Franklin County Public Records /Franklin County Divorce Records

Franklin County Divorce Records

How To Find a Divorce Record In Franklin County in 2026

FranklinTNRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to divorce records in Franklin County, Tennessee. Members of the public may find case numbers, party names, filing dates, final decrees, and related court documents through official channels. Record categories include dissolution of marriage filings, final judgments, parenting plans, and property settlement agreements. Access and completeness may vary depending on the age of the case and whether any records have been sealed by court order.

Divorce records in Franklin County may be searched through the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk's office, the Tennessee Court System's online portal, the Tennessee Department of Health's vital records division, and public access terminals located at the courthouse. Each method provides varying levels of detail, and requesters should be prepared to supply identifying information about both parties.

Online Searches

1. Clerk of Court Case Search

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts maintains the Tennessee Court Case Management System, which allows members of the public to search civil and family court cases by party name or case number. Basic case information is available at no charge; copies of documents require payment of applicable fees.

2. State Court System Portal

The Tennessee Courts online portal provides a consolidated database for searching cases across multiple jurisdictions, including Williamson County Circuit Court, where Franklin County divorce proceedings are filed.

3. State Vital Records

Tennessee registers divorce certificates through the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. Divorce certificates are available for dissolutions finalized from July 1945 to the present. A fee applies to each certified copy requested.

In-Person Searches

Clerk of Court — Williamson County Circuit Court:

Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk
135 Fourth Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 790-5428
Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Services available in person include:

Searching case files by party name or case number
Viewing filed documents at public access terminals
Requesting certified copies of final decrees and orders
Staff assistance for locating archived or older records

Records Department:

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains a separate records division for historical and archived cases. Cases predating electronic filing may exist only in paper format and may require additional retrieval time.

By Mail

Written Request:

Mail requests to:

Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk — Records Division
135 Fourth Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 790-5428
Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk

Written requests should include:

Full legal names of both parties
Maiden names, if applicable
Approximate date of divorce or filing
Case number, if known
Requester's full name and contact information
Purpose of request, if required
Payment for applicable copy fees
A self-addressed stamped envelope for return correspondence

Processing time is typically one to two weeks, though archived or older records may require additional time.

By Phone

Limited Information:

Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk: (615) 790-5428

Staff may confirm by phone:

Whether a case exists in the system
The assigned case number
Current case status
The original filing date

Staff cannot provide detailed document contents, copies of filed documents, or any confidential case information by phone.

Through Attorneys

An attorney licensed in Tennessee may access court records on behalf of a client, request sealed documents upon a proper showing of cause, and navigate complex or older cases that may not be fully indexed online. The Tennessee Bar Association's lawyer referral service can assist members of the public in locating qualified family law counsel.

Information Needed for Search

Essential Information:

Full legal names of both spouses at the time of filing
Maiden names, if applicable
Approximate date of divorce or year of filing
Case number, if previously obtained

Helpful Information:

Date and location of marriage
Prior addresses in Tennessee
Names of minor children, if any
Names of attorneys of record, if known

Search in Correct County

Divorce proceedings in Tennessee are filed in the county where either spouse resided at the time of filing. Members of the public searching for a record should confirm the county of residence before initiating a search. A divorce cannot be located by searching the county where the marriage ceremony occurred unless one spouse also resided there.

Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-4-105, one spouse must have been a bona fide resident of Tennessee for at least six months prior to filing. The petition is filed in the county of that spouse's residence.

Time Considerations

Recent Divorces:

Newly finalized cases may not appear in online systems immediately
Allow several business days to weeks after the final hearing for the record to be processed and indexed
Contacting the clerk's office directly is the most reliable method for recently finalized cases

Older Divorces:

Cases predating electronic filing may be stored in paper archives
Retrieval of archived records may require additional processing time
Some older records may not be digitized and must be reviewed in person

What If You Cannot Find a Record

Common Issues:

The divorce was filed in a different county
Name variations between married and maiden names
Spelling differences in party names
The case has not yet been finalized and remains pending
Very old records stored in off-site archives
The case has been sealed by court order

Next Steps:

Contact the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk at (615) 790-5428
Attempt alternate name spellings or maiden names
Search under both spouses' names
Check the Tennessee Department of Health vital records database
Retain a licensed Tennessee attorney for complex searches

What Are Franklin County Divorce Records?

