Tennessee Divorce Records: Certificates, Certified Decrees and Older Records
Tennessee family law · Last reviewed November 2, 2026
There are two kinds of divorce record in Tennessee, and they do different jobs.
- A divorce certificate is a short vital record kept by the Department of Health's Office of Vital Records. It proves that the divorce happened and when.
- The final decree is the court's order, with the marital dissolution agreement and parenting plan attached or incorporated. Only the clerk of the court that granted the divorce has it. You need it to enforce or change the terms, and to show a name restoration.
Divorce certificates from Vital Records
The Office of Vital Records fee page lists:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified divorce certificate, first copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy | $15 |
| Verified information about a divorce, even if no record is found | $15 |
If the office can't find the certificate, it sends a letter saying no record was found, and the fee is the same as for a copy. The applications are the Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Divorce or Annulment (PH-1671) and the Application for Verification of Divorce or Annulment Information (PH-3332).
Who can order a certificate
The department's entitlement guidelines list the people entitled to a marriage or divorce record: the person named, and that person's mother, father, son, daughter, husband or wife. Legal guardians, legal representatives and attorneys can order one with documentation, such as an attorney's letter on firm letterhead with a bar card.
How to order
- In person at Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville. You don't need an appointment. The office's posted processing time is the same day.
- By mail with the signed application, a photocopy of a government-issued identification card that shows your signature (or a notarized application), and a check or money order payable to Tennessee Vital Records.
- Online through VitalChek. The state says "Tennessee Office of Vital Records does not directly accept online orders", and VitalChek is the only vendor it has authorized; VitalChek adds its own fees. See the ordering page.
Certified copies of the decree
Ask the clerk of the circuit or chancery court that granted the divorce. After the final hearing, the court-approved packets tell you to go to the clerk's office for the signed order and warn that certified copies cost extra. If you asked to have your name changed in the divorce, the packets tell you to get a certified copy of the final order. Each clerk sets its own copy charges.
Older records
Vital Records keeps death, marriage and divorce records for 50 years. After that, they go to the Tennessee State Library and Archives for public access and family research. For a divorce older than that, start with the archives or with the clerk of the court in the county where it was granted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my divorce decree in Tennessee?
From the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. Vital Records issues only the divorce certificate, not the decree.
How much does a Tennessee divorce certificate cost?
$15 for each certified copy from the Office of Vital Records. Online orders through VitalChek carry the vendor's added fees.
Who can get a Tennessee divorce certificate?
Either former spouse, and the person's parents, children or spouse. Guardians, legal representatives and attorneys need documentation.
Are Tennessee divorce records public?
Vital Records issues certificates to the entitled people listed above. After 50 years its divorce records go to the State Library and Archives for public access. Court files are kept by the clerk, under the court's own access rules.
How long does it take to get a divorce certificate?
The office's posted times, as of June 23, 2026, are the same day in person and about three days by mail or online, plus mailing time.