how to file contested divorce without an attorney in tipton county tennessee

by Gerda Streich III 6 min read

Tennessee doesn't have statewide standardized forms for contested divorces, so you'll need to check with the clerk of the court to find out if a form is available, or contact an attorney or local legal services provider for assistance with drafting the correct paperwork.

Full Answer

Can I avoid a contested divorce in Tennessee?

To file a divorce action in Tipton County, Tennessee, the following documents need to be prepared: Complaint for Divorce. Notice of Mandatory Injunctions. Confidential Information of the Parties. Summons. Divorce Certificate. These are known as the “initial filings.”.

How do I file for an uncontested divorce in Tennessee?

Divorce in Tipton County - file for divorce online without lawyer fees Complete Tennessee divorce documents online $159 Step by step filling instructions Award-winning customer care Providing the best service on the market WITH ONLINE DIVORCE your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed Check If You Qualify Answer Detailed Questions Review Completed Forms

How do I list dependents in a divorce in Tennessee?

Feb 25, 2022 · You can get an “agreed divorce” in Tennessee if your spouse and you meet some requirements. You can get an agreed divorce without the help of a lawyer and the requirements are: If either your spouse or you have lived in Tennessee for a minimum period of 6 months or you lived in the state when deciding to file for divorce.

Is Tennessee a no-fault state for divorce?

Make sure that these forms fit your situation. These forms are only for divorces where both spouses agree on all parts of the divorce, there are no minor or dependent children involved, and the spouses do not own any real property. Real property is houses, land, buildings, mobile homes that are permanently attached to the ground, condominiums ...

How do I file a contested divorce in Tennessee?

Here are the steps to take for a contested divorce:1) Complete the Divorce Complaint. ... 2) File the Forms. ... 3) Serve Your Spouse. ... 4) Settlement or Discovery. ... 5) Attend Parenting Class. ... 5) Continued Settlement Efforts or Divorce Trial.17 Aug 2020

Can you file for divorce without an attorney in TN?

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.

Where do I file for divorce in Tipton County TN?

The Tipton County Clerk's office maintains divorce records for the years of 1823 – 1966. To request copies of divorces after 1966, you must contact the Tipton County Chancery Court at (901) 476-0209 or Tipton County Circuit Court at (901) 475-3310, as divorce records were transferred to that office in 1966.

How long do you have to contest a divorce in Tennessee?

After the final hearing, there is a 30-day appeal period. You should not get married until the expiration of this 30-day period. While many spouses start dating during separation, it is not recommended. You are married until the judge approves the final divorce decree.

Do I have to go to court for uncontested divorce?

What is an uncontested divorce? An uncontested divorce is a divorce that is not being defended by the respondent. It is usually a relatively straightforward process and can be dealt with by the court on paper, so there will be no need to attend court.11 May 2021

Can you get a divorce without going to court?

It is possible to get divorced without going to court, as long as your partner agrees to the divorce and the reasons why. However, it is still possible that you will need to go to court to decide what happens to money, property and children.26 Apr 2018

How much does a divorce cost in Tipton County?

How much does is cost to file for divorce in Tipton County, Tennessee? As of January 2020, the Tipton County filing fees for a divorce are $247.00 if there are children, and $172.00 if not. An additional $42.00 will be assessed to have the divorce served by serve the Tipton County sheriff's Department.

What is Chancery Court in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Chancery Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction in Tennessee. In general, they share jurisdiction with the Tennessee Circuit Courts. There is a chancery court in each of the state's 31 judicial districts.

What county is Covington TN in?

Tipton CountyCovington / CountyTipton County is a county located on the western end of the U.S. state of Tennessee, in the Mississippi Delta region. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,970. Its county seat is Covington. Tipton County is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wikipedia

What happens after 60 days of filing for divorce?

A court cannot grant a divorce until 60 days after the suit for divorce was filed and until 20 days after the respondent was properly served. This means a court may grant a divorce on day 61 after a divorce is filed but in reality that rarely happens.

How long does a contested divorce take?

3-5 yearsIn general, a Contested divorce takes up to 3-5 years for the final decision of the court.17 Dec 2021

What is the abandonment law in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, a court may terminate parental rights based on abandonment if there is clear and convincing evidence that a parent willfully failed to support the child, willfully failed to make reasonable or consistent support payments, or willfully failed to visit the child for a period of four consecutive months.5 Feb 2021

What is a PPP in Tennessee?

A “Permanent Parenting Plan” (PPP) is needed for spouses to get a divorce in Tennessee. The PPP lists all the obligations and rights of each of the parents and also states which parent can make decisions. Either both parents can make decisions jointly or just one parent can make decisions.

How long does it take to get divorced in Tennessee?

To file for divorce in Tennessee, either your spouse or you must have lived in the state for a minimum period of 6 months before you can file for divorce. A no-fault divorce takes around 2-6 months to be finalized. There’s a mandatory “cooling off” period:60 days after the filing of the divorce complaint, if the couple does not have kids.

How long do you have to live in Tennessee to file for divorce?

