How to Search Rutherford County Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage and divorce records in Rutherford County are not stored in one place. Knowing which office holds the record you want will save time. The split is straightforward once you understand the court structure here.
The County Clerk, Lisa Duke Crowell, issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records. If you need to verify a marriage date, get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, or apply for a new license, the County Clerk is your starting point. Three offices handle marriage record requests: Murfreesboro at 319 N. Maple St., Suite 121; Smyrna at 205 I St.; and Blackman at 3906 Blaze Dr., Suite A. The Eagleville branch handles other clerk duties but is not listed for certified marriage copy pickup.
Divorce is filed in court, not with the County Clerk. In Rutherford County, Chancery Court is the primary court for divorce cases. Chancery handles divorce, paternity, child support, orders of protection, and related family matters. Circuit Court may also handle divorce in some situations. The Chancery Clerk and Master, Adam T. Dodd, keeps filed divorce records at 116 W. Lytle St., Suite 5101, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. For older cases or cases assigned to Circuit, the Circuit Court Clerk at 116 W. Lytle St., Room 102 holds those files. Tennessee Vital Records can also provide state-issued divorce certificates for eligible requestors.
The County Clerk page at rutherfordcountytn.gov/marriage-licenses is the official source for marriage license rules and fees. The Chancery Court site at rcchancery.com covers divorce case types, copy fees, and what clerks can and cannot help with.
Marriage License Requirements in Rutherford County
Both applicants must appear together in person at a County Clerk office. There is no online application or mail-in option for first-time applicants. Each person must be at least 18 years old. Bring valid identification and your Social Security number. The clerk cannot issue a license without both applicants present and both sets of documents in hand.
Accepted forms of identification are: a valid driver's license, a valid state identification card, a military identification card, or a passport. One of these four documents is required per applicant. Expired documents are not listed as acceptable, so check the expiration date before you go. If your ID is close to expiring, renew it first or bring a different accepted form.
You must also provide your Social Security number. This is a state requirement, not just a local one. The clerk will ask for it at the counter. Bringing your Social Security card is not required if you know the number, but having the card on hand avoids any confusion.
Tennessee Code Ann. section 36-3-101 sets out prohibited degrees of family relationship for marriage. The statute defines which relatives may not marry each other under state law. The County Clerk page cites this provision as part of the legal framework governing who may apply.
Marriage License Fees - Rutherford County
The standard marriage license fee is $107.50. A lower fee of $45.00 applies if both applicants bring a completed and notarized Certificate of Completion from a licensed counselor or minister. That certificate must be issued by the County Clerk's office and then completed by the counselor or minister before the application appointment. Payment is accepted in cash, by check drawn on a Tennessee bank, or by debit or credit card. Card payments carry a convenience fee of 2.25 percent plus $0.25, collected by a third-party processor.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard marriage license | $107.50 |
| Marriage license with notarized Certificate of Completion (completed by counselor or minister) | $45.00 |
| Certified copy of marriage certificate - in person | $5.00 |
| Certified copy of marriage certificate - by mail | $7.00 |
Checks must be made payable to Rutherford County Clerk and should include a phone number. Out-of-state checks are not accepted. If you plan to pay by check, confirm your bank is a Tennessee institution before your visit.
How to Apply for a Rutherford County Marriage License
The application process takes place entirely at the County Clerk counter. No forms need to be filled out in advance, though gathering your documents before you arrive will speed up the visit. Both applicants must be present for the entire process; one person cannot apply on behalf of the other.
- Confirm both applicants are at least 18 years old and have valid, unexpired identification (driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport).
- Locate your Social Security numbers. Bring your Social Security card if you are unsure of the number.
- If applying for the reduced $45.00 fee, pick up the Certificate of Completion form from a County Clerk office first, have it completed and notarized by a licensed counselor or minister, then return with it for the license appointment.
- Go together to any full-service County Clerk office: Murfreesboro (319 N. Maple St., Suite 121), Smyrna (205 I St.), or Blackman (3906 Blaze Dr., Suite A). Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.
