Tennessee Divorce Cost Calculator

Tennessee divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Shelby County, the fee is $356.50 ($431.50 when you have minor children). Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from Tennessee's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Tennessee fees checked against official court sources on October 24, 2026.

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Do you have children under 18 together?
Do you and your spouse agree on everything?
How will your spouse get the divorce papers?

Leave blank if you are filing on your own. If a lawyer gave you an estimate of hours, enter it here.

Leave blank to use the Tennessee average of $310 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in Tennessee

  • Filing fee (Shelby County example; your county may differ) Source$356.50
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
  • Court costs you pay$356.50

Also note: Fees are set by each county clerk under state law. In Shelby County Circuit Court a divorce with minor children costs $431.50 and one without minor children $356.50 (schedule effective January 1, 2026).

An estimate from official fee schedules, not a bill. The fee your court clerk charges on the day you file is the one that counts. (October 24, 2026)

Tennessee divorce filing fee

Tennessee divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Shelby County, the fee is $356.50 ($431.50 when you have minor children). (source)

Fees are set by each county clerk under state law. In Shelby County Circuit Court a divorce with minor children costs $431.50 and one without minor children $356.50 (schedule effective January 1, 2026).

The case is filed in the Tennessee Circuit or Chancery Court (county clerk).

Serving divorce papers in Tennessee

If your spouse is willing, ask the clerk about a form your spouse can sign to accept the papers, which avoids a service fee.

Sheriff and process-server fees are set locally in Tennessee; ask the sheriff's office in the county where your spouse lives.

Fee waiver in Tennessee

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency, filed with the oath of poverty (pauper's oath) (Tenn. Code 20-12-127; Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 29). A resident may start a civil case without paying costs by filing the oath of poverty and the uniform affidavit; a person who meets the Legal Services Corporation poverty guidelines is presumed indigent, and the court may find others indigent. (source)

The court or clerk decides whether to grant it and which fees it covers; filing the form does not guarantee a waiver.

Lawyer fees in Tennessee

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $310 an hour in Tennessee for 2025. (source) It is an average across lawyers, not a quote. Enter a lawyer's estimated hours above to price them, or enter the rate you were quoted.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Divorce cases are filed with the Tennessee Circuit or Chancery Court (county clerk).
  • It does not quote lawyer fees; it prices only the hours you enter.
  • It does not decide fee-waiver eligibility; the court does.
  • It is not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a divorce in Tennessee?

Tennessee divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Shelby County, the fee is $356.50 ($431.50 when you have minor children). Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in Tennessee is $310 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Tennessee?

It depends on the county. In Shelby County it is $356.50. Check the fee schedule of the court where you file.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Tennessee?

You can ask. File the Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency, filed with the oath of poverty (pauper's oath). A resident may start a civil case without paying costs by filing the oath of poverty and the uniform affidavit; a person who meets the Legal Services Corporation poverty guidelines is presumed indigent, and the court may find others indigent. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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