Tennessee Premarital Preparation Course Online
Take Tennessee's 4-hour premarital preparation course online and save $60 on your marriage license. One enrollment covers both of you, and your notarized state Certificate of Completion comes in the mail.
- $60 off the state license fee in every Tennessee county
- $27.49 per couple, not per person
- 100% online and self-paced, progress saves
- Notarized AOC Certificate of Completion, mailed by USPS
- Money-back guarantee with no time limit
The course pays for itself: Tennessee waives $60 of the $62.50 state marriage license fee for couples who finish a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours. That is $60 back, in every county.
Start the course – $27.49 per coupleOne price covers both of you. Notarized state Certificate of Completion mailed to you by USPS. Standard, Faith-Friendly or Inclusive version.
Tennessee premarital course: the facts
Under T.C.A. 36-6-413, every Tennessee marriage license carries a $62.50 state fee, and $60 of it is waived when both applicants hand in a Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours, taken within one year before they apply. Our online course costs $27.49 per couple, so it pays for itself and leaves $32.51 over.
| The law | T.C.A. 36-6-413 (explained) |
|---|---|
| You save | $60 of the $62.50 state fee, in every county |
| Length | At least 4 hours, online, self-paced, progress saves |
| What it covers | Communication, conflict management and money, topics the law names |
| Who takes it | Both partners, together or separately, on one enrollment |
| Proof | Certificate of Completion on the state (AOC) form, notarized, mailed by USPS |
| Time limit | Finish the course no more than one year before you apply |
| Where to use it | The county clerk in any of Tennessee's 95 counties |
| Price | $27.49 per couple, money-back guarantee with no time limit |
| Instructor | Kristen Franzen, Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #8036) |
| Versions | Standard, Faith-Friendly, Inclusive (LGBTQ+ couples) |
Save $60 in 3 steps
Take the course
Enroll once for $27.49. Work through the 4 hours together or on your own schedules.
Get your certificate in the mail
We fill in the state Certificate of Completion with Kristen's license details, have it notarized and mail it to you by USPS.
Apply at your county clerk
Hand the certificate in when you apply at any Tennessee county clerk and $60 of the state fee is waived.
What your certificate looks like
You get the Tennessee Certificate of Completion form from the Administrative Office of the Courts, filled in for you: both of your full legal names and addresses on one certificate, the 4 hours and the date you finished, and Kristen's details as a Professional Counselor with her Tennessee license number. Kristen signs the affidavit, it is notarized, and we mail it to you by USPS, ready to hand to the county clerk.
Use your names exactly as they will appear on your marriage license application.
Why couples finish this course
Most couples sign up for the $60 and come away with more than that. Tennessee's law suggests topics such as conflict management, communication and financial responsibilities, and the course teaches them as things you practice together, not lectures to sit through.
The $60 waiver is state law, so it works the same way in Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, Shelby, Rutherford or any other county. Each clerk adds its own fees on top, so the total you pay differs; our county pages list them.
Want the legal detail? Read T.C.A. 36-6-413 explained.
County guides: Shelby County (Memphis) · Davidson County (Nashville) · Knox County (Knoxville) · Hamilton County (Chattanooga) · Sevier County (Gatlinburg)
What you will cover
- Communication that keeps hard talks calm
- Conflict management and repairing after a fight
- Money and the finances you will share
Pick the version that fits you
Every version is 4 hours and comes with the same mailed, notarized Certificate of Completion.
Standard
Evidence-based, secular curriculum: communication, money and conflict resolution.
Faith-Friendly
Christian principles and spiritual discussion alongside practical relationship tools.
Inclusive
An affirming curriculum written for LGBTQ+ couples and their relationship dynamics.
Taught by a Tennessee licensed professional counselor
Kristen Franzen, MA, LPC, LMHC, LPCC, NCC, wrote and teaches the course. She is a Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #8036). "Professional counselor" is one of the instructor types T.C.A. 36-6-413 lists. She is also a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH22317), a National Certified Counselor and the founder of Cadenza Counseling LLC.
Her name, qualifications and license number go on every Tennessee Certificate of Completion, as the state form requires.
Read Kristen's full bio and credentials
Facts checked against T.C.A. 36-6-413 and county clerk marriage license pages. Last updated .
Tennessee premarital course FAQ
How does the premarital course save us money in Tennessee?
Tennessee law (T.C.A. 36-6-413) adds a $62.50 state fee to every marriage license and waives $60 of it when both of you hand in a Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours. The $60 is the same in every county; the rest of the license price depends on your county clerk. The course costs $27.49 per couple, so you keep $32.51.
Do both of us need to pay?
No. One enrollment at $27.49 covers both partners. Tennessee lets you take the course together or separately, as long as you each finish it.
How long does the course take?
Tennessee requires at least 4 hours. The course is self-paced: log in and out as you like and your progress saves. Once you finish, we prepare your certificate.
What proof does the county clerk need?
A Certificate of Completion on the form the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) developed, filled out by the course provider. It lists the instructor's name, qualifications and license number, your names, the hours and the completion date. The form has spaces for both partners, so you get one certificate with both of your names. Clerks such as Davidson, Knox, Hamilton and Sevier ask for it notarized. We mail you the notarized certificate by USPS. The course must be finished no more than one year before you apply for the license.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee has no waiting period. Your license is valid for 30 days from the day it is issued, for a ceremony anywhere in Tennessee.
Where do we get our marriage license?
From the county clerk in any of Tennessee's 95 counties. You do not have to apply in the county where you marry. Most clerks ask you to fill in an online pre-application first, then both of you go in person. See our step-by-step license guide.
Who teaches the course, and why does she qualify?
Kristen Franzen. Tennessee lists the instructors who may teach the course, and a licensed professional counselor is one of them. Kristen is a Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #8036), a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor.
What if it does not work for us?
Every enrollment comes with a money-back guarantee with no time limit.