An Act of God is a natural force outside of human control (such as an earthquake, tsunami, or hurricane), and may relieve a party or parties to a contract or agreement from having to perform their obligations. Such Acts of God are often addressed in a force majeure clause, which typically appears near the end of the contract or agreement. A force majeure clause may also excuse a party's performance of its obligations for other reasons beyond its control, such as unavailability of products, riots, civil unrest, pandemics, and terrorism.

In Tennessee, as in many jurisdictions, an 'Act of God' refers to any event that is outside the realm of human control and cannot be anticipated or prevented. Such events can include natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, or hurricanes. In the context of contracts, these unforeseen events may be addressed through a force majeure clause. A force majeure clause is a contractual provision that allows parties to suspend or terminate their obligations when certain circumstances beyond their control arise, making performance inadvisable, commercially impracticable, illegal, or impossible. The clause typically lists specific events that qualify and may include not only natural disasters (Acts of God) but also other events like strikes, wars, pandemics, or government actions. The enforceability and interpretation of force majeure clauses in Tennessee depend on the specific language of the clause and the circumstances surrounding the event. It is important for parties to a contract to carefully draft and review force majeure clauses to ensure that they adequately protect their interests in the event of such unforeseen circumstances.