A Tennessee divorce certificate provides official documentation of a divorce decree finalized in Tennessee, serving as legal proof of marital dissolution for purposes including remarriage, name changes, government benefits, and financial transactions. Obtaining a certified copy of divorce records in Tennessee requires submitting proper applications to the office of vital records or the county clerk where the divorce was granted, with specific procedures varying based on when the divorce occurred and the requesting party's relationship to the case.
What Is a Tennessee Divorce Certificate
A divorce certificate is an official document issued by state or county authorities confirming that a divorce has been legally finalized.
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records reviews, registers, amends, issues, and maintains the original certificates of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occur in Tennessee in accordance with the Tennessee Code Annotated. This certificate serves as legal proof that a marriage has been dissolved and provides essential information about the divorce decree.
Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for marriage licenses or divorce decrees. It is strongly recommended that you make sure a verification letter will satisfy your intended use before ordering, as some purposes require actual certified copies rather than verification documents.
Who Can Request Divorce Records in Tennessee
Tennessee law restricts access to divorce records to protect the privacy of the parties involved.
Divorce records are confidential for 50 years under state law. Records 50 years old or less are held by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records and must be requested from that office. If you are not a qualified applicant, such as a party to the divorce, you will need to support your entitlement to the record requested at the time your application is submitted or have a qualified applicant submit the application.
Entitlement documents can include custody orders, letters of testamentary, insurance policies denoting the beneficiaries, or other legal documentation establishing your right to access the divorce records. The Tennessee State Library and Archives holds divorce records that are older than 50 years, and these historical records have different access requirements than more recent divorces.
Where to Obtain Tennessee Divorce Certificates
The location where you obtain your divorce certificate depends on when and where the divorce occurred.
Office of Vital Records
The office of vital records serves as the central repository for divorce certificates in Tennessee for divorces occurring after the state began requiring statewide record-keeping. Tennessee began requiring that divorce records be kept statewide on July 1, 1945, meaning all divorces from that date forward are maintained by the state vital records office.
The Office of Vital Records is located on the 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee 37243. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with lobby hours also Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Vital Records entrance is on the Rosa Parks Boulevard side of the building, with parking located on Rev. Kelly M Smith Way off Rosa Parks Boulevard.
County Clerk Offices
For the actual divorce decree rather than a vital records certificate, you must contact the county where the divorce was finalized. Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from the district clerk or circuit clerk in the county or district in which the divorce was obtained. Two courts in many Tennessee counties have concurrent jurisdiction over divorce proceedings, including Circuit Courts and Chancery Courts.
Local County Health Departments
With the introduction of electronic issuance systems, all county health departments can now issue divorce certificates that have been registered statewide with the Office of Vital Records. You will no longer have to travel to the county where the divorce occurred to obtain a certified copy. Identification will be required at the time of submission of your application, and fees are payable to the health department.
How to Get a Certified Copy in Person
Obtaining a certified copy in person offers the fastest method for receiving your Tennessee divorce certificate.
At the Office of Vital Records
If paying with cash, check, credit or debit card, or money order, you have the option to fill out a paper order form and present proper identification at the Customer Service Window. Order forms are located on the counter to your left as you enter the office. You do not need an appointment to obtain a certified copy of a record when applying in person at the Nashville office.
The office accepts cash, check, credit or debit cards, or money orders for fees at the customer service window. Proper identification must be presented at the time of application, and if you are not a qualified applicant, you will need supporting documentation proving your entitlement to receive the divorce records.
At Local County Health Departments
Any county health department in Tennessee can now issue divorce certificates registered with the state office, regardless of where the divorce occurred. Identification will be required at the time of submission of your application, and fees are payable at the health department. If you are not a qualified applicant, such as a parent, child, or spouse involved in the divorce, you will also need to present any documents to support your right to the certificate.
How to Request Divorce Records by Mail
Mail requests provide a convenient option for those unable to visit offices in person.
Required Documents
What to include when requesting by mail: the completed and signed application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Divorce, one form of acceptable identification, and payment for applicable fees. Applications must be properly completed with all required information about the divorce, including the names of both parties, the date of divorce, and the county where the divorce was granted.