If either your spouse or you have lived in Tennessee for a minimum period of 6 months or you lived in the state when deciding to file for divorce. Your spouse and you have no minor kids, disabled children or children above 18 still in school. Your wife is currently not pregnant. Both spouses want to end the marriage.

What is notice of hearing?

Notice of Hearing: When the date for the divorce hearing is set, the plaintiff or the court must notify the defendant by completing and sending the form to him/her. Court Order for Divorcing Spouses. Final Decree of Divorce: When this form is signed by the judge after hearing the case, it will complete the divorce.

How much does it cost to file divorce papers?

FEES: The fees to file your divorce papers vary from one county to another and can cost between $100-$500. Service of the papers on your spouse can cost between $75-$100, depending on the method of service.

What happens if you don't agree with your spouse?

If your spouse and you do not agree on some or all of the issues pertaining to your divorce, then your case will go to trial, where it will be heard by a judge. The judge will hear all the witness testimonies, review all the evidence and then take decisions on the issues of your case.

How to serve divorce papers on spouse?

Once you file the papers with the court clerk, you must immediately serve the papers on your spouse. Either your lawyer or you can hire the sheriff’s office or a process server to serve your spouse with the divorce complaint.

What happens after a divorce is filed?

After the petition to divorce is filed, the judge will make a determination on if the case may proceed. This may result in counseling or having the petition thrown out if it is on unsuitable grounds or fails to meet residency requirements.

How long do you have to wait to get divorced?

You will have a 60 day waiting period for divorces based on irreconcilable differences without children and a 90 day period for divorces where the custody of minor children will be determined. You are expected in this time to work out differences and seek marital counseling.

Can a lawyer represent both parties in a divorce?

A lawyer cannot represent both parties in a divorce, but can and will offer to perform the legal paperwork needed for an uncontested divorce, if the spouses already agree on the terms of their separation.

What does contested divorce mean in Tennessee?

A contested divorce in Tennessee could mean neither spouse agrees on anything, or it could mean both spouses agree on everything except a few things — both situations are examples of contested divorces because they involve some amount of issues that are, you guessed it, contested.

What is the first phase of contested divorce?

The first of various phases within the contested divorce is the Complaint for Divorce. One spouse or the other will file for divorce, and it’s this documentation that will get the ball rolling.

What is a divorce mediation?

During divorce mediation, spouses will equip themselves with lawyers and trudge into a room to hash things out under the wing of a matrimonial mediator. Each spouse will say what they do and do not want out of this divorce, and the unbiased mediator will provide a professional.

Is contested divorce more expensive than uncontested divorce?

Well, it’s hardly ever as efficient as its opposite, the uncontested divorce, which is relatively smooth and often short in process. The contested divorce is relatively rocky and almost guaranteed to be exhaustingly lengthy, as well as much more costly.

How does a divorce work?

In an agreed divorce, the spouses decide these things together but the court has to approve.The court wants to see that you divide your property and debts fairly. You have to list how all the property is divided, even if you think the property belongs only to one of you. The property division does not have to be equal. The court may change things if the agreement is not fair. The court may change things if one spouse will not have enough to live on.

Does a final decree affect a creditor's ability to proceed against a party?

Notice: The Final Decree does not necessarily affect the ability of a creditor to proceed against a party or a party' s property, even though the party is not responsible under the terms of the decree for an account, any debt associated with an account or any debt. It may be in a party's best interest to cancel, close or freeze any jointly held accounts. T.C.A. §36-4-134.

Can you say you and your spouse can't get along?

No. You just have to say that you and your spouse can no longer get along and that you have no hope of working out your marriage problems. The court calls this “irreconcilable differences”.

How to file for divorce in Tennessee?

To file for an agreed divorce, you must meet several requirements, including: 1 One or both of you have lived in Tennessee for at least the past six months, or you both lived in Tennessee when you decided to divorce. 2 You have no children with your spouse who are under age 18, still in high school, or are disabled. 3 Neither you nor your spouse is pregnant. 4 Both you and your spouse want to end your marriage. 5 You do not own any land, buildings, or a business together. 6 You do not have retirement benefits. 7 Alimony payments, if any, are agreed to. 8 You agree about how to divide your property. 9 You are both willing to sign the divorce agreement.

How long do you have to live in Tennessee to file for divorce?

To file for an agreed divorce, you must meet several requirements, including: One or both of you have lived in Tennessee for at least the past six months, or you both lived in Tennessee when you decided to divorce. You have no children with your spouse who are under age 18, still in high school, or are disabled.

How long do you have to wait to get divorced?

Wait at Least 60 Days. Call the clerk to ask how to get a court date for the Final Divorce Hearing. Once the hearing date is set, plan on attending the hearing. Some counties require both parties to be present, however, at a minimum the spouse who filed for the divorce must be present. 5.

Do you have children with your spouse?

You have no children with your spouse who are under age 18, still in high school, or are disabled. Neither you nor your spouse is pregnant. Both you and your spouse want to end your marriage. You do not own any land, buildings, or a business together. You do not have retirement benefits.

Is divorce legal in Tennessee?

