Reviewed August 2026
Protective Orders in Tennessee
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. Tennessee's civil remedy for domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault is the Order of Protection. It falls under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6. A petitioner needs a qualifying relationship to the respondent to file. That includes a current or former spouse, someone they live or lived with, a relative, or someone they share a child with. They can file in the appropriate Tennessee court. The court can grant an ex parte order the same day, before the other party is notified. Tennessee's official statute portal is a subscription Lexis-hosted system with no free public mirror. The state courts' self-help site blocks automated access. This page cannot confirm the exact hearing-day count or fee policy from that source. Confirm the county-level details and exact day count with the circuit, chancery, or general sessions court clerk before you file.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how protective orders works under Tennessee law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Tennessee paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Who qualifies
Tennessee's Order of Protection statute covers domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual assault. It applies to people with a qualifying domestic relationship. That generally includes current or former spouses, people who live or lived together, people who have a child in common, and relatives by blood or marriage. A person who has been stalked or sexually assaulted may also qualify, regardless of their relationship to the respondent. Tennessee's stalking and sexual assault protections are not limited to domestic relationships. Confirm the exact statutory relationship categories, and any residency requirements, with the court clerk in the county where you plan to file.
Filing and the ex parte order
A petitioner files in the appropriate Tennessee trial court, generally in the county where either party lives. Tennessee lets a petitioner request an ex parte order at the time of filing. A judge can grant a temporary order without notice to the respondent if the petition shows immediate and present danger of abuse. Ask the clerk of court which specific court in your county handles Order of Protection filings. This can be circuit, chancery, general sessions, or juvenile court, depending on the county and whether children are involved.
The full hearing
After an ex parte order is issued, the court schedules a full hearing within a period set by statute. At that hearing, the respondent can appear and respond. The exact number of days is not confirmed here. Confirm the current statutory hearing deadline with the court clerk.
Cost and firearms
Many states, Tennessee included by general practice, do not charge domestic violence petitioners a filing fee. This follows the federal Violence Against Women Act. Confirm the current fee policy directly with the court clerk. On firearms, federal law, 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8), can independently prohibit firearm possession for a person subject to certain qualifying protective orders. Tennessee has its own statutory provisions on firearm dispossession tied to an Order of Protection. Ask the court how this applies in your case.
Interaction with divorce and custody
An Order of Protection case is a separate action from a divorce or custody case. The order can still address temporary custody, visitation, and support as part of its own relief. If you have an active divorce or custody case, tell both courts about each other, so the orders can be coordinated. Ask the court clerk how Tennessee handles overlapping cases in the county where you are filing.
Sources: Tennessee General Assembly home
Not independently confirmed
- Exact statutory hearing timeline (days from ex parte order to full hearing) for a Tennessee Order of Protection
- Current filing fee policy for an Order of Protection petition in Tennessee
- Precise statutory definition of qualifying domestic relationships under Tenn. Code Ann. Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6
- Tennessee's specific state firearm dispossession procedure tied to an Order of Protection
- This page could not reach tncourts.gov (blocked by bot-detection/browser-validation technology) or the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence's own hotline confirmation beyond the number 1-800-356-6767 found via automated search, which should be independently reconfirmed before publishing
Protective Orders in Tennessee: frequently asked questions
What is Tennessee's protective order called?+
An Order of Protection, governed by Tennessee Code Annotated Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6.
How do I get an Order of Protection in Tennessee?+
File a petition in the appropriate trial court in the county where you or the respondent lives. You can request an ex parte order at filing. If the judge finds immediate and present danger, a temporary order can issue the same day, before the other party is notified.
Who qualifies for an Order of Protection in Tennessee?+
People with a qualifying domestic relationship, such as current or former spouses, people who live or lived together, co-parents, and relatives. Victims of stalking or sexual assault may qualify regardless of their relationship to the respondent.
Does it cost money to file for an Order of Protection in Tennessee?+
Tennessee's current fee policy is not confirmed on the court's own site. Many states waive the fee for domestic violence protective orders under federal law. Confirm the current policy with the court clerk where you plan to file.
Does a Tennessee Order of Protection affect gun rights?+
Federal law can independently prohibit firearm possession for a person subject to a qualifying protective order. Tennessee also has its own statutory provisions on firearms in this context. Ask the court how this applies to your order.
Can I get custody through a Tennessee Order of Protection?+
An Order of Protection can address temporary custody, visitation, and support as part of its own relief, separate from any divorce or custody case. Tell both courts about any other pending case involving the same family.
This page is general information about protective orders in Tennessee, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Tennessee's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Tennessee. Virdix does not prepare or file Tennessee divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Tennessee.
More Tennessee divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Tennessee, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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