Skip to content
NashvilleDetective
Agency
Call or text(629) 310-8667Text us
Nashville skyline at night

Guide · 6 min read

Tennessee divorce grounds, and when evidence matters

Many Tennessee divorces end in an agreement and never require proof of anything. Others become contested, and then facts matter. Here is how the grounds work, and where investigation fits.

Call (629) 310-8667Text us discreetly
The short version
  • Tennessee allows divorce on irreconcilable differences or on fault grounds such as adultery.
  • An agreed divorce requires a marital dissolution agreement and a waiting period: 60 days without minor children, 90 days with them.
  • Evidence of fault can affect negotiations and alimony even when it doesn’t decide the divorce itself.

Fault and no-fault grounds

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-101

Tennessee lists the grounds for divorce, including irreconcilable differences and fault grounds such as adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, and habitual drunkenness or drug abuse. A divorce can also be granted after a period of separation in certain circumstances.

Irreconcilable differences works best when both spouses agree on everything. If they can’t, the case may proceed on fault grounds.

Waiting periods

For an irreconcilable-differences divorce, Tennessee requires the complaint to be on file at least 60 days before a final hearing if there are no minor children, and 90 days if there are. Contested cases take longer.

When evidence of fault matters

  • When one spouse refuses to agree, and fault becomes the ground
  • In alimony decisions, where courts may consider the relative fault of the parties
  • In property division, where money spent on an affair can be raised as dissipation
  • In custody, where conduct affecting the child matters (see custody evidence)
  • In negotiation, where strong documentation changes the other side’s calculations

Who to talk to first

Usually an attorney, so the investigation is aimed at what your case actually needs. Some clients come to us first because they need to know the truth before they decide whether to divorce at all. Either order works; read lawyer or detective first?

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different; talk to a Tennessee attorney about your case. Last reviewed October 25, 2026.

When you’re ready

How we can help

Licensed Tennessee private detectives, lawful methods, and reports written for the people who will read them.

ServiceInfidelity investigationsDiscreet surveillance and fact-finding when trust has broken down.ServiceHidden asset searchesTracing property, businesses and money for divorce, judgments and deals.ServiceAlimony cohabitationDocumenting whether an ex receiving alimony is living with a new partner.GuideSigns of a cheating spouseThe patterns that matter, the ones that don’t, and what to do before you confront anyone.GuideHidden assets in divorceWhere spouses hide money, the warning signs, and how assets are traced lawfully.GuideAlimony and cohabitationHow living with a new partner can change alimony in Tennessee, and how cohabitation is shown.

Quick answers

Common questions

All guides →

Does adultery matter in a Tennessee divorce?

It is a fault ground and can affect alimony and negotiations, though many divorces proceed on irreconcilable differences.

How long does a divorce take in Tennessee?

An agreed divorce requires at least 60 days on file without minor children or 90 days with them. Contested cases take longer.

Do I need proof to file for divorce?

Not for an agreed irreconcilable-differences divorce. If you file on fault grounds and the case is contested, you will need evidence.

Talk it through with a detective.

Confidential, no-pressure. We’ll tell you honestly whether a detective is worth it for your situation.

Call (629) 310-8667Text instead
Call nowText