How Quickly Can a Divorce Be Processed in Tennessee?

Once spouses determine that a divorce is in their future, one of the first questions may be, “How quickly will this happen?” In Tennessee, there are some requirements that have to be met before a divorce can be finalized; however, a divorce could happen in as little as two to six months.

Mandatory Cooling Off Period

Tennessee requires anyone filing for divorce to wait a minimum of 60 days for their case to be heard by the court. There are multiple reasons for this requirement, but a significant reason is to allow the couples the opportunity to reconcile if they choose to do so. If spouses feel confident about this decision after 60 days then court proceedings can begin.

The 60 day waiting period only applies to spouses who do not have minor children, are filing for a no-fault divorce, and have a completed marital dissolution agreement (MDA). If the divorce is contested then it will take more than 60 days for the divorce to be finalized.

Spouses who have children also have a minimum waiting period but longer — 90 days. This is because in addition to having the MDA ready, spouses will need to have a parenting agreement. Not all parents see eye-to-eye with the first parenting agreement proposal which can cause further delays.

How to Speed Up a Divorce

There is no getting around the mandatory cooling off period. However, there are steps couples can take to speed up the process of divorce.

Uncontested Divorce

By not contesting the divorce or any of the agreements laid out, a divorce can be processed as quickly as possible. However, this is not the case for every divorce. Each individual has the right to make sure they are getting their fair share of assets, child custody, and more if the initial agreements do not reflect that.

How Peterson White, LLP Can Help

At Peterson White, LLP, our experienced divorce lawyers can help whether you expect the divorce to be uncontested or contested. Even with an uncontested divorce, having an attorney go over the legal agreements will ensure that you do not face unforeseen consequences later on. If you are getting divorced and have children, it is even more imperative to have a divorce attorney review all legal documents. We offer a free consultation and are ready to help you — reach out to us today at (855) 919-4124.