Tennessee divorce laws have a lot of details to them; however, they aren't all that difficult to understand. People seeking a divorce in this state can quickly get an understanding of the basics.
There are several grounds under which divorce can be granted in Tennessee. Courts will grant ‘no fault' divorces if a couple agrees to irreconcilable differences or if they have been living apart for two years or more with no minor children. Plaintiffs can also file for divorce under one of many ‘fault' grounds. Choosing one of these divorce grounds means that the plaintiff must prove the ‘fault' of the spouse to the court. Here are the possible grounds for divorce that may be granted:
This state is an ‘equitable distribution' state, which means that it divides marital property fairly. If the divorcing spouses cannot reach an agreement regarding the division of property, the court will divide the property in a fair manner.
First of all, the court will determine which property is separate and which is marital. Separate property consists of the following, and will not be divided:
Marital income will be divided—without concern about marital fault or misconduct. The courts in Tennessee consider these factors (among others) when distributing the items:
Need a lawyer? Start here.