how to file for divorce in tn without a lawyer

by Berry Jacobi 4 min read

You can get an agreed divorce without the help of a lawyer and the requirements are:

  • If either your spouse or you have lived in Tennessee for a minimum period of 6 months or you lived in the state when deciding to file for divorce.
  • Your spouse and you have no minor kids, disabled children or children above 18 still in school.
  • Your wife is currently not pregnant.
  • Both spouses want to end the marriage.

In limited circumstances, it is possible to get an “agreed divorce” in Tennessee without hiring an attorney. The Tennessee Supreme Court has approved divorce forms that, if properly completed, must be accepted by all Tennessee courts that hear divorce cases.

Full Answer

Can you get an agreed divorce without a lawyer in Tennessee?

If you are still thinking you might file for divorce without a lawyer, consider buying and reading my book: The Tennessee Divorce Client’s Handbook. It’s easy to read and understand. Originally, I wrote this book for my clients. It introduces legal terms, basic Tennessee divorce law and family court procedure.

How do I get a divorce in Tennessee?

Feb 25, 2022 · You can get an agreed divorce without the help of a lawyer and the requirements are: If either your spouse or you have lived in Tennessee for a minimum period of 6 months or you lived in the state when deciding to file for divorce. Your spouse and you have no minor kids, disabled children or children above 18 still in school.

Is Tennessee a no-fault state for divorce?

How to File an Uncontested Divorce in Tennessee – Legal Info … 1. Make Certain You Meet the Requirements · 2. Fill Out the Universal Forms for an Agreed Divorce · 3. File the Forms with the Court · 4. Wait at Least 60 Days · 5. (7) … In Tennessee, the option of uncontested divorce is available if your spouse and you don’t have children together.

Do divorce papers have to be notarized in Tennessee?

You can’t file for divorce in Tennessee unless you or your spouse is a resident of the state. Specifically, Tennessee law requires that the plaintiff (spouse filing for divorce) or the defendant (spouse served with divorce papers) has resided in the state for at least six months prior to filing.

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Can I file my own divorce in Tennessee?

Tennessee allows you to represent yourself and complete your own divorce documents in two different scenarios – when you are seeking what is referred to as an “agreed divorce”, and when you are seeking an “uncontested divorce”.

How long does it take to get an uncontested divorce in Tennessee?

Uncontested divorce cases take around two to six months, and divorces with minor children take about a year. The process can take even longer when spouses don't agree on matters or want to fight each other month after month.Jul 15, 2020

Are online divorces legal in Tennessee?

Unfortunately the State of Tennessee does not offer forms online to complete your divorce process. You will need to obtain any additional documents necessary to commence your divorce from your local county clerk's office.

How can I get a quick divorce in TN?

In Tennessee, uncontested divorce (known as a simplified or agreed divorce) is the most efficient and cost-effective option, often taking 60-90 days. You and your spouse must agree on all aspects of the divorce and not require the assistance of a judge in a court of law.Nov 20, 2019

Do I have to go to court for uncontested divorce?

An uncontested divorce is a divorce that is not being defended by the respondent. It is usually a relatively straightforward process and can be dealt with by the court on paper, so there will be no need to attend court.May 11, 2021

How long after divorce can you remarry in Tennessee?

You cannot remarry until after the divorce has been final for 30 days. After the final hearing, there is a 30-day appeal period. You should not get married until the expiration of this 30-day period. While many spouses start dating during separation, it is not recommended.

Where do I get divorce papers in Tennessee?

The forms are available online at tn.courts.gov:Divorce Forms with NO Kids (Word Version)Divorce Forms with NO Kids (PDF Version)Aug 5, 2021

How much does a divorce cost?

The median cost of a divorce is $7,500. An uncontested divorce or one with no major contested issues costs, on average, $4,100. Disputes over child support, child custody, and alimony raise the average cost of a divorce significantly. Divorces that go to trial on two or more issues cost, on average, $23,300.Nov 16, 2020

How long does a divorce take?

Once the papers have been filed with the court, the question, "How long does an uncontested divorce take?" is completely out of the parties' hands. The amount of time it will take to finalize the divorce by having a judge approve and sign the judgment can take anywhere from six weeks to 12 months.

How soon after filing for divorce are papers served?

The papers will be issued by the court then posted directly to your spouse at the address for service provided. It then takes the court about 2 – 3 weeks to issue and serve the petition on your spouse.Sep 23, 2020

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Tennessee?

separate assets or property; standard of living during the marriage; contributions as a homemaker, help with the other spouse's training, education, or increased earning capacity of your spouse; fault in contributing to the divorce; and.

What is legal separation in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, a legal separation is recognized when a judge signs an order that legally “separates” the parties It is essentially the same as a divorce, except the spouses are not allowed to remarry until they officially divorce. The grounds for a legal separation in Tennessee are the same for a divorce.Jan 23, 2020

How long do you have to live in Tennessee to file for divorce?

