Tennessee Parenting Class for Divorce: Requirements, Cost, and Approved Providers

If you are getting divorced in Tennessee and have minor children, both parents must complete a state-approved four-hour parenting education seminar. This is not optional — under T.C.A. § 36-6-408, the court will not enter a final divorce decree until both parents submit completion certificates. Missing this requirement is one of the most common reasons judges postpone final hearings.

Who Must Complete the Class

Both the petitioner (the spouse who files) and the respondent must complete the seminar. This applies to every divorce involving minor children, whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, agreed or fault-based.

The requirement kicks in as soon as the Complaint for Divorce is filed. The statute directs both parents to enroll "as soon as possible" after filing — do not wait until right before the final hearing. If you need to schedule a hearing 90 days after filing, you want both certificates in hand well before that date.

Exceptions are rare. A court may waive the requirement for a parent only if:

• The parent is incarcerated and cannot attend
• The parent lives out of state and completing the course would create an extreme hardship
• Domestic violence makes joint attendance (even at different times) unsafe

Even with a waiver, the other parent must still complete the class.

What the Class Covers

The seminar is designed to educate parents on how divorce affects children, not to provide legal or therapeutic counseling. Topics typically include:

• The emotional and developmental impact of divorce on children at different ages
• Communication strategies between co-parents
• How to shield children from parental conflict
• Building a workable co-parenting relationship
• Recognizing signs of distress in children during and after divorce

The class is educational, not adversarial. You do not need to attend the same session as your co-parent, and most providers specifically recommend attending separately.

Cost and Format Options

Online courses are the most common choice. Tennessee-approved online providers typically charge $25 to $60 per parent. You watch video modules, complete quizzes, and receive a certificate upon completion. Most can be finished in a single sitting.

In-person courses are offered through county-approved providers, local churches, community organizations, and some counseling practices. Costs range from $40 to $100 per parent. These are typically held on evenings or weekends in four-hour blocks.

Your county may have a list of pre-approved providers. Check with the court clerk or visit the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts website. Some judges will only accept certificates from specific providers — using a non-approved provider means redoing the class and delaying your divorce.

What If You Cannot Afford the Fee

If the course fee creates a financial hardship, you can file a motion asking the court to waive the seminar fee or assign it as part of the court costs. The court can also order one spouse to pay the other's seminar fee.

If you qualified for an Affidavit of Indigency to defer your filing fees, bring that documentation — it strengthens your request for a fee waiver on the parenting class.

What Happens If You Skip It

The court will not finalize your divorce without both certificates. Your final hearing will be continued (postponed) until the missing certificate is filed.

Beyond delaying the divorce, a parent who refuses to complete the seminar can face contempt of court charges. Contempt can result in fines or, in extreme cases, jail time. The court cannot deny the divorce itself solely because of a missing parenting class — but it can hold the non-compliant parent accountable separately.

Timing Strategy

Complete the parenting class as early as possible in the divorce process. The best approach: enroll within the first two weeks of filing the Complaint. The 90-day mandatory waiting period for divorces with children gives you plenty of time, but procrastinating creates unnecessary risk.

If your co-parent is dragging their feet on the class, document your own completion and communicate clearly (in writing) about the requirement. You cannot force the other parent to attend, but you can show the court that you fulfilled your obligation on time.

The Tennessee Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a Parenting Class Tracker worksheet to help both parents stay on schedule and avoid hearing delays.

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