T.C.A. 36-6-413 Explained
The part of Tennessee law that takes $60 off your marriage license: what counts as a premarital preparation course, who may teach it, and what your certificate must show.
Reviewed by Kristen Franzen, LPC. Facts checked against the text of T.C.A. 36-6-413 and the CTAS summary of it. Last updated .
The short version
Every Tennessee marriage license carries a $62.50 state fee under T.C.A. 36-6-413(b)(2). $60 of it is waived when both applicants hand in a valid Certificate of Completion of a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours each, completed together or separately no more than one year before the license application (subsection (b)(5)).
What the course may cover
The law gives no fixed curriculum. It says the course may include:
- Conflict management
- Communication skills
- Financial responsibilities
- Children and parenting responsibilities
- Data on problems reported by married couples who seek counseling
Who may teach it
Subsection (b)(5)(C) lists the instructors: a psychologist, clinical social worker, licensed marital and family therapist, clinical pastoral therapist, professional counselor, psychological examiner, official representative of a religious institution, or another instructor meeting the judicial district's guidelines. Our instructor, Kristen Franzen, is a Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #8036). Her credentials.
The Certificate of Completion
Proof is a certificate from the course provider on a form developed by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). It shows the provider's statement that the course meets the law, the instructor's name, address, qualifications and license number, the participants' names, and the hours and completion date. The form has spaces for Applicant 1 and Applicant 2, so a couple who takes the course together gets one certificate with both names; partners who attend separate classes file separate certificates. County clerks such as Davidson, Knox, Hamilton and Sevier ask for it notarized; CTAS describes applicants presenting a copy of the completed form.
Where the money goes
The $60 part of the state fee funds state programs, including child abuse prevention, domestic violence programs, parenting and mediation programs and court-appointed special advocates. When you complete the course, you do not pay that part.
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.
T.C.A. 36-6-413 FAQ
What does T.C.A. 36-6-413 say about premarital courses?
It adds a $62.50 state fee to every Tennessee marriage license and waives $60 of it for couples who completed a premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours. It also says who may teach the course, what it may cover and what the certificate must show.
Is a premarital course required to get married in Tennessee?
No. It is optional. It takes $60 off the state fee on your license.
Who can teach a premarital preparation course in Tennessee?
A psychologist, clinical social worker, licensed marital and family therapist, clinical pastoral therapist, professional counselor, psychological examiner, official representative of a religious institution, or another instructor who meets the guidelines of the judicial district for the county.
Do we have to take the course together?
No. The law lets you complete it together or separately, as long as each of you completes at least 4 hours within one year before you apply for the license.
Does the law allow an online course?
The law does not say the course must be in person. It sets the hours, the time window, who may teach and the certificate.
What goes on the Certificate of Completion?
The certificate is on a form developed by the Administrative Office of the Courts. It includes the provider's statement that the course meets the law, the instructor's name, address, qualifications and license number, the participants' names, and the hours and date of completion. Clerks such as Davidson, Knox, Hamilton and Sevier ask for it notarized.
Who else gets the $60 waiver?
In counties with a state-designated "premier type tourist resort" town, couples who both live outside Tennessee are also exempt. Sevier County (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge) applies this: out-of-state couples pay the lower price there without a course. Tennessee residents still need the course.
Source: CTAS: Additional Fee, Premarital Preparation Course (University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service).