Tennessee Divorce Records

Yes. Most Tennessee family court records are made available for public access. Unless sealed by a judge or court order, records can be obtained by virtually anyone in the state. Records that may be sealed include cases involving juveniles and minors. To access these, one needs a court order and justification for why they are attempting to access these records. Certain counties in Tennessee make divorce records searchable through online portals.

With a vail request form, specific courts provide requesting parties with divorce case files. These will be found at the court where the divorce was finalized. The Tennessee Vital Records Office provides divorce certificates. Certified copies are only available to the parties who have gotten divorced and specified family members. After 50 years, divorce records in Tennessee are considered public records and are moved to the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Note: There are three different forms that divorce records come in, and they are all utilized for different purposes. Knowing the different uses of these documents will help save time when attempting to access them.

Tennessee Divorce Records

Divorce records are the most complete reports generated as a result of divorce proceedings. Divorcing parties must first sign divorce papers in Tennessee before the divorce process can begin, and the aftermath of the divorce proceeding is what creates the divorce records. Along with all judgments and information related to the case, a divorce record comprises all divorce documents, transcripts, orders, agreements, and petitions generated during the case proceedings. The parties involved in the divorce will use this record to challenge or alter any information listed on it; therefore, it is suggested that the parties maintain their copy for their own personal records. A divorce record acts as the case file for a dissolution of marriage proceedings. A divorce record can be accessed and viewed by the public, but only those involved in the proceedings can access certified copies of them.

How to Obtain Tennessee Divorce Records

Tennessee Divorce records are largely maintained by Tennessee court clerks in the county where the divorce happened. There are a number of steps a requesting party can take in order to obtain the records they desire.

Government public record search portals and third-party public record websites both may provide court records search tools, which can help find divorce records, though record availability usually varies widely. Divorce records, in particular, may simply not be available through either source.

Note: Divorce records are considered court records. They may, therefore, be searched on third-party public record websites. Divorce records can offer personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal information like domestic abuse. Because of this, divorce records, certificates, and decree availability are usually much lower than other types of public records. Simply put, divorce records are significantly harder to obtain and search for than other types of public records.

Understanding Tennessee Divorce Certificates

Divorce certificates hold the least amount of information that a divorce record can possibly hold. Essentially, they act as a simple statement that a divorce occurred and do not reveal information about the divorce agreement, i.e., how property and responsibilities will be shared between the divorcing parties. This document includes the names of both parties and the date and location of the divorce finalization.

A divorce certificate is most frequently solicited when one of the parties wishes to alter their name as it appears on the identification or receive a marriage certificate to get married again. This kind of record is generally only made available to the two parties and the attorneys involved, but some states do consider them public for viewing.

Understanding Divorce Decrees in Tennessee

A divorce decree is the final judgment divorcing parties get after a divorce petition is filed and the necessary divorce papers have been signed. A divorce decree is also quite simple. Along with the names of parties, dates, and locations, it also includes the judgments made by the end of the divorce proceedings. It is given a case number and signed by a judge. If no children are involved, this document will include alimony, allocation of property, and insurance agreements. If there are children involved, it will most often list child custody agreements and scheduling, along with child support payments. Individuals must visit or mail the clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted to get divorce decrees. Typically, record seekers cannot order or pay for Tennessee divorce decrees online.

How to Find Public Divorce Records Online

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records does not directly offer online services where record seekers can obtain divorce records. However, record seekers can find public divorce records online from an independent company approved by the office. Record seekers must know the date of divorce, the city where the divorce was granted, and the reason for requesting the record to be able to use this online tool. Online divorce records cost $15 for the first copy and $11.50 for processing fees.

There are several third-party or private aggregate online databases where individuals can search for divorce records. However, requesters would have to pay a small fee to access these online services.

What Information is Needed to Get Tennessee Divorce Records?

In order to access Tennessee divorce case files, it is necessary to provide a certain amount of information.