How to get Tennessee divorce records

In Tennessee, order a certified divorce record from the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.¹ The clerk of the court that granted the divorce holds the decree.² Each certified copy costs $15³. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day⁴.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What Tennessee divorce records cost
How long it takes
Who can order Tennessee divorce records
ID you need
What the application asks for
Decree or certificate
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online through VitalChek	$15³	Up to 3 days⁴	Card⁵
By mail	$15³	Up to 3 days⁴	Check and money order⁵
In person	$15³	Same day⁴	Cash, check, card and money order⁵
At a local office	$0.50⁶ a page plus $5⁶ a document to certify (Knox County)	–	Money order and cashier's check²

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.⁵

Online through VitalChek

Vendor: VitalChek⁵
Vendor status: The state's only authorized vendor⁵
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Up to 3 days⁴
Payment: Card⁵

Good to know

An estimated date is accepted on VitalChek when the exact date is unknown⁷

Go to the ordering site⁵

By mail

Run by: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁵
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Up to 3 days⁴
Payment: Check and money order⁵
Make payable to: Tennessee Vital Records⁵
Mail to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁵

Good to know

Year or range of years is required when ordering directly from the office⁷

In person

Run by: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁸
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Same day⁴
Payment: Cash, check, card and money order⁵
Office: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁸
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.⁸
Appointment: Not required⁵

Good to know

Entrance and parking directions⁸

Open the official page⁸

At a local office

Run by: Clerk of the court that granted the divorce²
Fees: Certification, per document $5⁶²
Per page $0.50⁶
Payment: Money order and cashier's check²

Good to know

Photo ID and envelope²
What the court copy is for²

Find a local office⁹

What Tennessee divorce records cost

First certified copy: $15³
Each additional copy, same order: $15³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Divorce Certificate³	–	$15³
letter certifying that no record was found³	–	$15³
Verification of information¹⁰	–	$15³

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time
Online through VitalChek	Up to 3 days⁴
By mail	Up to 3 days⁴
In person	Same day⁴

Who can order Tennessee divorce records

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

The person named on the record, a parent named on the record, child, spouse and legal guardian: Other than the person named on the certificate, certified copies may only be issued to a spouse, parent, legal guardian or child of the person named on the certificate.¹¹
Proof: Certified copy of the court-ordered guardianship papers¹²
Attorney or legal representative: These individuals will need to provide documentation.¹²
Proof: Letter on firm letterhead naming the entitled party and stating representation, copy of Bar card, driver's license, representation agreement¹²
If you are acting as an authorized representative for one of these people, the Tennessee Office of Vital Records may release the certificate to you under the following conditions¹¹
Proof: Photocopy of signed government ID for both people, plus a signed statement from the entitled person¹¹

Records open to the public after: 50 years¹³

ID you need

Photo ID: Required⁵
Accepted ID: Current driver's license, including the issue and expiration date.
Current passport
Military I.D. card
Alien, temporary or permanent resident card
Employment authorization card
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship or Citizenship I.D. card¹⁴
Without that ID: Current pay stub or W2
Vehicle registration with name and current address
Voter Registration card
Military Discharge (DD214)
Utility Bill, Bank Statement or deposit slip with name and current address
Health care coverage card
Medical record
Application page of an insurance policy
Signed Social Security Card
For those persons who have had their I.D. stolen, a copy a police report or other official documents which support the theft.
¹⁴
Notarization: A signed and notarized application needs no additional ID¹⁴
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁵

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁷

Year of the event or a range of years

Decree or certificate

The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. Tennessee also keeps a state record of divorces at its vital records office³; it shows that the divorce happened, not its terms. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1976 to today¹
Older records: Tennessee State Library and Archives¹³

Special situations

If no record is found: A no-record letter costs the same as a copy³

The state office

Office: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁵
Phone: 615-741-1763¹⁵
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]¹⁶
Mailing address: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁵
Walk-in address: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁸
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.⁸
Website: Official website⁸

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Tennessee divorce record?

Each certified copy costs $15.³

How long does it take to get Tennessee divorce records?

Online through VitalChek: up to 3 days. By mail: up to 3 days. In person: same day.⁴

Can I order Tennessee divorce records online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.⁵

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Tennessee Vital Records.⁵

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Current driver's license, including the issue and expiration date.; Current passport; Military I.D. card; Alien, temporary or permanent resident card; Employment authorization card; U.S. Certificate of Naturalization; and the other documents listed above.¹⁴

Where are older Tennessee divorce records kept?

Tennessee State Library and Archives.¹³

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Vital Records at the Library and ArchivesTennessee State Library and Archives
Request for Unredacted Certified/Copy of Final Divorce DecreeDavidson County Circuit Court Clerk
Tennessee Department of Health: FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
How long will it take?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 23, 2026
How do I get my certificate? (In Person, Local County Health Department, Mail, or Online)Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Copies and CertificationKnox County Chancery Court
How can I order a certificate without exact an known date?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Office Hours and LocationTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Circuit Court Filing Fees (Effective January 1, 2026)Davidson County Circuit Court Clerkdated January 1, 2026
ApplicationsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
May I pick up a copy of a certificate for someone else?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Entitlement GuidelinesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Genealogy ResearchTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Identification RequirementsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Birth (1401 KCHD)Knox County Health Departmentdated November 16, 2023
I still have a Vital Records related question, who do I email?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records