Shelby County, Tennessee Divorce Records

Shelby County divorce records are a set of legal documents employed by the court to process and finalize a marriage's dissolution. These records are public and maintained by the issuing courts and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Interested parties can contact either of these authorities for details on how to find divorce records in Shelby County.

A Shelby County divorce records search may be necessary for various reasons, including personal research, background checks, remarriage, and genealogy lookups. However, it is advisable to note that some divorce records may be exempt from public disclosure to protect the safety and privacy of the concerned parties. Also, the court may order the sealing of some divorce records, hence, exempting them from public disclosure.

Shelby County Divorce Rates: According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Tennessee recorded 3.2 divorces per 1,000 people in 2020. In the same year, courts in Shelby County recorded 1,497 divorces at a rate of 1.6 per 1,000 residents.

Are Divorce Records Public in Shelby County?

Per the Tennessee Public Records Act, most divorce records, like decrees and certificates, are public in Shelby County. Therefore, interested individuals can request them from the record custodians via the designated resources.

However, some divorce records are exempt from public access. These include records that contain the following details:

• Information about minors and custody arrangements.
• Financial information, such as bank details.
• Personal information of victims in cases where domestic violence occurred.

How to Find Divorce Records in Shelby County

In Shelby County, divorce cases are heard in the Chancery Court and Circuit Court. Therefore, it is advisable to start a Shelby County divorce records search by finding out which court handled the case. The clerks of each court provide online and offline access to divorce decrees and related court documents. Nonetheless, you can contact the Office of Vital Statistics, under the state's Department of Health, to find and obtain divorce certificates.

How to find and obtain Shelby County divorce decrees

To find and obtain Shelby County divorce decrees, you can visit the Shelby County Courthousewith the necessary details like the names of the parties involved, the case number/ID, and the required fee. Note that the fee varies between certified and uncertified divorce decrees. Each page of a divorce decree costs .50 cents, and certification attracts an additional $5.

The Shelby County courthouse is located at:

Note: You can obtain Circuit and Chancery divorce decrees from the same room.

Alternatively, you can find Shelby County divorce decrees on the Chancery Court's Case Search portal (for decrees issued by the Chancery Court) and the Circuit Court's Case Search portal (for divorce decrees issued by the Circuit Court).

How to find and obtain Shelby County divorce certificates

Eligible persons may obtain Shelby divorce certificates from the state's Office of Vital Statistics via any of these means:

In-person

You can make an in-person request for your concerned divorce certificate by submitting a complete paper order form, valid identification, and the required fees at the Customer Service Window. You can pay the fees in cash, check, credit/debit cards, or money orders. Note that paper order forms are available at the counter to your left as you enter the building.

The Office of Vital Statistics is located at:

Note: Vital Records Entrance is on the Smith Way, Rosa Parks Blvd. side of the building.

By Mail

The request should include the following:

• A complete and signed application form.
• Valid identification, which can be either a copy of a government-issued identification card or any other ID requirement.
• A check or money order for the request fee.

Mail request to:

Online

While the Office of Vital Statistics does not offer direct online access to Shelby County divorce records, you can order them online.

Overview of the Shelby County Court System

In Shelby County, divorce filings are handled by the Shelby County Chancery Court and the Shelby County Circuit Court. Residents can decide to file in any of these courts; however, the Chancery Court handles Shelby County family court divorce filings that include complex properties and trusts.

Both courts are located at the Shelby County Courthouse, but occupy different rooms.

The clerk of the Circuit Court maintains records of all divorces heard in the Circuit Court, while the Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court does the same for their jurisdiction. To obtain copies of divorce decrees from any of these courts, you may inquire in person at the courthouse. You can also look up the case search portal on the Chancery Courtor Circuit Courtwebsite.

Online Access to Duval County Divorce Records

Generally, residents and non-residents can find Shelby County divorce records online via the Circuit Court or the Chancery Court case search platforms. Both platforms provide information on divorce decrees and records; however, your platform of choice should be that of the court where your concerned case was heard.

Notably, both platforms are similar. Therefore, you may follow these steps to conduct a free online divorce lookup in Shelby County.

• Visit the Circuit Court or Chancery Court's case search platform.
• Select a preferred search option. The platform offers searches by name, document type, date of filing, and judgment.
• Input the necessary details for the selected search option.
• Click on the "Submit" button.

You can also find Shelby County divorce records online, with the following general steps:

• Visit the Order Divorce Certificate page.
• Select "Tennessee" as the state of divorce and click "Continue".
• Select the relevant city of divorce and click "Continue".
• Input the date of divorce and click "Continue".
• Select the reason for the request and click "Continue".
• Select preferred option (call or physical copy) and click "Continue".
• Input the required information (name and contact details) and click "Continue".

Alternatively, you can look up online divorce records for free on third-party websites. However, you should note that government agencies do not regulate these websites; therefore, there is no assurance of the accuracy of the information therein.

What's Typically Included in a Shelby County Divorce Record

The following details are usually included in a Shelby County divorce record:

• Spouses' names.
• Divorce date.
• Date of final judgments.
• Case number.
• Location of divorce.
• Marriage date and place of marriage.
• Petitioner's and attorney's names.

Note that sensitive divorce information, like names of minors, is usually redacted from public divorce records.

How to Get Certified Copies of Shelby County Divorce Records

In Shelby County, you can obtain certified copies of divorce records from the Shelby County courthouse. Unlike informational divorce records, certified divorce records typically contain a court seal. Hence, they are used for official and legal purposes like name changes, mortgage refinancing, and remarriage.

You can follow these steps to get official divorce copies from the issuing courts in Shelby County:

• Visit the Shelby County courthouse in person.
• Provide details of the divorce, including the date, case number, and the issuing court.
• Attach the required fees. The agency charges .50 cents per page, and $5 for certification.

The courthouse is located at:

Note: You can obtain certified copies of Circuit and Chancery divorce records from the same room.

Why People Request Shelby County Divorce Records

The reasons why people request divorce records in Shelby County may include:

• Remarriage.
• Change of name.
• Personal research and genealogy lookup.
• Legal or financial matters.
• Background check during recruitment. Some employers tend to do this to verify the marital status of potential employees.

Shelby County Divorce Records Summary