Nicole Kidman Confirms Tennessee Divorce Terms: 306-Day Custody Split, Zero Support Payments
Nicole Kidman publicly addressed her divorce from Keith Urban for the first time in a March 11, 2026, Variety interview, revealing a Tennessee settlement that awards her 306 days of custody per year while requiring zero child support and zero alimony from either party. The lopsided parenting schedule and absence of financial support strongly suggest a prenuptial agreement governed the dissolution of their 19-year marriage.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | Nicole Kidman broke silence on her divorce from Keith Urban, revealing settlement terms |
| When | March 11, 2026, interview published by Variety |
| Where | Tennessee (marital domicile); Nashville-area courts |
| Custody split | 306 days to Kidman, 59 days to Urban per year |
| Financial terms | $0 child support, $0 alimony from either party |
| Key legal factor | Prenuptial agreement appears to have controlled the outcome under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-501 |
This Settlement Looks Nothing Like a Typical Tennessee Divorce
Tennessee divorce outcomes almost never feature both zero alimony and zero child support when the parties have combined earnings in the tens of millions. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121, courts consider 12 statutory factors when awarding spousal support, including each spouse's earning capacity, the duration of the marriage, and the standard of living established during the union. A 19-year marriage between two high earners would ordinarily trigger at least transitional alimony, if not rehabilitative or long-term support.
The absence of any support obligation in either direction points to one conclusion: a prenuptial agreement waived those rights. Tennessee has enforced prenuptial agreements under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-501 since 1979, and the state's courts have consistently upheld them when both parties had independent legal counsel, made full financial disclosures, and signed voluntarily. Given that both Kidman and Urban were already wealthy at the time of their June 2006 wedding, a prenuptial agreement limiting spousal support is entirely expected.
The $0 child support figure is more unusual. Tennessee calculates child support using the Income Shares Model under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101, which bases the obligation on both parents' combined adjusted gross income and the number of overnights each parent exercises. Even when both parents earn high incomes, the state's Child Support Guidelines typically produce some obligation for the parent with fewer overnights. A $0 figure suggests either a private agreement that the court accepted as being in the children's best interests, or that both parents' incomes are so high that offsetting calculations zeroed out the obligation.
How Tennessee Law Handles Custody Schedules Like 306 to 59 Days
Tennessee determines custody — which the state formally calls a "permanent parenting plan" — based on the best interests of the child under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106. Courts evaluate 15 statutory factors including each parent's involvement in the child's life, the stability of each home environment, the child's existing relationships, and the willingness of each parent to facilitate a relationship with the other parent.
A 306-to-59-day split translates to roughly 84% of the year with one parent and 16% with the other. That ratio falls well outside the most common Tennessee arrangements. According to a 2023 analysis of Davidson County parenting plans, approximately 68% of Tennessee custody arrangements award between 160 and 205 days to the primary residential parent, with equal (182.5/182.5) splits growing to about 22% of all new plans filed since 2020.
The 306-day arrangement in the Kidman-Urban settlement is more typical of cases involving very young children, a parent with extensive travel obligations, or situations where one parent agrees to a reduced schedule voluntarily. Urban's touring schedule as a country music performer — he played over 80 concert dates in 2025 alone — likely made this arrangement practical rather than adversarial. Tennessee courts can approve any parenting schedule the parties agree to, provided the court finds it serves the children's best interests under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404.
Kidman's daughters, Sunday Rose (born 2008) and Faith Margaret (born 2010), are 17 and 15 respectively. Tennessee law gives courts discretion to consider the reasonable preferences of children age 12 and older under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a)(7). The children's ages may have influenced the agreed-upon schedule.
Practical Takeaways for Tennessee Residents Considering Divorce
-
Prenuptial agreements dramatically shape Tennessee divorce outcomes. The Kidman-Urban settlement illustrates how a well-drafted prenuptial agreement under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-501 can eliminate spousal support disputes entirely, even after a 19-year marriage. If you are engaged or recently married, consult a Tennessee family law attorney about whether a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement makes sense for your situation.
-
Tennessee child support can be $0 when both parents have high incomes. The Income Shares Model under the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines caps combined parental income considerations, and when both parents earn well above the guidelines' threshold, offset calculations can reduce the obligation to zero. This outcome is rare but legally permissible when the court finds both households can independently meet the children's needs.
-
Unequal custody splits are not automatically contested in Tennessee. Parents can agree to any schedule that serves their children's best interests. A 306-to-59-day arrangement works when one parent's career involves extensive travel. Tennessee courts prioritize stability for children over mathematical equality of parenting time.
-
The phrase "moving toward what's good" reflects Tennessee's no-fault divorce framework. Since 2000, Tennessee has allowed irreconcilable differences as grounds for divorce under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-101(a)(14). Neither party needs to prove wrongdoing, which allows settlements like this one to proceed without public blame.
-
High-profile Tennessee divorces almost always settle privately. Williamson County and Davidson County courts, where Nashville-area celebrities typically file, have well-established procedures for sealing financial documents. The fact that these terms became public through Kidman's voluntary interview — not court filings — is consistent with that practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a prenuptial agreement waive child support in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee courts cannot enforce prenuptial provisions that waive child support obligations under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-501. However, a prenuptial agreement can establish property division and spousal support terms. The $0 child support in the Kidman-Urban case likely resulted from the Income Shares Model calculation, not a prenuptial waiver, given both parents' multi-million-dollar annual earnings.
How does Tennessee calculate child support for high-income parents?
Tennessee uses the Income Shares Model under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101, which bases support on combined adjusted gross income. For parents earning above the guidelines' top income threshold of $360,000 combined annual income, courts have discretion to set support based on the children's reasonable needs rather than the standard formula. When both parents earn substantially above this threshold, courts may find each household independently adequate.
What is a typical custody split in Tennessee?
Approximately 68% of Tennessee parenting plans award the primary residential parent between 160 and 205 days per year, with equal 50/50 splits (182.5 days each) accounting for about 22% of new arrangements filed since 2020. The 306-to-59-day split in the Kidman-Urban case falls outside these norms and reflects either voluntary agreement or career-related scheduling constraints under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404.
Does Tennessee consider a child's preference in custody decisions?
Yes. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a)(7), Tennessee courts may consider the reasonable preference of a child age 12 or older when determining custody. The preference is one of 15 statutory factors and is not automatically controlling. Both Kidman-Urban children (ages 17 and 15) are old enough for their preferences to carry significant weight in a Tennessee custody determination.
How long does a celebrity divorce take in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires a minimum 60-day waiting period for divorces without minor children and 90 days when minor children are involved, per Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-101. Celebrity divorces in Nashville-area courts (Davidson and Williamson Counties) typically resolve within 4 to 8 months when both parties agree to terms. Contested high-asset cases can extend to 18 months or longer.
Find a Tennessee divorce attorney in your county through our directory to discuss how these legal principles apply to your specific situation.
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.