Complaint for Divorce or Legal Separation — Temporary Injunctions

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  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Domestic Relations
  4. Divorce and Annulment
  5. Complaint for Divorce or Legal Separation — Temporary Injunctions

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    1. The complaint for divorce shall set forth the grounds for the divorce in substantially the language of § 36-4-101 or § 36-4-102, and pray only for a divorce from the defendant, or for a divorce and such other and further relief to which the complainant may think to be entitled. In cases wherein an answer is filed, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, require the complainant to file a bill of particulars, setting forth the facts relied on as grounds for the divorce, with reasonable certainty as to time and place.
    2. The complaint for legal separation shall set forth the grounds for legal separation in substantially the language of § 36-4-101, and pray for such further relief to which the complainant is entitled. In all cases where an answer is filed, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, require the complainant to file a bill of particulars, stating the facts relied on as a ground for legal separation, with reasonable certainty as to time and place.
    1. The complainant shall also allege the full name of the husband, the full maiden name of the wife, their mailing addresses, dates and places of their birth, race or color of each spouse, number of previous marriages of each spouse, date and place of the marriage of the parties, the number of their children who are minors at the time of the filing of the complaint, and any other litigation concerning the custody of those children in this or any other state in which either party has participated, as specified in § 36-6-224. Further, at the time a complaint or pleading is filed under this part, the filing party shall, simultaneously with the initial complaint or pleading filed by that party, file with the clerk a separate document that contains the full names and social security numbers, current mailing addresses and dates of birth of the husband, the wife, and those of all children born of the marriage. The filing party shall provide to the clerk one (1) eight and one-half inch by eleven inch (8½" x 11") envelope labeled with the names of the parties, which shall be marked with the docket number. The clerk shall file stamp the document and the envelope, store the document in the envelope, which shall be sealed, and place the sealed envelope in the case file. The social security numbers and other information filed with the clerk shall be available to the clerk of court for processing of documents and legal actions such as, but not limited to, divorce certificates, garnishments, and income assignments. On request, the sealed information shall be made available to the department of human services and any other agency required by law to have access to the information, and to other persons or agencies as ordered by the court. It shall be mandatory that every complaint filed under this chapter shall contain the foregoing information or that such information is provided by the parties and is contained in the court's records as described above prior to the entry of the final decree of divorce, unless it can be shown to the satisfaction of the court that such information could not be obtained by the complainant or petitioner by exercising due diligence or after the court has granted a reasonable time to amend the complaint. In lieu of a mailing address, either party may designate an agent for the service of process throughout the proceedings and, except as provided in subdivision (b)(2), the name and address of such agent shall be the only address used for the designating party in all petitions, pleadings, motions and orders relating to such divorce action.
    2. If the complainant or the defendant shows to the satisfaction of the court in which the petition is filed that the residential address of the other party is relevant and necessary in order to prove the allegations contained in the complaint or to ascertain information necessary to determine value and/or ownership of property, or to ascertain other data necessary to evaluate and agree upon a property division or custody or defend against such allegations, the court may order either party to reveal such residential address to the other party.
    3. If the complainant elects to designate an agent for service of process in lieu of the mailing address as authorized by this subsection (b) but does not designate a specific person, the complainant's attorney shall be deemed the complainant's agent for service of process.
  3. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the plaintiff or other party shall not be required in those counties having a divorce proctor to file an affidavit swearing that the defendant is not in the military service where:
    1. The complaint states facts that would make the defendant ineligible for military service; or
    2. The residence address of the defendant is set forth in the complaint, and:
      1. The defendant has been personally served with service of process, or has been mailed a copy of the complaint by a divorce proctor;
      2. The defendant has actual notice of the commencement of the suit;
      3. Proof of mailing to the defendant of notice of the suit is exhibited to the court; or
      4. The defendant is represented by an attorney.
  4. Upon the filing of a petition for divorce or legal separation, and upon personal service of the complaint and summons on the respondent or upon waiver and acceptance of service by the respondent, the following temporary injunctions shall be in effect against both parties until the final decree of divorce or order of legal separation is entered, the petition is dismissed, the parties reach agreement, or until the court modifies or dissolves the injunction, written notice of which shall be served with the complaint:
      1. An injunction restraining and enjoining both parties from transferring, assigning, borrowing against, concealing or in any way dissipating or disposing, without the consent of the other party or an order of the court, of any marital property. Nothing herein is intended to preclude either of the parties from seeking broader injunctive relief from the court.
      2. Expenditures from current income to maintain the marital standard of living and the usual and ordinary costs of operating a business are not restricted by this injunction. Each party shall maintain records of all expenditures, copies of which shall be available to the other party upon request.
    2. An injunction restraining and enjoining both parties from voluntarily canceling, modifying, terminating, assigning, or allowing to lapse for nonpayment of premiums, any insurance policy, including, but not limited to, life, health, disability, homeowners, renters, and automobile, where such insurance policy provides coverage to either of the parties or the children, or that names either of the parties or the children as beneficiaries without the consent of the other party or an order of the court. “Modifying” includes any change in beneficiary status.
    3. An injunction restraining both parties from harassing, threatening, assaulting or abusing the other and from making disparaging remarks about the other to or in the presence of any children of the parties or to either party's employer.
    4. An injunction restraining and enjoining both parties from hiding, destroying or spoiling, in whole or in part, any evidence electronically stored or on computer hard drives or other memory storage devices.
    5. An injunction restraining both parties from relocating any children of the parties outside the state, or more than fifty (50) miles from the marital home, without the permission of the other party or an order of the court, except in the case of a removal based upon a well-founded fear of physical abuse against either the fleeing parent or the child. In such cases, upon request of the nonrelocating parent, the court will conduct an expedited hearing, by telephone conference if appropriate, to determine the reasonableness of the relocation and to make such other orders as appropriate.
    6. The provisions of these injunctions shall be attached to the summons and the complaint and shall be served with the complaint. The injunctions shall become an order of the court upon fulfillment of the requirements of this subsection (d). However, nothing in this subsection (d) shall preclude either party from applying to the court for further temporary orders, an expanded temporary injunction, or modification or revocation of this temporary injunction.
    7. The temporary injunctions provided in this section shall only apply to the spousal parties named in the petition and shall not apply to any third party named in the petition; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection (d) shall preclude any party from applying to the court for an order of injunctive or extraordinary relief against any other party named in any petition as provided by law or rule.

