Judge Cedrick D. Wooten
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Attorney filings
Court-wide- Within 2 Days Before Argument
- Within 5 Days Before Argument
Brief
Court-wide- At Least 7 Days Before Argument
Courtesy copies
Court-wide- At Least 15 Days Before Hearing
- At Least 45 Days Before Hearing
- At Least 7 Days Before Argument
Notice Of Party Status
Court-wideCommunication
Clerk
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Submitted documents must be complete, consistent, and legible, and file-stamped copies are required where applicable.
All documents must be complete, consistent, and Legible. File-stamped copies are required where applicable.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
The subject line of the case-packet email must be clearly labeled.
Clearly label your email subject line
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The Final Decree should be fully completed but not filed-leave only the date and Judge's signature blank.
Summary: The Final Decree must be fully completed when submitted, with only the date and the judge's signature left blank, and must not yet be filed.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Include in the body of the email a brief list of all attachments and indicate how the parties will appear (in person, by Zoom, or by affidavit).
Summary: The email body must list all attachments and state whether the parties will appear in person, by Zoom, or by affidavit.
Document Filing Requirements3 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The order setting a trial must include the pretrial conference date.
Trials can be set by contacting the courtroom clerk with consent of all parties and require a pre-trial conference date, that is to be included in the order setting the trial date.
Document Type
Order Setting Trial Date
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
A movant must submit the Local Rule S(H) certificate of consultation before the motion can be heard.
For a motion to be heard, the movant must have submitted a certificate of consultation as required by Local Rule S(H).
Document Type
Certificate Of Consultation
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Every case packet must include a Form 1 Complaint for Divorce, a Form 5 Marital Dissolution Agreement, a properly completed Final Decree of Divorce, and the Shelby County Cost Bill.
Every case must include: 1. Complaint for Divorce (Form 1) 2. Marital Dissolution Agreement (Form 5) 3. Final Decree of Divorce (complete, correct court caption, includes required insurance and creditor statutes) 4. Cost Bill (Shelby County form)
Document Type
Case Packet
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All required documents must be emailed together as one packet to the Deputy Divorce Referee, with PDF format preferred.
All documents must be emailed in one packet (PDF format preferred) to Deputy Divorce Referee at jessica.cotton@shelbycountytn.gov
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 2 | Uncontested Divorces — Filing & Submission
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
An incomplete or untimely packet may result in the case being stricken and reset for a later date.
If your packet is incomplete or not corrected by these deadlines, your case may be stricken from the docket and will need to be reset for a later date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Uncontested Divorces — Submission Deadlines
The complete case packet is due by noon on Monday during the week of the scheduled hearing.
Complete case packet due: Monday at 12:00 PM (the week of the scheduled hearing)
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Uncontested Divorces — Submission Deadlines
The Divorce Referee's Office must review and approve an uncontested divorce case before its court date.
All uncontested divorce cases set in Division VI before Judge Cedrick D . Wooten must be reviewed and approved by the Divorce Referee's Office before the court date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Uncontested Divorces
Chambers Communication Rules
Counsel must seek appointment of a guardian ad litem by emailing the Division VI clerk or approaching the court by Zoom during the Friday morning motion docket.
counsel must contact the Court for the appointment of a guardian ad litem by emailing the Division VI clerk at circuit.division6@shelbycountytn.gov or approaching the court by Zoom during the 9:00 a.m. Friday motion docket.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | Settlement of Minor's Tort Claim
All proposed orders and documents requiring court review must be emailed to the clerk before the hearing.
All proposed orders and documents requiring the Court's review must be emailed to the clerk before the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | Settlement of Minor's Tort Claim
After GAL appointment and receipt of the GAL report, counsel must contact the Division VI courtroom clerk to obtain a hearing date at 3:00 p.m.
After the court appoints the GAL and receives the GAL's report, counsel must contact the Division VI courtroom clerk for a hearing date on an available date at 3:00 p.m.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | Settlement of Minor's Tort Claim
Documents for pre-proceeding review and proposed orders for post-proceeding consideration must be emailed.
Email any documents for review before the proceeding and any proposed orders for consideration following the proceeding.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Specially Set Appearances
Parties must contact the Division VI clerk to specially schedule motions, status conferences, and other hearings.
To schedule motions, status conferences, and other hearings specially, contact the Division VI clerk who will provide a date and time for the matter to proceed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Specially Set Appearances
Proposed orders may be emailed to the Division VI clerk at the stated address or left in the Division VI box in Room 208.
Email proposed orders to the Division VI clerk at Circuit.Division6@shelbycountytn.gov or leave them in the Division VI box in Room 208.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 3 | Submission of Orders
A trial may be scheduled by contacting the courtroom clerk with all parties' consent, and the order setting the trial must include a pretrial conference date.
Trials can be set by contacting the courtroom clerk with consent of all parties and require a pre-trial conference date, that is to be included in the order setting the trial date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Jury Trials and Bench Trials
Email addresses for all attorneys and self-represented parties should be provided when available so the clerk can email attested copies.
If available, provide email addresses for all attorneys/self represented parties so the clerk can email attested copies.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | Submission of Orders