Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Tennessee
A Tennessee divorce counts as uncontested when both spouses agree that irreconcilable differences caused the split. They also need a signed Marital Dissolution Agreement that resolves debt and, for couples with children, custody and support. Tennessee's Supreme Court-approved agreed divorce forms exist for exactly this situation. One limit catches most people off guard, though. The forms cannot be used at all if either spouse owns any real property, no matter how much the couple agrees on everything else. Anyone with a house, land, or anything permanently attached to the ground must use attorney-drafted pleadings instead. Tennessee publishes no official form for that situation. For couples who do qualify, state law sets two different minimum waiting periods, depending on whether the marriage produced children. The signed settlement agreement can also expire if too much time passes before either spouse requests the final hearing.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist 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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What makes a Tennessee divorce uncontested
A case counts as uncontested when both spouses agree that irreconcilable differences caused the divorce. They also need a signed agreement covering debt division and, if there are children, a parenting plan and child support. Residency rules require one or both spouses to have lived in Tennessee for at least six months before filing. Alternatively, the grounds for divorce must have arisen while the spouses were living in Tennessee.
Agreed divorce eligibility, and the real property disqualifier
Tennessee's court-approved Form 1, Request for Divorce, is authorized only for agreed, no-fault cases that meet specific limits. Both spouses must agree on every term. The no-children packet also requires no minor or dependent children and no pregnancy. Neither spouse can own any real property at all. The with-children packet keeps the same agreement and no-real-property restrictions, but allows for minor children and a parenting plan. A couple that owns a home or any land cannot use these forms, no matter how completely they agree. They need attorney-drafted pleadings under the general Rules of Civil Procedure instead.
Document checklist
An agreed Tennessee filing centers on Form 1, Request for Divorce, along with the Marital Dissolution Agreement. Couples with children also need a parenting plan and a child support worksheet. Tennessee sets filing fees by county rather than by statute. Filers should ask the county Circuit or Chancery Court Clerk directly what the total will be, and bring cash, since many clerks do not accept checks or cards. Anyone who cannot pay upfront can submit Form 3, Request to Postpone Filing Fees. That form defers the fees rather than waiving them, since court costs may still be owed at the end of the case. The signed Marital Dissolution Agreement itself expires and must be re-signed if more than 180 days pass between the last signature and the request for a final hearing.
Is a hearing required
Tennessee law sets a minimum wait of 60 days from filing for couples with no minor children. Couples with minor children wait 90 days before the divorce can be finalized. Both figures appear directly on the Supreme Court-approved packets. Whether a specific county requires both spouses to appear in person at a final hearing varies locally. Some counties finalize the case on the papers once the waiting period runs. Check with the Circuit or Chancery Court Clerk in the county where you file to confirm the local rule.
Sources: Tennessee Courts, Court-Approved Divorce Forms, Tennessee Courts, Self-Help Center
Not independently confirmed
- Full statutory list of Tennessee's fault grounds under T.C.A. Section 36-4-101 was not independently confirmed against the raw statutory text this pass
- Whether personal appearance at a final hearing is required statewide or varies by county for agreed divorce cases
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Tennessee: frequently asked questions
What qualifies a Tennessee divorce as uncontested?+
Both spouses agree that irreconcilable differences caused the divorce and have signed a Marital Dissolution Agreement resolving debt and, if there are children, custody and support. One or both spouses must have lived in Tennessee for six months before filing, or the grounds must have arisen while they were living in Tennessee.
Can we use Tennessee's agreed divorce forms if we own a house?+
No. Tennessee's Supreme Court-approved Form 1 packets require that neither spouse own any real property at all, meaning no house, land, or anything permanently attached to the ground. That rule applies even if the couple agrees on everything else. Owning real property means using attorney-drafted pleadings instead.
How long does an uncontested Tennessee divorce take?+
Tennessee sets a minimum of 60 days from filing for couples with no minor children, and 90 days for couples with minor children together, before the divorce can be finalized. These are floors, stated directly on the state's approved packets. In practice, the case usually takes longer.
Do we have to go to a hearing for an agreed Tennessee divorce?+
Local practice varies by county on whether both spouses must appear in person at a final hearing, or whether the case can be finalized on the papers once the waiting period runs. Confirm the specific requirement with the Circuit or Chancery Court Clerk where you are filing.
Does our Marital Dissolution Agreement expire?+
Yes. If more than 180 days pass between the date of the last signature on the Marital Dissolution Agreement and the request for a final hearing, the agreement expires. Both spouses have to re-sign it before the case can be finalized.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Tennessee?+
There is no statewide filing fee. Each county sets its own fee on top of applicable state fees. Tennessee's court-approved packet tells filers to ask the Court Clerk's office how much they owe and to bring cash, since many clerks do not accept checks or credit cards.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist 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
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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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