Tennessee

Overview The Tennessee Supreme Court’s official “Uncontested Divorce Forms” provide a uniform, court-approved mechanism for self-represented spouses to dissolve a marriage without attorney representation when all statutory and financial conditions are satisfied. The forms—developed under the authority of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission and approved pursuant to Rule 13 of the Supreme…

Overview Filing a small claim in New York allows individuals to resolve monetary disputes quickly, informally, and inexpensively, without needing an attorney. The New York Small Claims Courts are divisions of the City, Town, and Village Courts empowered under Article 18 of the Uniform City Court Act (UCCA §§1801–1814). These courts handle straightforward cases where…

Overview In Tennessee, the duration of a divorce—especially an uncontested or “no-fault” divorce—depends on both statutory waiting periods and practical procedural factors. The governing statute, Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 36-4-101, allows couples to dissolve their marriage either on fault-based grounds or on no-fault grounds such as irreconcilable differences. When both parties agree on all…

Overview Tennessee recognizes both fault-based and no-fault grounds for divorce, codified principally at Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 36-4-101, and administered through the Circuit and Chancery Courts pursuant to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and local rules. Fault grounds (e.g., adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment/inappropriate marital conduct, willful desertion, conviction of an infamous crime…

Overview Tennessee’s divorce and alimony framework reflects a balance between equitable fairness and personal accountability. Rooted in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-4-101 (grounds for divorce) and § 36-5-121 (alimony and spousal support), the law provides both fault-based and no-fault dissolution avenues. Unlike purely community-property jurisdictions, Tennessee follows an “equitable distribution” model: marital property is divided…

Overview Child custody after divorce in Tennessee is governed by an integrated statutory and judicial framework designed to advance the best interests of the child while protecting the constitutional rights of both parents. The foundational authority resides in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 36-6-101 through 36-6-106, which define custody, visitation, and parental responsibility. Tennessee law distinguishes…

Overview Attorney fees in Tennessee divorce proceedings are governed primarily by equity, statutory authorization, and judicial discretion. Unlike criminal or administrative proceedings where fee awards are more rigidly prescribed, divorce actions fall under the broad equitable jurisdiction of chancery and circuit courts. The controlling provisions—Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-5-103(c) and § 36-5-121—empower judges to allocate…

Overview The cost of obtaining a divorce in Tennessee varies widely depending on whether the case is contested, uncontested, or involves minor children. The Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) does not prescribe a fixed fee for divorce proceedings but authorizes county clerks to collect standard court costs and service charges consistent with T.C.A. § 8-21-401 and…

Overview An uncontested divorce in Tennessee is a streamlined judicial process by which spouses can dissolve their marriage when both parties agree on every material issue—grounds, property division, spousal support, and if applicable, child custody and support. Authorized primarily under Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 36-4-101(a)(14) (irreconcilable differences) and T.C.A. § 36-4-103, this pathway allows…

Overview Tennessee’s no-fault divorce law provides a statutory pathway for spouses to dissolve their marriage without alleging or proving misconduct by either party. The governing provisions are found primarily in Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 36-4-101 (a)(14) and companion sections of Title 36, Chapter 4, which collectively authorize dissolution on the ground of “irreconcilable differences.”…