Tennessee Guardianship Forms: What You Need to File for a Minor

Tennessee Has No Statewide Guardianship Form Packet

Unlike some states that publish a single standardized packet, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) does not provide a universal minor guardianship petition form. The forms you need depend on which county you're filing in and whether you're petitioning for guardianship of the person, property, or both.

This means your first step isn't downloading a form — it's identifying the right court and then getting the forms that court actually uses.

Where to Get the Forms for Your County

Metropolitan counties (Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Hamilton) have their own clerk websites with downloadable forms and filing instructions. Davidson County Juvenile Court posts an Affidavit of Indigency form and fee information online; its listed affidavit is for appointed counsel under Rule 56, not the civil fee affidavit under Rule 29. Shelby County Probate Court has its own forms for guardianship and conservatorship matters.

Rural counties often don't have downloadable forms at all. You'll need to visit the county clerk's office — either the Chancery Court Clerk and Master or the Juvenile Court Clerk, depending on your petition type — and ask for the blank forms in person.

Legal aid self-help forms are another source. The HELP4TN website and local legal aid offices sometimes provide verified guardianship petition templates that comply with Tennessee law.

What Forms You'll Typically Need

A minor guardianship petition in Tennessee under T.C.A. Title 34 generally requires:

• Verified Petition for Appointment of Guardian — a sworn document identifying the child, the parents, the proposed guardian, the reason guardianship is needed, and any prior custody orders
• Summons — issued by the clerk to formally notify parents and other required parties
• Consent and Waiver of Notice — signed by parents who agree to the guardianship (uncontested cases only)
• Sworn facts supporting service by publication — if a parent's residence cannot be ascertained upon diligent inquiry, put the supporting facts under oath in the petition, a separate affidavit, or the return of service
• Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency — if you ask to file without paying costs upfront
• Background-check forms — only if the court requires checks; confirm with the clerk who must be screened and which form to use
• UCCJEA Declaration — disclosing any prior custody proceedings in any state

For non-parent custody proceedings under Title 36, including those heard in juvenile court, the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure generally govern. Title 37 dependency-and-neglect proceedings follow different procedures.

A Warning About Generic Online Forms

Searching "Tennessee guardianship forms free download" pulls up sites like LegalZoom, US Legal Forms, and various Etsy sellers offering template packets for $5 to $60. Most of these are designed for adult conservatorships, not minor guardianship — the legal requirements are completely different. An adult conservatorship form is not a substitute for the sworn petition required for a minor guardianship under T.C.A. § 34-2-104.

Even templates that claim to be Tennessee-specific may not match your county's local rules. The safest path is to get forms directly from your county clerk or a legal aid organization.

How to File Once You Have the Forms

The petition must be sworn as T.C.A. § 34-2-104 requires and filed with the clerk of the appropriate court. Filing methods depend on the court. Davidson County Juvenile Court now links to its QUEST e-filing system, and its local e-filing rules authorize pro se and indigent litigants to register. Some linked filing instructions still refer to eFlex, so confirm current steps with the clerk.

Filing fees vary by county. Shelby County Probate Court charges $341.50 for a guardianship petition as of January 2026. If you can't afford the filing fee, the Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency lets you ask to proceed without paying costs upfront.

The Guardianship and Custody for Grandparents and Relatives in Tennessee guide includes a detailed walkthrough of every form, the filing sequence, and what happens after you file — from serving parents to the court hearing and final order.

See more Tennessee guides →