Shelby County Circuit Court, Tennessee Filing Rules

A new-trial motion based on an evidentiary ruling must identify the exact testimony admitted or rejected by quoting it or describing its substance with sufficient specificity.

The signed and dated cost form, confidential information sheet, and Demographic form must be brought to the hearing.

The parties must submit an order stating the trial date so that all parties receive proper notice.

A complaint is required for an uncontested-divorce submission.

The proposed dispositive-motion order must include all required signatures and, when applicable, certificates of service.

Noncompliance ordinarily prevents a dispositive motion from being heard, but the Court may modify the deadlines, assign resulting expenses, or rule without waiting for required filings.

If an electronically submitted order has not been entered within seven days, a hard copy must be delivered to the Division II Courtroom Clerk or Room 208.

Documents intended for the Court's review must be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk three days before the hearing.

An incomplete or untimely packet may result in the case being stricken and reset for a later date.

Orders submitted by email will be reviewed and entered as soon as possible.

Attorneys and self-represented parties may email the Courtroom Clerk to obtain a ruling after it is issued.

A party needing a status-conference calendar entry must contact the Courtroom Clerk by email.

Counsel must contact the division clerk by email for a special setting when a motion is dispositive or is expected to take 20 minutes or more.

The Court will hear status-conference requests in person on Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

For a minor settlement, counsel must contact the court by email at the Division V clerk’s address or approach the court during the Friday motion docket to determine whether a guardian ad litem is required.

Electronic filing is strongly encouraged, and documents that may be traditionally filed may generally be electronically filed unless excluded by the Court or Clerk.

Only consent orders may be submitted electronically to the Division 3 email address.

An order may be submitted either by email to the Division IX address or by placement in the Division IX Orders Box in Room 208.

Orders may be submitted in person during a court session, by email to the Division II address, or through the Order Box in Room 208.

All required documents must be emailed together as one packet to the Deputy Divorce Referee, with PDF format preferred.

Service copies to all adverse parties must meet the same 45-day or 15-day deadlines applicable to the proponent's or respondent's filings.

Every notice must contain the universal Zoom link, and the court may strike motions that fail to comply.

An unsigned proposed order must be presented in open court with proper proof of notice to all other counsel and parties.

Temporary-support motions must use the Clerk-provided form and be kept in a loose-leaf binder in the Divorce Referee's Motion Docket.

Submitted documents must be complete, consistent, and legible, and file-stamped copies are required where applicable.

Competing orders must be submitted with changes shown in redline form.

After an oral or written ruling, the prevailing party must submit the proposed order in word format by email or through the Division II Orders Box within seven days.

The responding party must deliver one copy of all responsive briefs and memoranda to the Judge or Courtroom Clerk at least four days before argument.

For a Zoom trial, a properly tabbed binder of exhibits must be submitted to the Court and opposing party at least 48 hours before trial.

Statutory filing fees must be paid immediately by credit card when electronically filing unless the Court excuses payment.

Financial account numbers included in filed documents must be limited to their last four digits.

A case set for trial must be tried or dismissed on that date unless either party properly shows legal cause for a continuance.

A continuance request must be addressed to the Court in person and cannot be granted through a consent order or email.

Continuances ordinarily will not be granted by email, although a medical or other emergency is an exception.

Attorneys or parties seeking a trial continuance may address the Court during announcements or file a motion and must notify the Court promptly so the vacated dates can be reassigned.

Before filing any motion, the movant must ensure that all counsel participate in a conference intended to resolve the matters at issue.

Before filing any motion, the movant must certify that all counsel participated in a conference to attempt to resolve the issues raised by the motion.

Initial and responding briefs may not exceed 30 pages, excluding supporting affidavits and documents, without leave of court.