- Present your identification documents and Social Security numbers at the counter. The clerk will complete the application fields with you.
- Pay the applicable fee: $107.50 standard or $45.00 with the Certificate of Completion.
- Receive the marriage license and review the 30-day validity window. Note the expiration date before you leave.
The clerk can answer questions about the application process and the documents required. Clerks cannot give legal advice about eligibility, prohibited relationships, or any other legal question that goes beyond the application form.
The County Clerk marriage license page is the source for current rules and any updates to fees or procedures.
The County Clerk marriage license page lists the full fee schedule, ID requirements, and certified copy instructions in one place.
Marriage License Validity and Return Rules
A Rutherford County marriage license is valid for 30 days, and that count starts on the day of application, not the day after. If the marriage does not take place within those 30 days, all marriage documents must be returned to the address shown on the license. You cannot keep an expired license and use it later.
After the ceremony, the officiant is responsible for returning the signed marriage license to the County Clerk within three days of the marriage date. Applicants may also return the license themselves if they prefer. Only after the signed and completed documents are back with the clerk will the clerk prepare the marriage certificate. The certificate will not be mailed; you must pick it up in person at a County Clerk office.
Civil ceremonies have not been performed at Rutherford County Clerk offices since May 1, 2015. This applies to all four clerk locations: Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Eagleville, and Blackman. If you need a civil ceremony, you will need to arrange an officiant separately. The clerk's role is to issue the license and, after return, produce the certificate.
Same-sex couples have been able to obtain a marriage license and marry in Tennessee effective June 26, 2015. The County Clerk applies the same process and fee schedule to all applicants. Tennessee Code Ann. section 36-3-101 governs prohibited degrees of relationship and applies equally regardless of applicant identity.
Marriage License Application Fields - Rutherford County
The application is completed at the clerk's counter rather than on a web form. The clerk collects each field from both applicants during the in-person visit. The table below shows what information is gathered and the conditions that apply to each field. Having all of this ready before your appointment makes the process go faster.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 name | Text | Yes | Both applicants must appear together in person. |
| Applicant 2 name | Text | Yes | Both applicants must appear together in person. |
| Age / date of birth | ID verification | Yes | Both applicants must be at least 18. |
| Identification document | Document | Yes | Driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport. |
| Social Security Number | Text | Yes | Required by the county page for both applicants. |
| Certificate of Completion | Document | Optional | Completed and notarized by counselor or minister; reduces fee to $45.00. |
| Disability or incarceration notarized statement | Document | Conditional | Available only at the Murfreesboro office; used when one applicant cannot appear in person. |
The clerk fills out the license based on what you provide at the counter. Review the completed form before you leave to catch any errors in spelling or dates. Corrections after the license is issued may require a return visit.
Certified Marriage Copies in Rutherford County
Certified copies of marriage certificates are available in person or by mail. The fee is $5.00 in person and $7.00 by mail. Not all County Clerk branches handle certified marriage copy requests; this service is available only at the Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Blackman offices.
To get a copy in person, you need to know the date of the marriage and the names of both applicants. Bring $5.00 per copy. Go to one of the three locations during office hours. Monday through Thursday hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday hours run until 5 p.m. The clerk will look up the record and issue the certified copy at the counter.
To request a copy by mail, include the marriage date, both applicants' names, your return mailing address, and a check or money order for $7.00 payable to Rutherford County Clerk. Mail your request to any of the three full-service locations: Murfreesboro at 319 N. Maple St., Suite 121, Murfreesboro, TN 37130; Smyrna at 205 I St., Smyrna, TN 37167; or Blackman at 3906 Blaze Dr., Suite A, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. Out-of-state checks are not accepted; use a money order if you are outside Tennessee.
If you need a state-issued vital record rather than a county-issued certified copy, the Tennessee Vital Records office maintains marriage records for certain time periods. Visit tn.gov/health for eligibility and request instructions. Not every marriage record is available through state vital records, so the County Clerk office is usually the more direct path for Rutherford County marriages.
