Tennessee Domestic Violence Resources & Safety Guides

Immediate DV help in Tennessee: shelters, hotlines, safety plans, and documentation checklists.

Tennessee Domestic Violence Resource Hub

Crisis options

Options if you are considering leaving, seeking safety, or reporting harm in Tennessee.

• Identify local support:
  • Search for “Tennessee domestic violence shelter near me” to find nearby programs.
  • Look for county or city victim services through your local sheriff’s office or police website.
  • Check statewide coalitions for program lists, such as Tennessee-focused domestic violence or sexual assault organizations.
• Consider medical care:
  • Go to an urgent care or hospital if you want injuries checked or documented.
  • Ask if they can connect you with an on-call advocate or social worker.
• Legal and court-related supports:
  • Look up your county’s “order of protection” or “order for protection” process on the court clerk’s website.
  • Ask the clerk if there are victim advocates available at the courthouse.
  • Search for “Tennessee legal aid domestic violence” for low-cost or no-cost legal support options.
• Law enforcement options:
  • If you contact law enforcement, note the agency name, badge numbers (if given), and incident or report number.
  • Ask how to obtain a copy of any incident report and when it will be available.
• Additional networks:
  • Search national directories and resource lists, including those linked at https://www.dv.support, for hotlines, advocacy programs, and legal information that cover Tennessee.

Child safety

Options to consider if children are involved and you are in Tennessee.

• School and daycare:
  • Confirm who is authorized to pick up your child on school or daycare forms.
  • Update emergency contacts if living arrangements have changed.
  • Ask the school how they verify identity at pickup.
• Safe routines:
  • Plan at least two safe places your child can go (neighbor, relative, public place) if they feel unsafe.
  • Teach children simple instructions like who they can call, and which trusted adults they can approach.
• Exchanges and visitation:
  • If there is a court order, review it for details about custody, visitation, and exchange locations.
  • Consider public exchange locations (for example, a busy parking lot or supervised visitation center, if available in your county).
  • Keep a written log of all exchanges, missed exchanges, and concerning behavior.
• Medical and identification:
  • Keep copies (digital or paper) of:
    • Birth certificates
    • Social Security cards
    • Health insurance cards
    • Vaccination and medical records
  • Know your child’s doctors, medications, and any special needs information.
• Reporting concerns:
  • Search for “Tennessee child abuse reporting” to find state-level instructions for reporting safety concerns about a child.
  • Write down:
    • Date and time of any report
    • Agency name and phone number
    • Person you spoke with
    • Any reference or case number, if given

Digital safety

Steps to review how your devices, accounts, and information may be accessed in Tennessee or elsewhere.

• Devices and accounts:
  • List all devices that could be shared or monitored:
    • Phones
    • Tablets
    • Laptops and desktops
    • Shared home assistants (smart speakers, hubs, etc.)
  • Check who knows or could guess your passwords or PINs.
  • Consider changing passwords on:
    • Email accounts
    • Banking and financial apps
    • Cloud storage (photos, documents)
    • Social media and messaging
• Location and tracking:
  • Check if location sharing is on for:
    • Phone “Find My” or similar services
    • Family tracking apps
    • Shared car GPS or navigation apps
  • Review Bluetooth devices connected to your phone or car (including trackers or unknown devices).
  • If changing settings could increase conflict, consider when and where it is safest to adjust them.
• Communication:
  • Use secure or private messaging options when possible (for example, apps with end-to-end encryption).
  • Avoid sending sensitive details about plans or locations if the other person might read your messages.
  • Regularly clear call logs and message histories if that feels safer and does not increase suspicion.
• Online accounts and records:
  • Check account recovery options:
    • Remove old phone numbers or emails controlled by the other person.
    • Add a trusted contact or alternate email that only you access.
  • Review privacy settings on social media to limit who can see:
    • Your posts
    • Your location
    • Your friends and family list
• Using shared or public computers:
  • Log out of all accounts when finished.
  • Use private or incognito browsing modes when possible.
  • Avoid saving passwords in the browser.

Documentation

Information and records that may be useful for safety planning, legal processes, or support services in Tennessee.

• Personal identification:
  • Driver’s license or state ID
  • Social Security card
  • Immigration documents, if any
  • Birth certificates (for you and children)
• Housing and property:
  • Lease, mortgage documents, or property tax statements
  • Utility bills showing your name and address
  • Car title, registration, and insurance information
  • Photos or a list of important personal property and serial numbers, if safe to gather
• Financial:
  • Bank statements (checking, savings, joint and individual)
  • Credit card statements
  • Pay stubs and employment records
  • Tax returns (federal, state, and local if applicable)
  • Information on public benefits (SNAP, TANF, housing assistance, disability, etc.)
• Relationship and family:
  • Marriage certificate or divorce paperwork
  • Custody, parenting plans, or child support orders
  • Any existing protection orders from Tennessee or other states
• Incident-related records:
  • Police reports and case numbers
  • Medical visit summaries related to injuries or stress
  • Photos of injuries or property damage (with dates, if possible)
  • Copies of threatening or concerning messages (texts, emails, social media, voicemails)
  • A simple incident log with:
    • Date and time
    • Location
    • What happened in brief, neutral language
    • Names of any witnesses
• Storage and access:
  • Consider keeping copies:
    • In a secure cloud storage account only you can access
    • On a small USB drive stored with a trusted person
    • In a safe place outside the home, if available
  • Avoid storing all originals in one location if that location could become hard to access.

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning Checklist
• Gathering Evidence of Abuse
• Protecting Children During Separation
• Technology and Stalking
• Preparing to Leave an Abusive Relationship