Franklin County divorce records are official court documents generated during and after dissolution of marriage proceedings filed in Williamson County Circuit Court. These records constitute part of the permanent public court file and are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk as the primary custodian.

Types of Divorce Records:

Court Case Files include the following documents:

Petition for dissolution of marriage
Response or answer to the petition
Financial affidavits submitted by both parties
Parenting plans and child support worksheets
Marital settlement agreements
Motions, responses, and court orders
Transcripts of court hearings, if ordered
Final judgment of dissolution of marriage

Final Decree is the official court order terminating the marriage. It constitutes legal proof of divorce and establishes the date of dissolution, division of marital property, any alimony or spousal support awarded, child custody and timesharing arrangements, child support obligations, and any court-ordered name changes. Certified copies of the final decree are available through the Circuit Court Clerk.

Supporting Documents may include the original marriage certificate, financial disclosure statements, property inventories, parenting plan attachments, and any post-judgment modification orders.

Purpose of Divorce Records:

Divorce records serve the following legal purposes:

Establishing proof of marital status for remarriage
Documenting name changes with government agencies
Supporting immigration proceedings and visa applications
Facilitating Social Security benefit determinations
Assisting with estate planning and property transfers

Divorce records also serve personal purposes, including genealogical research, family history documentation, and personal verification of divorce terms.

Who Maintains Divorce Records:

The Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk is the primary custodian of all divorce case files and provides certified copies upon request. The Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records maintains divorce certificates for dissolutions finalized from July 1945 forward, though these certificates contain less detail than the full court file.

Legal Framework:

Divorce proceedings in Tennessee are governed by Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-4-101 et seq., which establishes the grounds for dissolution of marriage, residency requirements, and procedural requirements for filing. Public access to court records is governed by the Tennessee Public Records Act, codified at Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, which establishes a presumption that all public records are open for inspection by any citizen of Tennessee.

Are Franklin County Divorce Records Public?

Divorce records filed in Williamson County Circuit Court are public court records subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Members of the public may access basic case information, docket entries, and most filed documents without demonstrating a specific need or purpose. Certain categories of information within those files are restricted or redacted pursuant to court rules and state law.

What Is Public:

Case number and original filing date
Full names of both parties
Names of attorneys of record
Scheduled and completed court hearing dates
Court orders and judgments, including the final decree
Property division orders
General case status and disposition
Docket entries reflecting the chronological history of the case

What May Be Restricted:

Financial Information:

Social Security numbers are redacted from all publicly accessible documents
Bank account and credit card numbers are redacted
Detailed financial statements and tax returns may be subject to limited access upon court order

Children's Information:

Names and addresses of minor children may be redacted in certain circumstances
Schools attended by children are not disclosed in public records
Medical and psychological evaluations of children may be sealed
Guardian ad litem reports are restricted from general public access
Child custody evaluations ordered by the court may be sealed

Sensitive Personal Information:

Domestic violence allegations and supporting evidence may be sealed
Mental health and substance abuse treatment records are protected
Personal addresses of domestic violence victims are withheld from public records

Sealed Records:

A court may seal all or part of a divorce case file upon a showing of good cause. Circumstances that may support sealing include documented domestic violence, abuse allegations, high-profile cases where public disclosure would cause harm, and confidential settlement terms. Mediation communications are confidential under Tennessee law and are not part of the public court record.

Who Can Access Records:

General public: May access most case information, view docket summaries, and obtain copies of public documents upon payment of applicable fees. Photo identification may be required.
Parties to the case: Have full access to their own case file, including documents that may be restricted from general public access.
Attorneys of record: Have professional access to case files and may petition the court for access to sealed documents upon a proper showing.
Researchers and media: May access public portions of the record; access to sealed records requires a court order. First Amendment considerations apply to news reporting on matters of public concern.

Restrictions on Use:

The following uses of divorce records are prohibited:

Stalking, harassment, or intimidation of any party
Identity theft or fraudulent purposes
Violation of any protective order issued in the case
Commercial exploitation where prohibited by applicable law

Permitted uses include legal proceedings, background investigations conducted in accordance with applicable law, genealogical research, news reporting, academic research, and personal verification.