If either your spouse or you have lived in Tennessee for a minimum period of 6 months or you lived in the state when deciding to file for divorce. Your spouse and you have no minor kids, disabled children or children above 18 still in school. Your wife is currently not pregnant. Both spouses want to end the marriage.

How long does it take to get divorced in Tennessee?

To file for divorce in Tennessee, either your spouse or you must have lived in the state for a minimum period of 6 months before you can file for divorce. A no-fault divorce takes around 2-6 months to be finalized. There’s a mandatory “cooling off” period:60 days after the filing of the divorce complaint, if the couple does not have kids.

What is a PPP in Tennessee?

A “Permanent Parenting Plan” (PPP) is needed for spouses to get a divorce in Tennessee. The PPP lists all the obligations and rights of each of the parents and also states which parent can make decisions. Either both parents can make decisions jointly or just one parent can make decisions.

What is notice of hearing?

Notice of Hearing: When the date for the divorce hearing is set, the plaintiff or the court must notify the defendant by completing and sending the form to him/her. Court Order for Divorcing Spouses. Final Decree of Divorce: When this form is signed by the judge after hearing the case, it will complete the divorce.

How much does it cost to file divorce papers?

FEES: The fees to file your divorce papers vary from one county to another and can cost between $100-$500. Service of the papers on your spouse can cost between $75-$100, depending on the method of service.

What happens if you don't agree with your spouse?

If your spouse and you do not agree on some or all of the issues pertaining to your divorce, then your case will go to trial, where it will be heard by a judge. The judge will hear all the witness testimonies, review all the evidence and then take decisions on the issues of your case.

How to serve divorce papers on spouse?

Once you file the papers with the court clerk, you must immediately serve the papers on your spouse. Either your lawyer or you can hire the sheriff’s office or a process server to serve your spouse with the divorce complaint.

Get Your Divorce Forms Completed Online

We can quickly provide you with completed Tennessee divorce documents, which we adjust to your unique situation based upon answers you provide with an online questionnaire at TennesseeOnlineDivorce.com. Our website also offers detailed guidance through the process and useful tips on filing rules in Tennessee.

Online Divorce Without a Lawyer in Tennessee

We strive to make the experience of using our system as comfortable as possible. We believe that DIY-divorce should be as easy as possible. You do not have to hire an attorney if your case is uncontested.

How does a divorce work?

In an agreed divorce, the spouses decide these things together but the court has to approve.The court wants to see that you divide your property and debts fairly. You have to list how all the property is divided, even if you think the property belongs only to one of you. The property division does not have to be equal. The court may change things if the agreement is not fair. The court may change things if one spouse will not have enough to live on.

Does a final decree affect a creditor's ability to proceed against a party?

Notice: The Final Decree does not necessarily affect the ability of a creditor to proceed against a party or a party' s property, even though the party is not responsible under the terms of the decree for an account, any debt associated with an account or any debt. It may be in a party's best interest to cancel, close or freeze any jointly held accounts. T.C.A. §36-4-134.

Can you say you and your spouse can't get along?

No. You just have to say that you and your spouse can no longer get along and that you have no hope of working out your marriage problems. The court calls this “irreconcilable differences”.

How long do you have to live in Tennessee before filing for divorce?

Specifically, Tennessee law requires that the plaintiff (spouse filing for divorce) or the defendant (spouse served with divorce papers) has resided in the state for at least six months prior to filing. If neither of your meets the six-month residency requirements, you'll need to wait to file your case. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104 (2019).

How long do you have to wait to file for divorce?

Even if you and your spouse reach a divorce agreement on your own, with the help of a mediator, or through your attorneys, you must wait at least 60 days after filing your Request for Divorce before you can schedule your divorce hearing. If you're seeking an agreed divorce, you can't wait more than 180 days after the last person signed the Divorce Agreement form, or you will need to file a new form.

What is fault divorce?

In a fault-divorce, one spouse claims the other caused the break up by engaging in specific misconduct, such as adultery , abuse , or abandonment. This is usually the most time-consuming type of divorce process because you will have to prove to a court that the misconduct occurred and that it led to the divorce.

Who is the respondent in divorce?

The person asking the court for a divorce is the "plaintiff," and the responding spouse is called the "defendant.". Some of the forms must be signed while you and/or your spouse are in front of a Notary Public. Do not sign the forms that require notarization until the person (s) required to sign are in front of a Notary Public.

What happens if my spouse doesn't show up for divorce?

Nevertheless, a spouse who fails to show up at a divorce hearing or trial risks a default divorce being entered against him or her. At the final divorce hearing, you will answer the judge's questions about your marriage, separation, and other items on your forms.

How long does it take to appeal a divorce order?

It is also important to remember that after the Final Divorce Order is issued, each spouse has 30 days to appeal the order.

Do you have children with your spouse?

you and your spouse have no children together who are under 18, disabled, or still in high school. the couple is not currently expecting a child. you both want to end your marriage. you don't co-own any buildings, land, a business, or retirement benefits, and.

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