A Nashville judge finalized Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's divorce this week under a Parenting Plan Order granting Kidman 306 days a year with their daughters and Urban 59, with both spouses waiving all spousal support and child support set at $0 — an outcome Tennessee courts permit only when both parents earn well above the state's child support guideline ceiling.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | A Nashville judge signed the final divorce decree and Parenting Plan Order for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban |
| When | Finalized this week; the separation became public in September 2025 |
| Where | Davidson County (Nashville), Tennessee |
| Who's affected | Kidman, Urban, and daughters Sunday Rose (17) and Faith Margaret (14) |
| Key parenting split | 306 days/year with Kidman, 59 days/year with Urban |
| Support outcome | Spousal support mutually waived; child support set at $0 |
According to reporting from AOL and Fox News, the couple resolved custody, parenting time, and financial support entirely by agreement rather than through a contested trial. Because both parties reportedly earn over $100,000 per month, the case illustrates how Tennessee's family law framework applies to high-income divorces — where standard guideline formulas often bend to the parties' negotiated terms.
Why this matters legally
This divorce demonstrates that Tennessee courts will approve a $0 child support order and a full alimony waiver when both parents are high earners and the arrangement serves the children's best interests. The outcome is not a loophole — it is a direct application of Tennessee's income-shares child support model and the state's contractual freedom to waive spousal support by agreement.
Tennessee calculates child support using an income-shares model under the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, which combines both parents' incomes and allocates support based on parenting time and relative earnings. When both parents earn substantial income and the higher-time parent (here, Kidman with 306 days) also has significant resources, the guideline calculation can produce a minimal or zero obligation. Courts retain discretion to deviate from the presumptive amount, and a mutually negotiated $0 figure between two wealthy parents is routinely approved when documented and found reasonable.
The alimony waiver reflects a separate principle. Tennessee recognizes four types of spousal support under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121, but parties who are each financially self-sufficient can waive support entirely. When neither spouse needs support and both consent, courts honor the waiver as a valid contractual term of the marital dissolution agreement.
How Tennessee law handles this
Tennessee treats parenting time, child support, and alimony as three distinct determinations, each governed by its own statute. The Kidman-Urban resolution touched all three.
Parenting arrangements in Tennessee are governed by Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, which requires courts to allocate residential time according to the child's best interests using a permanent parenting plan. The statute lists factors including each parent's relationship with the child, stability, and the child's developmental needs. A 306/59-day split — roughly 84 percent of the year with one parent — is a recognized outcome when one parent serves as the primary residential parent and the other has meaningful but reduced time. For teenagers aged 17 and 14, courts also weigh the children's reasonable preferences.
Child support follows the income-shares guidelines. The presumptive amount is calculated from a worksheet combining both parents' gross monthly income and the number of days each parent exercises. Tennessee's guidelines historically capped the combined adjusted gross income used in the base calculation, meaning income above the cap does not automatically increase the presumptive obligation. Two parents each earning over $100,000 monthly far exceed that ceiling, and a court may find the presumptive support figure — after crediting the primary parent's own substantial income — to be zero. Any deviation from the guideline amount must be stated in the order with written findings.
Spousal support under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121 turns on need and ability to pay. Where both spouses are self-supporting, the statutory factors — including the relative earning capacity, duration of the marriage, and standard of living — point toward no award. Parties may also waive support by written agreement, and Tennessee courts enforce such waivers as part of an approved marital dissolution agreement.
Tennessee also imposes a residency and process framework. To file, at least one spouse must generally have grounds arising in Tennessee or be a resident for the required period — you can review general residency requirements before filing. Most modern divorces, including high-asset ones resolved by agreement, proceed as no-fault divorces based on irreconcilable differences.
Practical takeaways
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A $0 child support order is legally valid in Tennessee when both parents are high earners and the court documents its reasoning. If you and your co-parent both have strong independent incomes, a minimal or zero obligation may be appropriate — but the order must contain written deviation findings to survive later challenge.
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Alimony can be waived, but the waiver should be explicit and in writing. Tennessee enforces spousal support waivers within a marital dissolution agreement. Verbal understandings are not enough; the waiver language must appear in the signed agreement approved by the court.
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Parenting time and child support are calculated together, not separately. Because Tennessee uses an income-shares model, the number of days each parent has directly affects the support worksheet. Estimate your split first — our parenting time calculator for Tennessee can help you model different arrangements.
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High-asset divorces still benefit from settlement over litigation. Kidman and Urban resolved everything by agreement, avoiding a public trial. Negotiated marital dissolution agreements give parties control over parenting plans and financial terms that a contested judgment cannot guarantee.
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Teenagers' preferences carry weight. With daughters aged 17 and 14, the court could consider the children's reasonable wishes about their residential schedule under Tennessee's best-interest factors — a consideration that grows stronger as children approach majority.
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Budget for the full cost before filing. Even uncontested high-income divorces carry filing fees, attorney costs, and financial-disclosure expenses. Our Tennessee divorce cost estimator provides a realistic range, and modifications down the road may require revisiting child support modification rules if circumstances change.
If you are navigating a Tennessee divorce involving significant income, complex parenting schedules, or a support waiver, the terms you agree to now shape your family's next several years. Building a clear plan early — starting with a personalized divorce roadmap or connecting with a local professional to find a divorce attorney — helps you protect both your children and your finances.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.