Tennessee
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Tennessee — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Tennessee
Justice For All TN — part of the Tennessee Supreme Court's Access to Justice Initiative — offers free legal help, self-representation resources, and court forms. Start there before anything else.
Justice For All TN — Self-Help & Court Forms
The verified starting point: free legal help, self-representation resources, and court forms from the TN Supreme Court's access-to-justice program.
justiceforalltn.org →Find a divorce lawyer
Tennessee Bar Association — Find an Attorney
The TBA doesn't run its own referral service — this page connects you to local bar referral services (Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis) and the attorney directory.
tba.org — find an attorney →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
Help4TN
Free legal help for Tennesseans: booklets, forms, family-law chatbots, and a helpline at 1-844-435-7486.
help4tn.org →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 877-237-0004, or report online through the state's referral portal.
Child Abuse Referral and Tracking →THDA — Foreclosure Prevention
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency's HUD-approved counselors: free and confidential foreclosure help. Call 1-888-483-8432.
thda.org — foreclosure prevention →Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in Tennessee
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Tennessee.
Where to go
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Labor Standards
Time limit to file
1 year (general statute of limitations)
What the floor is
federal $7.25 applies
Changing your name in Tennessee
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Tennessee.
How it works
petition the chancery court in your county
Typical court fee
~$150–$250, varies by county
Newspaper notice required?
no
Small claims court in Tennessee
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Tennessee.
Maximum claim
$25,000
Filing fee
varies by county, roughly $120–$275 including service
Can you bring one?
yes, allowed
Clearing your criminal record in Tennessee
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Tennessee stands.
Can records be cleared?
yes — expungement
What qualifies
dismissed/acquitted charges; eligible nonviolent misdemeanors and certain Class C–E felonies
Waiting period
none for dismissals/acquittals; 5 years after sentence completion for misdemeanors and Class E felonies, 10 years for eligible Class C/D and drug felonies
Learn more about clearing your criminal record in Tennessee →
Child support in Tennessee
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Tennessee.
How it's figured
income shares guidelines under Tenn. Code Title 36, Ch. 5; state Excel worksheet calculator
When it ends
age 18 or the graduation day of the child's high school class, whichever is later
Lemon law in Tennessee
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Tennessee's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new motor vehicles only (sold or leased after Jan. 1, 1987)
When it's legally a lemon
3+ unsuccessful repair attempts or 30+ cumulative days out of service during the term of protection (1 year from delivery or the warranty term)
What you get
replacement with a comparable vehicle or refund of the full purchase price
Tenant rights in Tennessee
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Tennessee.
Notice before eviction
14-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment (URLTA counties); 30 days to end a month-to-month tenancy
Deposit limits & return
No statewide cap; return within 30 days; itemized list of deductions required
When the landlord won't fix things
Limited repair-and-deduct for essential services after written notice; otherwise tenant may terminate lease or go to court
DUI / DWI in Tennessee
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Tennessee handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; enhanced penalties at 0.15 (threshold lowered from 0.20 in July 2024)
Typical penalties
48 hours to 11 months 29 days in jail, $350 to $1,500 fine, 1-year license revocation
How far back DUIs count
10 years
Gun laws in Tennessee
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permitless carry at 21+ (18–20 only with qualifying military service); shall-issue permits also available
Carrying openly
Generally allowed at 21+ (18–20 military)
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Not required on private sales No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
No red flag law on the books here.
Reciprocity
Recognizes concealed carry permits from all other states
Filming the police: your rights in Tennessee
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-601)
Buffer-zone law — in effect
25-foot 'PEACE Act' (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-611, SB30/HB55) — in effect since July 1, 2025; statute number per ACLU of Tennessee explainer
After an officer orders you to stop or retreat, knowingly approaching or staying within 25 feet while the officer performs official duties is a Class B misdemeanor, with an affirmative defense if the warning was not received or understood. No binding 6th Circuit ruling recognizes a right to record police in public. The 25-foot law is being challenged in two federal lawsuits (a media-coalition suit and an ACLU suit); both were pending as of fall 2026.
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Tennessee
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Tennessee
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Tennessee
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Tennessee
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Tennessee
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →