Tennessee

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:22 amOverview 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…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:16 amOverview 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…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 10:53 amOverview 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…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:28 amOverview 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…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:32 amOverview 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…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 10:38 amOverview In Tennessee, a divorce is a judicial proceeding that dissolves the marital relationship pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 36-4-101 et seq. The process begins when one spouse (the petitioner) files a Complaint for Divorce in the appropriate circuit or chancery court. Tennessee recognizes both…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:29 am Overview Yes, under Tennessee law certain felony convictions can be expunged but eligibility is limited by offense class, statutory exclusions, waiting periods, prior convictions, and other rules. Tennessee Code Annotated section 40 32 101 contains multiple subsections that establish who may seek expungement and when. Generally…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:36 am Overview The cost to expunge a criminal record in Tennessee depends on multiple variables. Some nonconviction outcomes such as dismissals, nolle prosequi, not guilty verdicts, and arrests that led to no prosecution are frequently processed with minimal cost to the petitioner. Conviction based petitions, diversion completion…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:23 am Overview In Tennessee, the time required to complete an expungement varies widely depending on the type of relief sought, the disposition in the underlying case, whether the petition is contested, and how quickly courts and agencies process signed orders. Simple matters such as dismissed charges or…

Recently updated on December 22nd, 2025 at 11:17 am Overview Tennessee’s expungement law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101 and related provisions) provides limited pathways for clearing certain arrests, charges, and convictions from public criminal history records. The statutory framework is sectional, with different subsections and rules applying to arrests that resulted in no prosecution, dismissals,…