Agreed Divorce Tennessee: Requirements, Process, and What It Actually Costs

An agreed divorce is the fastest, cheapest path to ending a marriage in Tennessee — but "agreed" means something very specific under state law. Both spouses must consent to every single term: property division, debt allocation, and (if applicable) custody and support. If you disagree on even one issue, the court cannot grant the divorce under this pathway.

Who Qualifies for an Agreed Divorce

Tennessee's streamlined agreed divorce forms are designed for couples who meet all of these criteria:

• Both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken
• No minor or disabled children
• No shared real estate
• No retirement accounts or pension assets to divide
• No business interests
• Complete agreement on dividing personal property and debts
• At least one spouse has lived in Tennessee for six continuous months

If you meet every condition, you can use the free court-approved forms from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. These are universally accepted by every Circuit and Chancery Court clerk in the state.

If you have children, own a home, or hold retirement accounts, you are not barred from divorcing amicably — you just file under the broader "Irreconcilable Differences" ground instead, which requires a custom Marital Dissolution Agreement and (with children) a Permanent Parenting Plan.

The Step-by-Step Process

Step 1 — Complete the forms together. Both spouses fill out the Complaint (Form 1), Personal Information (Form 2), the Marital Dissolution Agreement (Form 5), and the Automatic Restraining Order (Form 7). Every document requiring both signatures must be notarized.

Step 2 — File with the clerk. Bring the completed packet to the Circuit or Chancery Court clerk in the county where you and your spouse last lived together, or where the respondent currently lives. Pay the filing fee. The clerk assigns a docket number and stamps the filing date — this starts the waiting period clock.

Step 3 — Skip formal service. In an agreed divorce, the responding spouse signs a notarized Waiver of Service acknowledging receipt of the complaint. This eliminates sheriff's fees and the 30-day service window entirely.

Step 4 — Wait out the cooling-off period. Tennessee requires 60 calendar days from the filing date before a final hearing can be scheduled. The court has no authority to shorten this period.

Step 5 — Attend the final hearing. At least one spouse appears before the judge. The judge confirms residency, verifies both parties agree to the terms, and reviews the Marital Dissolution Agreement for basic fairness. If everything checks out, the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce on the spot.

What It Actually Costs

The total out-of-pocket cost for an agreed divorce without children runs between $234 and $350, depending on your county. A breakdown across Tennessee's major metro areas:

• Davidson County (Nashville): $234.50 base filing fee
• Shelby County (Memphis): $225.00
• Knox County (Knoxville): $234.50
• Hamilton County (Chattanooga): $239.50
• Roane County: $274.50

Add $5 to $15 for certified copies of the Final Decree. Because you skip formal service with a waiver, the sheriff fee ($42 to $58) does not apply. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can file a Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency to defer payment until the case concludes.

Common Mistakes That Delay Agreed Divorces

Filing in the wrong county. Tennessee venue rules under T.C.A. § 36-4-105 require you to file where you last lived together as a couple, or where the respondent currently resides. Wrong county means dismissal and forfeited fees.

Incomplete MDA. The agreement must account for every marital asset and debt. Judges review the MDA at the final hearing and will reject vague language like "we'll split everything equally" without listing specific items.

Skipping the Divorce Certificate. Beyond the Final Decree, you need a separate Divorce Certificate filed with the Office of Vital Records. Some clerks include this in the packet; others require you to complete it separately.

For the complete filing sequence with county-specific details and hearing preparation, the Tennessee Divorce Filing Process Guide covers every step from document preparation through your final court appearance.

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