A lot of our clients are fortunate enough to have never had a need to travel to downtown Memphis to the courthouse. So when it comes time to finalize their Shelby County divorce and they need to appear at their hearing, they have no idea where to go! Here’s a brief look at our Shelby County Courthouse:
Memphis - Shelby County Courthouse
The Courthouse was built in 1910, and is currently listed in the National Historic Register. It’s located at 140 Adams Avenue in the heart of downtown Memphis and takes up a city block. There are several parking lots and garages nearby, or you can park on the streets nearby. When you arrive at the Courthouse for a divorce hearing, you will be going to one of two places – either a Circuit Court courtroom or a Chancery Court courtroom. Both courts take divorce cases, and when a divorce is filed it is randomly assigned to one of those two courts. Your attorney, in scheduling your hearing with you, should inform you which place you need to be.
Once inside, you must go through a metal detector and have any bags with you examined through an x-ray machine, much as you would at the airport. After you pass through security you may proceed to your courtroom. There are signs everywhere giving you listings of room numbers, and you should easily be able to navigate to where you need to go.
As you walk the Courthouse, you might recognize some of the hallways and courtrooms – our Shelby County Courthouse has been featured in such movies as Silence of the Lambs, The Firm, The Client, and The People vs. Larry Flynt! And look at each room doorknob – many have the seal of Shelby County imprinted on to them.
Once you reach your courtroom you will meet your divorce lawyer outside the door and follow their guidance for where to go once inside the courtroom and once called by the judge. When your hearing is concluded your divorce is declared final and you are free to leave. Your attorney will send you your final divorce decree. Hopefully you’ve just concluded your one and only visit to the Shelby County Courthouse!
