign the affidavit in front of a Driver Services Examiner. The examiner witnesses the signature at no extra charge as part of the licensing visit.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance
If you can’t be there in person, sign the form in front of a notary public before the teen’s appointment. Tennessee law allows notaries to charge “reasonable fees” without a fixed dollar cap.5Tennessee Secretary of State. What Fee Can a Notary Charge for Their Services? Banks, shipping stores, and law offices commonly offer notarization. The notary dates and signs the witnessing line and applies their seal; the teen then carries the completed form to the Driver Services Center.
Either way, the form states the signature is “sworn to, or affirmed” in front of the witness.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Minor/Teenage Affidavit This is a sworn statement, and false information on it can carry criminal penalties under Tennessee perjury law. Check every field before you sign.
What Else to Bring to the Driver Services Center
The affidavit is one item in a larger packet. Bring everything in a single trip so the examiner doesn’t have to send you home:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, such as a certified birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport
- Primary proof of identity (a photo ID or birth certificate)
- Secondary proof of identity, such as a work ID, Social Security document, school records, or health insurance card
- The original Social Security card, not a photocopy
- Two proofs of Tennessee residency, such as utility bills or bank statements
- Proof of school attendance: a completed Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance, a high school diploma, or a GED certificate
The Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance expires thirty days after the school completes it, so time that request close to the appointment.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance Teens who already graduated bring a diploma or GED certificate instead.
Teens moving to Tennessee from another state also need a valid learner’s permit from their previous state and a certified driving record showing how long the permit was held.3Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Teen/Graduated Driver License The SF-0259 is still required even when the teen already drove legally elsewhere.
At the counter, the examiner reviews the affidavit, verifies the notary seal or witnesses your signature on the spot, and checks the supporting documents. If anything is missing or inconsistent, you’ll have to come back.
What You’re Agreeing To When You Sign
Signing the SF-0259 makes you “jointly and severally liable” with the teen for any damages the minor causes while driving.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-312 – Licensing of Minors An injured party can pursue the full amount of a claim against you, the teen, or both. The form itself spells this out, stating the signer “shall be jointly and severally liable for any damages caused by” the minor while operating a motor vehicle.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Minor/Teenage Affidavit
The liability also covers fines from any traffic violations the teen commits before turning eighteen.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-312 – Licensing of Minors In a serious at-fault accident, an injured party’s insurer or attorney can look to your personal assets and insurance policy as well as the teen’s. Make sure you’re genuinely willing to carry that exposure before you sign.
Cancelling the Affidavit
If you decide you no longer want to carry the responsibility, you can file a notarized written request with the Department of Safety asking that the minor’s license be cancelled. Once processed, the teen’s driving privileges end and you’re released from liability for anything the teen does behind the wheel from that point forward.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-312 – Licensing of Minors The cancellation section is on the SF-0259 itself, so no separate form is needed.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Minor/Teenage Affidavit
The cancellation request itself has to be notarized. After it takes effect, the teen cannot drive again until a different eligible adult signs a new affidavit and the teen reapplies.
School Attendance Can Undo the License
One boundary worth knowing before you file the affidavit: it doesn’t permanently secure the teen’s driving privileges. If a student aged fifteen or older withdraws from school, the school notifies the Department of Safety and the teen’s privileges can be suspended. A first withdrawal can be cured by returning to school; a second or later withdrawal triggers a suspension that lasts until the teen turns eighteen.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance The affidavit stays in force either way; the teen simply can’t drive on it.