Code 1858, § 2452 (deriv. Acts 1835-1836, ch. 26, §§ 3, 18); Shan., § 4205; mod. Code 1932, § 8430; Acts 1957, ch. 46, § 1; 1957, ch. 74, § 1; 1971, ch. 50, § 1; 1971, ch. 437, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 36-805; Acts 1987, ch. 36, § 1; 1994, ch. 975, §§ 1-3; 1997, ch. 544, § 1; 1997, ch. 551, § 31; 1998, ch. 1059, §§ 8-10; 2001, ch. 280, § 1; 2002, ch. 565, § 1; 2007, ch. 187, §§ 1-3; 2009, ch. 280, § 1; 2014, ch. 617, § 1.

Compiler's Notes. Acts 2009, ch. 280, § 2 provided that the act, which amended subdivision (b)(1), shall apply to petitions for divorce or legal separation filed on or after July 1, 2009.

For the Preamble to the act concerning domestic relations, please refer to Acts 2014, ch. 617.

Cross-References. As to allegations under specific grounds for divorce, see notes to §§36-4-101,36-4-102.

Irreconcilable differences, procedure, §36-4-103.

Textbooks. Gibson's Suits in Chancery (7th ed., Inman), § 518.

Tennessee Forms (Robinson, Ramsey and Harwell), No. 1-8-16.

Law Reviews.

A Survey of Civil Procedure in Tennessee — 1977, IV. Pretrial Procedure (John L. Sobieski, Jr.), 46 Tenn. L. Rev. 308 (1979).

Mutual Temporary Injunctions in Divorce Cases (Amy J. Amundsen), 37 No. 11 Tenn. B.J. 17 (2001).

Attorney General Opinions. Injunctions issued at the commencement of a divorce under T.C.A. §36-4-106(d) are not unconstitutional on the basis that they do not follow the requirements of Tenn. R. Civ. P. 65.04(2), because Tenn. R. Civ. P. 65.07 allows the existence of contrary statutory provisions governing injunctions, OAG 03-117, 2003 Tenn. AG LEXIS 135 (9/15/03).


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