Obtaining Confidential Records:

A party seeking access to sealed or restricted records must file a motion with the court demonstrating a legitimate legal need. The court evaluates such requests on a case-by-case basis, applying a balancing test between the public interest in transparency and the privacy interests of the parties. Certain entities, including law enforcement agencies, child protective services investigators, and court-appointed evaluators, may be entitled by statute to access otherwise restricted records.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Divorce Records in Franklin County?

The Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk charges standard fees for copies and certified copies of divorce records. Current fees are as follows:

Service	Fee
Plain copy (per page)	$0.50 per page
Certified copy of final decree	$5.00 per document
Certification fee (per document)	$2.00
Exemplified/authenticated copy	$10.00
Search fee (if applicable)	Varies

Inspection of public records at the courthouse is available at no charge during regular business hours.
Electronic copies, where available through the online case management system, may be accessed at no charge for basic case information; document downloads may incur a per-page fee.
Fees for vital records divorce certificates obtained through the Tennessee Department of Health are currently $15.00 for the first certified copy and $5.00 for each additional copy requested at the same time.
Accepted payment methods at the Circuit Court Clerk's office include cash, money order, and credit or debit card. Mail requests should include a money order or check made payable to the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent parties upon submission of an affidavit of indigency to the court. Members of the public seeking a fee waiver should inquire directly with the clerk's office.

Fee schedules are established pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-21-401, which governs fees charged by clerks of court throughout the state.

What's Included in Divorce Records in Franklin County

A complete divorce case file maintained by the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk contains the following categories of documents:

Basic Case Information:

The case caption identifies the case number, the name of the court and division, the full names of the petitioner and respondent, the judge assigned to the matter, and the attorneys of record. Filing information includes the date the petition was filed, filing fees paid, and the jurisdictional basis for the proceeding.

Initial Pleadings:

The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage sets forth the petitioner's identifying information, the respondent's identifying information, the date and location of the marriage, the date of separation if applicable, the grounds for divorce, information regarding minor children, claims regarding marital property, and the relief requested. Under Tennessee law, the most common ground is irreconcilable differences, a no-fault basis.

The Response or Answer states the respondent's position, admissions or denials of the petition's allegations, any counterpetition filed by the respondent, and the respondent's requested relief.

Financial Affidavits submitted by both parties disclose income from all sources, monthly expenses, assets including real property, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, and personal property, and all liabilities including mortgages, loans, and credit card debt.

Discovery Documents:

Discovery materials may include tax returns, pay stubs, bank and investment account statements, retirement account statements, credit card statements, loan documents, business financial statements, written interrogatories and answers under oath, and responses to requests for production of documents.

Property-Related Documents:

The marital asset inventory describes and values all real property, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, business interests, and personal property. The debt inventory identifies all mortgages, car loans, credit card balances, personal loans, and other liabilities. Appraisals and expert valuations of real property, businesses, and personal property may also be included.

Children-Related Documents:

Where minor children are involved, the case file includes a parenting plan establishing legal and physical custody, a detailed timesharing schedule covering regular weeks, holidays, summers, and vacations, transportation arrangements, and decision-making responsibilities for education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities. Child support calculation worksheets reflect both parties' incomes, the number of overnights with each parent, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. Custody evaluations and guardian ad litem reports, where ordered, may be sealed or restricted from public access.

Support Documents:

Alimony or spousal support provisions identify the type of support awarded, the amount and duration, the payment schedule, modification and termination conditions, and applicable tax treatment. Tennessee recognizes multiple forms of spousal support, including transitional alimony, rehabilitative alimony, alimony in futuro, and alimony in solido.

Settlement Documents:

The Marital Settlement Agreement is a comprehensive written agreement resolving all contested issues, including property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child-related provisions, tax matters, and attorney fee allocation. Where the parties participated in mediation, a mediation agreement may be incorporated into the settlement agreement. Mediation communications themselves are confidential and do not become part of the public record.

Court Orders and Judgments:

Temporary orders may address interim custody, support, use of the marital home, and restraining orders during the pendency of the case. The Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is the court's definitive order terminating the marriage, containing findings of fact, conclusions of law, all property and support provisions, custody and child support orders, any name restoration, and the judge's signature and court seal. Where retirement accounts are divided, a separate Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) instructs the plan administrator on the division of benefits.

