Get Selegal 2020-2025

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.

Do I have to go to court for a Tennessee divorce? Not always. If the parties can reach an agreement on all issues, they will “settle.” A settlement can be reached between the parties by exchanging settlement agreements or at mediation. If a settlement is reached, only one spouse will go to court for the final hearing.

In Tennessee, if a spouse will not sign divorce papers after being served, there are still ways to move forward with the divorce. You can file with the court and await an assigned court date. If your spouse does not show up for that court date, the judge will grant a divorce by default judgment.

Divorce Filing Fees in Tennessee If you can't afford to pay the filing fees, you can ask the judge to waive the fees. You can request a fee waiver by filing a Request to Postpone Filing Fees and Order. If the court grants your request to waive fees, you will not have to pay any court costs during your divorce.

The average cost of divorce in Tennessee is around $10,000 in attorney's fees and about $3,000 in additional expenses. This is slightly higher than the national average. You can expect to pay around $17,000 if you have alimony or property division issues.

An uncontested divorce is a divorce in which both spouses have reached an agreement on all issues of the divorce. This is generally the quickest and least expensive method of divorce, however, both spouses must agree on all issues for this process to work.

If you cannot afford to pay, you can file a Request to Postpone Filing Fees and Order. If your request is approved, you could still end up having to pay the filing fees at the end of your divorce. Attorney's fees are another factor you need to consider if you are represented by a divorce attorney.

Tennessee offers a simplified type of uncontested divorce called "agreed divorce" to couples who meet strict requirements, such as not owning real estate together. Spouses who don't meet the criteria for filing an agreed divorce can still file an uncontested divorce based on irreconcilable differences.