Tennessee offers free, court approved divorce forms. The Tennessee Supreme Court has declared these forms as “universally acceptable as legally sufficient." However, it is only legally sufficient if you fill the forms in properly and tell the truth in response to all questions on the forms. If you are not truthful in these documents, which will be filed with the court, you could be subject to perjury.

How to divorce in Tennessee?

According to Tennessee divorce laws, the following are grounds for divorce: 1 Either party at the time of the marriage was/is naturally impotent and incapable of procreation. 2 Either party has gotten married a second time while still married to someone else. 3 Either party has committed adultery. 4 Desertion or abandonment by a party without cause for one whole year. 5 Being convicted of a crime that renders a party infamous. 6 Being convicted of a felony and sentenced to serve time in a penitentiary. 7 Either party has attempted to kill the other party. 8 Refusal by either party without cause to move to Tennessee with their spouse and being absent from Tennessee for 2 years. 9 The woman was pregnant at the time of the marriage by another man without the knowledge of the husband. 10 Either party is habitual drunkenness or abuse of narcotics by either party, and the habit was contracted after the marriage. 11 Inappropriate marital conduct. 12 Offering indignities to a spouse and thereby causing a spouse to withdraw. 13 One spouse has abandoned or turned the other spouse “out of doors,” and has refused to provide for the spouse while being able to do so. 14 Irreconcilable differences. 15 For a continuous period of two years or more, the parties have failed to cohabit, and there are no minor children.

What are the grounds for divorce in Tennessee?

According to Tennessee divorce laws, the following are grounds for divorce: Either party at the time of the marriage was/is naturally impotent and incapable of procreation. Either party has gotten married a second time while still married to someone else. Either party has committed adultery.

How long does it take to get divorced in Tennessee?

Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 36-4-101, the absolute quickest that you can get divorced in Tennessee is 60 days after you file the complaint at the courthouse requesting a divorce. The law says that if you are getting divorced, and you have no children, you cannot get divorced until 60 days after the divorce paperwork is filed.

What is marital property in Tennessee?

Marital property is generally defined as anything purchased during the years a couple is legally married and can include homes, boats, automobiles, etc.

How long do you have to wait to get divorced?

If you are getting a divorce and you have children under the age of 18, then you must wait 90 days after the paperwork is filed before you are allowed to get divorced. These time periods are called, “the cooling down period.”.

Is divorce a lawsuit?

A divorce is a lawsuit and things can quickly get serious if there is not someone there to watch your back and give you advice about what terms you should and shouldn’t agree to (especially when it comes to children).

What is the definition of adultery?

Either party has committed adultery. Desertion or abandonment by a party without cause for one whole year. Being convicted of a crime that renders a party infamous. Being convicted of a felony and sentenced to serve time in a penitentiary. Either party has attempted to kill the other party.

How to get divorce in Tennessee?

There are two ways to get a divorce: settlement or trial. In very general terms, settlements start with filing for divorce. Tennessee courts must have jurisdiction over you and your spouse. Either you or your spouse must live in Tennessee for at least six months before filing the Complaint for Divorce.

How to settle a divorce case?

First, consider the waiting period. (See the discussion above.) Occasionally, spouses are able to settle their cases prior to the waiting period expiring. Otherwise, the length of time to wait depends upon how long it takes to settle the case. Many settlements occur at mediation. If not, then there may be a trial. In general, there are several reasons for delay. Here is a short list of the many things to be done: 1 Spouses must assemble and exchange necessary information and documents; 2 The lawyers must review the documents and prepare settlement positions; 3 The lawyers must deal with temporary support and other motions; 4 There is usually some negotiation before, during, and after mediation; 5 If there is a settlement, the matter must be set on the court’s docket for a hearing to approve the settlement terms; 6 If there is no settlement, the trial date must be set; 7 The trial is held and the judge or chancellor must issue a ruling; and 8 Following entry of the ruling, both parties have 30 days to appeal to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

Can you get divorced in Tennessee if you move?

No. If a Tennessee court could hear the divorce at the time the divorce was filed, the Tennessee court will be able to grant the divorce even if both spouses move from the state. Until the divorce is settled, however, you may need to return to Tennessee to appear in court for motions or other hearings.

Is it hard to read statutes in Tennessee?

Understandably so. Statutes are hard to read and even harder to interpret. Also, understanding the statutes will not necessarily tell you how your case will turn out. That is because each judge can interpret and apply Tennessee laws differently and because the facts of each case are different.

Is 401(k) considered marital property in Tennessee?

Just as with any asset in Tennessee divorce, retirement and 401 (k) plan accounts must be identified, classified as marital property or separate property, valued, and divided equitably. Balances existing at the beginning of the marriage are almost always considered separate property.

What is the purpose of service of process?

Service of process gives actual notice of the lawsuit to the defendant or respondent. A divorce is a lawsuit. If an adult is properly served with a lawsuit and ignores it, then the court has the authority to rule against the person who ignored the lawsuit by granting a default judgment.

How long does it take for a divorce to be heard?

With minor children and custody decisions to make, the earliest the spouses’ divorce can be heard is 90 days after filing the complaint. Even though the spouses have settled every issue, have their MDA and parenting agreement signed and ready, 90 days must still pass before the judge hears the case.