Post-Judgment Documents:

After entry of the final judgment, the case file may be supplemented with petitions to modify custody or support, court orders on those petitions, contempt motions alleging non-compliance, income deduction orders, and enforcement actions.

What Is Typically Confidential or Sealed:

Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from all publicly accessible documents
Children's residential addresses and school information
Domestic violence details and supporting evidence, which may be sealed by court order
Mental health evaluations and substance abuse records
Mediation communications, which are confidential by statute
Settlement negotiations not reduced to a filed agreement

How Information Is Organized:

Documents are filed in chronological order and indexed by document type and filing date. Each document is assigned a filing date reflected in the docket. Recent cases are maintained in electronic format through the court's case management system; older cases may exist in paper format or as scanned images. The docket serves as the master index of all filings in the case.

How to Get Proof of Divorce in Franklin County

Proof of divorce in Franklin County is obtained through a certified copy of the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage issued by the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk, or through a divorce certificate issued by the Tennessee Department of Health.

Certified Copy from the Circuit Court Clerk:

A certified copy of the final decree is the most comprehensive and widely accepted form of proof of divorce. Members of the public may obtain a certified copy by:

Appearing in person at the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk's office at 135 Fourth Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), providing the names of both parties and the approximate filing date, and paying the applicable certification fee.
Submitting a written request by mail to the same address, including the names of both parties, the approximate date of divorce, the case number if known, requester contact information, and a money order for the applicable fee.
Searching the Tennessee Court Case Management System online to locate the case number, then contacting the clerk's office to request a certified copy.

Divorce Certificate from Tennessee Vital Records:

The Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records issues divorce certificates for dissolutions finalized from July 1945 forward. A divorce certificate contains the names of the parties, the county of filing, and the date of dissolution, but does not include the detailed terms of the decree. This document is sufficient for many administrative purposes, including name changes with the Social Security Administration and the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-1763
Tennessee Office of Vital Records

Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk
135 Fourth Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 790-5428
Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk

Can a Divorce Be Confidential in Franklin County?

Divorce proceedings in Franklin County are presumptively public under the Tennessee Public Records Act; however, specific records or entire case files may be made confidential under certain circumstances.

A party may petition the court to seal all or part of the case file by demonstrating that the privacy interest at stake outweighs the public interest in access.
Cases involving documented domestic violence may be partially sealed to protect the safety of the victim, including the withholding of residential addresses and contact information.
Mental health evaluations, substance abuse treatment records, and psychological assessments of minor children are routinely restricted from public access.
Guardian ad litem reports and child custody evaluations ordered by the court may be sealed to protect the best interests of minor children.
Mediation communications are confidential by statute and do not become part of the public court record regardless of whether the case is otherwise public.
Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive identifiers are redacted from all publicly accessible documents pursuant to court rules.
High-profile cases may be sealed upon a specific showing that public disclosure would cause substantial harm to a party.

The legal basis for sealing court records in Tennessee is found in the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and the court's inherent authority to protect the integrity of proceedings. Members of the public seeking access to a sealed record must file a motion with the court and demonstrate a legitimate legal basis for disclosure.

How Long Does Franklin County Keep Divorce Records?

The Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk retains divorce records in accordance with the Tennessee State Library and Archives records retention schedules applicable to court records.

Final judgments of dissolution of marriage and the complete case files associated with them are retained permanently and are not subject to destruction.
Temporary orders, interlocutory motions, and routine correspondence within a case file are retained for the duration of the case and for a minimum period thereafter as specified by the applicable retention schedule.
Post-judgment modification and enforcement records are retained as part of the original case file and share the same permanent retention status as the underlying judgment.
Vital records divorce certificates maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health are retained permanently in accordance with state vital records law.
Electronic records created through the court's case management system are maintained in accordance with the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts' electronic records policies.
Paper records predating electronic filing are retained in the clerk's archives and may be stored off-site; retrieval of such records may require additional processing time.
The Tennessee State Library and Archives provides oversight of records retention schedules for all state and county government agencies, including courts, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-404.

Members of the public seeking records from a specific time period should contact the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk directly to confirm availability and retrieval procedures for older or archived materials.