How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Tennessee? 2026 Filing Fees
Tennessee family law · Last reviewed November 2, 2026
The filing fee for a Tennessee divorce has two parts. The first is the clerk's fee set by state law, the same in every county. The second is litigation taxes and other local charges, which differ by county, plus the cost of serving your spouse. What you pay at the counter is the county's total.
The statewide clerk's fee
Public Chapter 486 of 2025 rewrote the clerks' fee schedule in § 8-21-401. Its divorce rows, as reenacted in the 2026 Code Bill, are:
| Divorce | From Jan. 1, 2026 | From Jan. 1, 2027 | From Jan. 1, 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not involving minor children | $175 | $200 | $225 |
| Involving minor children | $250 | $275 | $300 |
A counter-complaint is charged the same filing fee that was charged when the case began.
What four large counties charge in 2026
These are the clerks' published totals for a new divorce, each from a schedule effective January 1, 2026. The Davidson, Knox and Hamilton schedules say their totals include the litigation taxes; Shelby's lists a single total. Check whether service is included; each clerk can confirm the current amount.
| County and court | No minor children | Minor children | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson (Nashville), Circuit Court | $234.50 | $309.50 | Not included; with Davidson sheriff service, $286.50 / $361.50 |
| Shelby (Memphis), Circuit Court | $356.50 | $431.50 | Service by another county's sheriff $52; by the Secretary of State $20 |
| Knox (Knoxville), Chancery Court | $289.50 | $364.50 | Sheriff's service charges not included |
| Hamilton (Chattanooga), Circuit Court | $289.50 | $364.50 | $175 or $250 clerk fee plus $114.50 litigation tax; service extra |
Expect each total to rise on January 1, 2027, when the state component goes up by $25.
Other costs
- Service. If your spouse signs a notarized marital dissolution agreement that waives service, you avoid service fees. Otherwise the sheriff or a private process server charges for serving the complaint.
- Parent education. With minor children, each parent pays for the seminar. State law requires the fees to be reasonable and lets them be waived for people who can't pay (§ 36-6-408(b)).
- Mediation. If the court orders mediation, the mediator charges a fee; the court can waive mediation when a spouse can't afford it (§ 36-4-131).
- Copies. The clerk charges for certified copies of the decree, and the state charges $15 for a divorce certificate. See divorce records.
- Lawyers. Lawyers' fees vary more than anything else. We don't publish average figures, because no reliable official source measures them.
If you can't pay the fees
Tennessee law preserves the right to start a case by filing a pauper's oath instead of paying in advance (§ 8-21-401(a)). The court-approved divorce packets include a Request to Postpone Filing Fees and Order (Form 3). As the packets explain, the court may let you pay the filing fees at the end of your case. A postponement isn't a waiver, and the packets ask you and your spouse to decide how you will split the fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Tennessee?
In 2026 the state's clerk fee is $175 without minor children and $250 with them, but counties add litigation taxes. Published totals run from $234.50 to $431.50 in the four largest counties, before service.
Why does the fee depend on whether we have children?
State law sets a higher clerk's fee for divorces involving minor children, $250 instead of $175 in 2026.
Are filing fees going up in 2027?
Yes. The state's divorce clerk fees rise to $200 and $275 on January 1, 2027, and to $225 and $300 on January 1, 2028.
Does my spouse pay to file an answer?
The state schedule charges a counter-complaint the same fee as the original filing. Ask the clerk what, if anything, your county charges to file an answer alone.
Can I divorce in Tennessee if I can't afford the fee?
Yes. You can file a pauper's oath, or, with the court-approved forms, ask the court to postpone the fees until the end of the case.