Payment can be made by check or money order payable to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Include your return mailing address clearly on the application so the certified copy can be sent to the correct location once processed.
Processing Time
Mail requests typically take longer than in-person requests due to processing and mailing time. Applications are processed in the order received, and the certified copy will be mailed to the address provided on the application form once the request is completed and payment is processed.
Online Ordering Options
Several online services provide convenient methods for ordering Tennessee divorce certificates.
VitalChek Service
VitalChek has partnered with vital record agencies within Tennessee to bring you the ability to order the vital records you need. Ordering divorce certificates from VitalChek is easy; simply click on the certificate you need to get started. This authorized service processes requests electronically and can expedite delivery of certified copies.
Tennessee.gov Official Site
For fast, affordable service, order divorce verification letters through Tennessee.gov, the official eGovernment site for the State of Tennessee. Anyone who orders from Tennessee.gov must be ordering a record that is to be delivered within the United States, to U.S. territories or U.S. commonwealths, or to U.S. military addresses (APO, FPO), and must have a valid credit card. If you do not meet these criteria, you cannot use Tennessee.gov, but you can make the request by following alternative instructions for mail or in-person requests.
Divorce Records Before 1945
Historical Tennessee divorce records follow different procedures from modern certificates.
Tennessee began requiring that divorce records be kept statewide on July 1, 1945, meaning divorces before this date are not maintained in the centralized vital records system. Search county records for divorces before that date, as these records remain with the county clerk's offices where the divorces were originally granted.
Divorces were approved by the Tennessee General Assembly from 1796 to 1850. To find a divorce from that era, search the Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850, which contain legislative records of divorce approvals from this historical period when divorces required special legislative action rather than standard court proceedings.
Fees and Payment Methods
Fees vary depending on the method of request and the agency processing your application. The Office of Vital Records accepts cash, check, credit or debit cards, or money orders for fees at the customer service window for in-person requests. County health departments and online services have their own fee structures, which may include additional processing or convenience fees for expedited service.
Payment must accompany all mail requests, typically in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records or the specific county office handling your request. Online services require a valid credit card payment at the time of ordering.
Common Uses for Divorce Certificates
A certified copy of your divorce certificate serves many important legal and personal purposes.
Divorce certificates are frequently required when remarrying to prove that a previous marriage has been legally dissolved. Government agencies may require divorce certificates when processing applications for name changes, Social Security benefits, passport updates, or veterans' benefits. Financial institutions often request divorce certificates when updating account ownership, removing a former spouse from joint accounts, or processing insurance claims and beneficiary changes.
Legal proceedings may require divorce certificates as evidence in matters involving child custody modifications, property disputes, or estate settlements. Immigration authorities frequently require divorce certificates when processing visa applications or citizenship petitions for individuals who were previously married.
Difference Between Divorce Certificate and Divorce Decree
These two documents serve different purposes and contain different information.
- A divorce certificate is a vital record issued by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records confirming that a divorce occurred, typically containing basic information such as the names of both parties, the date of divorce, and the county where it was granted. A divorce decree is the actual court order issued by the judge finalizing the divorce and contains detailed information about property division, child custody arrangements, support obligations, and all terms of the divorce settlement.
- Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from the county clerk or district clerk in the county or district in which the divorce was obtained. For most legal purposes requiring detailed information about divorce terms, you will need the divorce decree rather than the vital records certificate.
Verification Letters vs. Certified Copies
Tennessee offers two different types of divorce documentation depending on your needs.
Verification letters of divorce are available for divorces that occurred from 1968 to the present. These letters confirm that a divorce occurred but are not considered legal substitutes for divorce decrees. It is strongly recommended that you make sure a verification letter will satisfy your intended use before ordering, as many agencies and institutions require actual certified copies rather than verification letters.
Certified copies include official seals and signatures, making them legally valid documents for all purposes. Verification letters provide simple confirmation that a divorce record exists in Tennessee's vital records system, but lack the legal authority of certified copies for most official transactions.
A Tennessee divorce certificate obtained through the office of vital records, county clerk offices, or local health departments provides essential legal documentation of divorce records needed for remarriage, name changes, and various official purposes.