Divorce Records and Filing in Rutherford County
Divorce cases in Rutherford County are filed in court, not with the County Clerk. Chancery Court is the primary venue. It handles divorce along with paternity, child support, custody, orders of protection, adoptions, name changes, and other family and equity matters. Circuit Court may also handle divorce in some circumstances depending on local practice and how the case is assigned. If you are not sure which court holds a particular case, the Clerk and Master's office at (615) 898-7860 can direct you.
The Chancery Court contact page provides direct contact information for the Clerk and Master's office at 116 W. Lytle St., Suite 5101, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
The Chancery Court contact page gives phone and address details for the Clerk and Master, who oversees all Chancery records including divorce filings and certified copy requests.
Certified copies of divorce records from Chancery carry a fee of $0.50 per page for plain copies and $5.00 plus copy costs for a certified copy. To request copies by mail, send a written request that includes: the case number, the style of the case (the names of the parties as listed on the filing), your return mailing address, and a daytime phone number. Mail requests to Chancery Court, 116 W. Lytle St., Suite 5101, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and the building closes to the public at 4:15 p.m., so plan your in-person visit accordingly.
Clerks at Chancery cannot provide legal advice. This is a firm rule that applies whether you have an attorney or not. The clerk will accept a prepared filing with the proper fee, but acceptance does not mean the document is correct or complete. The clerk cannot tell you which forms to use, how to fill them out, or what the legal effect of a filing will be. If you need help understanding your options, contact a private attorney or reach out to legal aid.
Indigent litigants can file an Affidavit of Indigency along with a divorce petition. The judge reviews it. If approved, the initial filing fee is deferred. Costs are then assessed at the conclusion of the case based on what the court orders. This path is available, but the clerk cannot advise you on whether to use it or how to complete the form. The docketing line for Chancery is (615) 217-0063; for general case information, call (615) 898-7860.
Mail requests for Chancery copies: Include the case number, style of case, return address, and daytime phone. Mail to Chancery Court, 116 W. Lytle St., Suite 5101, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $5.00 plus copy charges.
Disabled or Incarcerated Applicants
Both applicants normally must appear together in person to get a marriage license. If a disability prevents one applicant from appearing, that applicant may submit a notarized statement in place of the in-person visit. The statement must include the applicant's name, age, current address, and the names and address of the applicant's parents or guardian.
The same option is available for an incarcerated applicant who wants to marry. A notarized statement with the same information - name, age, current address, and parents' or guardian's names and address - may be submitted in place of an in-person visit.
The form for this statement is available only at the Murfreesboro County Clerk office at 319 N. Maple St., Suite 121. You cannot pick it up at Smyrna, Blackman, or Eagleville. If the non-appearing applicant is incarcerated, someone else will need to obtain the form from Murfreesboro, have it completed and notarized, and return it along with the other applicant for the application appointment.
State Vital Records and Legal Help
Tennessee Vital Records maintains official state-level marriage and divorce certificates for eligible time periods and requestors. The office is part of the Tennessee Department of Health. Its website at tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/vital-records.html explains who may request a record, what identification is needed, and how to submit a request. If you cannot get what you need from the County Clerk or Chancery, Vital Records may have the record you are looking for.
For legal help with divorce, family court matters, or other civil legal issues, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands provides free civil legal services to qualifying residents. Their site is laet.org. Income and case-type eligibility rules apply. If you are facing a divorce and cannot afford an attorney, legal aid is worth contacting early in the process. The Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association also has an attorney directory at rccba.com if you need a referral to a private lawyer.
For orders of protection connected to domestic violence, Chancery Court's FAQ notes that individuals may contact the local Domestic Violence line at (615) 896-7377 for free assistance. If Domestic Violence cannot help, forms may be requested from the Chancery office or downloaded from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts.
Related records and offices are covered on the following pages. Probate filings through the County Clerk are explained on the Rutherford County probate records page. County Clerk duties and office locations are on the county clerk page. For the Circuit Court Clerk and court-records access, see the Circuit Court Clerk page. Chancery Court case types, dockets, and procedures are on the Chancery Court page.