Franklin Divorce Attorney 

You can file for divorce in Tennessee if you or your spouse lived in the state for at least six months. If you or your spouse is a service member of the U.S. military who is stationed in Tennessee (with permanent residence in a different state), you can file for divorce once you have been a resident for at least one year prior to filing.

Is Tennessee Considered a No-Fault Divorce State?

Tennessee allows “no-fault” divorces, which means a couple agrees that there are irreconcilable differences between them, and their marriage cannot be repaired. Although the spouses may agree to end the marriage without blaming each other, it is not uncommon for them to disagree on certain terms of divorce (e.g., child custody, child support, alimony, property division, etc.).

What are the Two Types of Divorce in Tennessee?

There are two main types of divorce in Tennessee: contested divorce and uncontested divorce. A contested divorce means that the spouses disagree on one or more divorce-related issues, while an uncontested means the couple agrees on all divorce-related matters. 

An uncontested divorce generally takes anywhere from two to six months, whereas a contested divorce can last years. After a divorce is filed, there is a mandatory cooling-off period. If you have children, the cooling-off period is 90 days. If you don’t have children, it’s 60 days.

Essentially, an uncontested divorce is much faster and less expensive compared to a contested divorce, mainly because a contested divorce may result in court litigation. However, couples involved in a contested divorce may reach a final agreement outside of court through divorce mediation, in which an unbiased third party encourages the couple to communicate and helps them resolve their differences. If a couple cannot reach an agreement through mediation, then a judge will ultimately decide the issues in court.

At Julia E. Stovall Attorney At Law, I can thoroughly examine your marital and financial situation to determine all your available legal options, as well as guide you through the complexities of the divorce process in Tennessee. I pride myself in providing all my clients with compassionate and personalized legal solutions because I understand that each case and family has their own set of unique circumstances. 

Contact Our Divorce Lawyer Today 

My priority is to always help clients resolve their divorce disputes in the most amicable way possible. I want clients to be able to preserve their relationships and move forward with peace of mind. This is why I have received additional training to become a Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator, so I can better serve my clients and their needs.

My skills and experience as a family mediator have helped thousands of families reach favorable solutions to their divorce issues, without having to go to court. If you are interested in working through your issues using mediation, feel free to get in touch with me.