If you live in Franklin and are facing a divorce, your case moves through the Williamson County court system, not a Franklin municipal office. Franklin sits inside Williamson County in Tennessee's 21st Judicial District, and every divorce filed by a Franklin resident lands at the Williamson County Judicial Center downtown. This page explains where you file, what it costs to hire a Franklin divorce lawyer, how long the process takes, and the specific Tennessee statutes that govern your case. The figures below were verified in June 2026 against Williamson County and Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts sources.
Franklin Divorce: Key Facts at a Glance
A Franklin divorce is filed in Williamson County Circuit or Chancery Court, requires six months of Tennessee residency under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104, and carries a mandatory waiting period of 60 days (no minor children) or 90 days (with minor children) per § 36-4-101(b). Tennessee divides property by equitable distribution, not a 50/50 split.
| Fact | Detail (Franklin / Williamson County) |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County (21st Judicial District) |
| Filing court | Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit Civil division) or Chancery Court (Clerk & Master) |
| Court address | Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064 |
| Filing fee | Approx. $184-$301 total, depending on minor children and service method |
| Residency requirement | 6 months in Tennessee before filing (§ 36-4-104) |
| Waiting period | 60 days (no minor children) / 90 days (with minor children) (§ 36-4-101(b)) |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (§ 36-4-121) |
How do I file for divorce in Franklin, Tennessee?
To file for divorce in Franklin, you submit a Complaint for Divorce to the Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk at 135 4th Ave South and pay the filing fee, which runs roughly $184 to $301 depending on whether you have minor children. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can reach the Circuit Court Clerk at (615) 790-5454 to confirm current fees before filing.
The process starts with the spouse who files, called the plaintiff, preparing a complaint that states a legal ground for divorce under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-101. Tennessee recognizes 15 grounds: two no-fault grounds (irreconcilable differences and two-year separation with no minor children) and 13 fault grounds such as adultery and inappropriate marital conduct. Irreconcilable differences is used in roughly 90% of Tennessee divorces and requires both spouses to sign a complete marital dissolution agreement.
After filing, the other spouse, the defendant, must be served. In an agreed irreconcilable-differences case, the defendant can waive formal service and sign the agreement. In a contested case, the Williamson County Sheriff or a private process server delivers the complaint and summons. The defendant then has 30 days to file a written answer.
Where do I file for divorce in Franklin? (which courthouse)
Franklin divorces are filed at the Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064, which houses both the Circuit Court Clerk and the Chancery Court Clerk & Master. The Judicial Center sits in downtown Franklin near the historic public square, a short walk from 4th Avenue and Main Street. Most divorces go through Circuit Civil Court, which handles divorces, name changes, and civil suits over $25,000.
Tennessee lets you file a divorce in either Circuit Court or Chancery Court, and in the 21st Judicial District the same judges preside over both. The Circuit Court Clerk's office can be reached at (615) 790-5454. The Chancery Court Clerk & Master operates from the same building, with a mailing address of PO Box 1666, Franklin, TN 37065, and a phone line at (615) 790-5428. Which division you choose rarely changes the outcome, but the filing paperwork and clerk differ, so confirm the correct division before you submit documents.
Venue rules under Tennessee law direct you to file in the county where you and your spouse last lived together, or where the defendant resides. For most Franklin couples, that means Williamson County is the correct and only proper venue, and filing elsewhere risks dismissal or transfer.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Franklin?
A Franklin divorce lawyer typically charges $250 to $400 per hour, reflecting Williamson County's status as one of Tennessee's highest-income counties. An uncontested divorce with a signed agreement often costs $2,500 to $6,000 in total attorney fees. A contested divorce involving custody disputes, business valuation, or significant marital assets commonly runs $10,000 to $30,000 or more, billed against a retainer of $3,500 to $7,500.
Those attorney fees are separate from the court filing fee, which falls in the $184 to $301 range. Several factors drive cost in Franklin specifically. Williamson County has substantial real estate values and a high concentration of business owners and executives, so property division and asset tracing under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-121 frequently require appraisers, forensic accountants, or vocational experts, each adding $1,500 to $5,000 to the total.
Flat-fee arrangements are available for uncontested cases. Many Franklin and Brentwood-area attorneys offer a flat package, often $1,500 to $3,500 plus filing costs, when both spouses agree on every issue and there are no minor children. If you cannot afford counsel, you may request a fee waiver under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 29 and Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-12-127; filers at or below 125% of the federal poverty level (about $19,506 for a single person in 2026) are presumed eligible to file without prepaying court costs.
How long does a divorce take in Franklin?
A Franklin divorce takes a minimum of 60 days if you have no minor children and 90 days if you do, measured from the filing date under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-101(b). These are floors, not averages. An uncontested Williamson County divorce usually finalizes in two to four months, while a contested case with custody or property disputes commonly takes 12 to 18 months to reach trial.
The statutory waiting period exists as a cooling-off measure, and Williamson County judges cannot waive it except in narrow circumstances such as fraud or a party's death. The clock starts the day the Circuit Court Clerk stamps your complaint, so filing promptly preserves your timeline even if settlement talks continue.
Several local factors affect speed. Williamson County's court docket carries a heavy caseload because the county is among Tennessee's fastest-growing, so contested hearing dates can be set several months out. Cases requiring a permanent parenting plan under § 36-6-404 take longer because parents who disagree must each submit a proposed plan at least 45 days before trial, and the court may order mediation first. Uncontested cases where both spouses sign a marital dissolution agreement and, if applicable, an agreed parenting plan, move fastest and can sometimes be heard on the first available date after the waiting period ends.
What are the residency requirements to file in Williamson County?
To file for divorce in Williamson County, at least one spouse must have been a Tennessee resident for six months before filing, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104. If the conduct that gave rise to the divorce happened while you lived in Tennessee, you can file immediately without the six-month wait. Military members stationed in Tennessee for at least one year are presumed residents.
This residency rule is about Tennessee statewide residency, not time spent specifically in Franklin or Williamson County. You qualify if you have lived anywhere in the state for six months, then file in the county where the marriage's final separation occurred or where the defendant lives. For couples who lived together in Franklin, that almost always means Williamson County is the proper venue.
Tennessee follows equitable distribution under § 36-4-121, which means a Williamson County judge divides marital property in proportions the court considers fair, not automatically 50/50. The court divides property without regard to marital fault, weighing factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse's contributions, and economic circumstances. Only marital property acquired during the marriage is divided; separate property owned before the marriage generally stays with its owner, though increases in its value can become marital if the other spouse contributed to that growth.
What happens with child custody in a Franklin divorce?
Every Franklin divorce involving children under 18 requires a court-approved Permanent Parenting Plan under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404. Tennessee uses the terms parenting time and decision-making responsibility rather than older custody language. The plan sets a residential schedule, allocates decision-making authority, and must serve the child's best interests under the factors listed in § 36-6-106.
When parents agree, they submit a joint parenting plan to the Williamson County court for approval. When they cannot agree, each parent files a proposed plan at least 45 days before trial, and the court frequently orders mediation before a contested hearing. The plan must designate a primary residential parent, specify the day-to-day schedule including holidays, and set how parents resolve future disputes. Child support is calculated separately using Tennessee's Income Shares guidelines, which factor in both parents' incomes and the number of days the child spends with each parent.