Tennessee

Overview 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 fault-based and no-fault divorces. A no-fault divorce—often called…

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 speaking, the law allows petitioners to seek expungement for…

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 petitions, and certain statutory conviction pathways typically involve filing…

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 arrests without prosecution often move faster because there is…

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, pardons, diversion completions, juvenile matters, and some convictions. Eligibility…

Overview: An expungement in Tennessee is the legal process of removing certain criminal records from public access. While it does not erase the fact that an arrest or conviction occurred, it ensures that those records are treated as nonpublic or destroyed as per state law. This allows individuals to move forward without the burden of…

Recently updated on June 6th, 2025 at 06:43 pmIn order to get an Order of Protection in Tennessee, one needs some proof including just a statement from the victim that certain abuse that meets the legal definition of domestic violence was done. The proof doesn’t needs to just show that its more likely than not…

Recently updated on June 6th, 2025 at 08:22 pmIn Tennessee, an Order of Protection can be requested by your county court online, informing the other party, attending a hearing, and presenting evidence to support the request for the order.  Initial paperwork can also be done in person at the court.  The process involves filing a…

Recently updated on June 6th, 2025 at 10:59 pmHere’s a comparison between Criminal Protective Orders (CPOs) and Orders of Protection (OOPs) in Tennessee:   Aspect Criminal Protective Order (CPO) Order of Protection (OOP) Purpose Issued as part of a criminal case to protect victims or witnesses from the defendant. A civil order designed to protect…

Recently updated on June 7th, 2025 at 05:35 amIn Tennessee, the legal definition of domestic violence is outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 39-13-111 and other related statutes. Domestic violence generally refers to abusive behaviors committed by someone in a domestic or familial relationship with the victim. Create Forms Online Key Elements of Domestic…