Title 29, Remedies and Special Proceedings

Sections 29-18-101 — 29-18-104 extend to and comprehend terms for years, and all estates, whether freehold or less than freehold.

Where the action is to recover real property, ejectment, or forcible or unlawful entry or detainer may be brought.

All cases of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer, and unlawful detainer, may be tried before any one (1) judge of the court of general sessions of the county in which the acts are committed, who shall decide the particular case, and all questions of law and fact arisin…

The action for the recovery of the possession of land, given in this chapter, may also be originally instituted in the circuit court, the same forms being substantially pursued as those prescribed, the process being issued by the clerk, the plaintiff first giving bond and securit…

The uninterrupted occupation or quiet possession of the premises in controversy by the defendant, for the space of three (3) entire years together, immediately preceding the commencement of the action, is, if the estate of the defendant has not determined within that time, a bar …

(a) The heir or representative of the person who might have been plaintiff, if alive, may bring the suit after the potential plantiff's death. (b) If either party die during the pendency of the suit, it may be revived by or against the heirs or legal representatives of the decede…

The party complaining is required, before the issuance of the writ, to give bond, with good security, to pay all costs and damages which shall accrue to the defendant for the wrongful prosecution of the suit.

The warrant may be issued by a single general sessions judge in the following form:State of Tennessee,To the sheriff or any constable of such county: County.Whereas, complaint is made to me by A B, of a certain forcible and unlawful entry and detainer, made by C D, into and of a …

No notice to quit need be given by the plaintiff to the defendant, other than the service of this warrant.

The warrant need not set forth the particular species of entry or detainer, and any defect therein, or in any of the proceedings, may be amended as other process and pleadings in court.

(a) (1) In commencing an action under this chapter, summons may be served upon any adult person found in possession of the premises, which includes any adult person occupying the premises; and service of process upon such party in possession shall be good and sufficient to enable…

Any officer neglecting or refusing to execute any process, under this chapter, shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to the party aggrieved, to be recovered with costs before any tribunal having jurisdiction thereof.

The officer serving the warrant shall notify the defendant of the time and place of trial, the time not to be less than six (6) days from the date of service.

The general sessions judge may, at the request of either party, and on good reason being assigned, postpone the trial to any time not exceeding seven (7) days. The postponement shall not be for a longer period of time unless agreed upon by the parties, no civil court is being con…

(a) The cause shall be tried at the time and place designated, by a single general sessions judge, without the intervention of a jury, and in all respects like other civil suits before the court of general sessions. (b) The general sessions judge will try every case upon its meri…

(a) Actions originally instituted in the circuit court will stand for trial at the first term after the pleadings are complete. (b) The jury, if it finds for the plaintiff, will ascertain the damages the plaintiff has sustained, including rent, and judgment shall be given accordi…

The general sessions judge before whom the complaint is made, or the one before whom the cause is to be tried, may issue subpoenas for witnesses into any county of the state.

(a) The general sessions judge is entitled to one dollar ($1.00) per day for trying cases of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer, or unlawful detainer. (b) The officer is entitled to two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for each defendant named in the original process, …

(a) Any person, granting a lease of lands, tenements, and hereditaments, may incorporate or take from the tenant a bond covenanting to deliver possession of the rented premises on the day specified therein as the end of the term of the lease, and further authorizing the party fro…

The judgment for the plaintiff should be endorsed on the warrant or annexed thereto, substantially to the following effect: A B Judgment for the plaintiff, that plaintiff be restored to possession of the land v. described in the within warrant, and that a writ of possessionC D or…

In all cases of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer, and unlawful detainer, the judge of the court of general sessions trying the cause shall be authorized and it shall be the judge's duty to ascertain the arrearage of rent, interest, and damages, if any, and render ju…

No execution or writ of possession shall issue against the defendant upon any judgment, under this chapter, until after the lapse of ten (10) days from the rendition of the judgment.

(a) The execution for costs shall issue in the usual form, and the writ of possession may be as follows:State of Tennessee,To the sheriff or any constable of such county: County.Whereas, at a trial of forcible and unlawful detainer had in such county on the day of , 20, before E …

An appeal will also lie in suits commenced before general sessions judges, under this chapter, within the ten (10) days allowed by § 27-5-108, as in other cases, the appellant, if the defendant, giving bond as required by law.

The proceedings to such actions must not be removed to circuit court by writs of certiorari and supersedeas. In such proceedings, a party seeking de novo review may appeal in accordance with § 27-5-108, § 29-18-128, or § 29-18-130.

(a) When judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff, in any action of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer, or unlawful detainer, brought before a judge of the court of general sessions, and a writ of possession is awarded, the same shall be executed and the plainti…

(a) If the defendant obtain certiorari, and, upon trial in the circuit court, the jury find that the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the land, the jury shall also ascertain the value of the rents during the time the plaintiff has been kept out of possession, and such o…

(a) As used in this section, “immediate family member” means a spouse, parent, sibling, or child. (b) The intent of this section is to quickly restore possession of commercial real property to the lawful owner of the property when the property is being unlawfully occupied and to …

(a) A person, once dispossessed by action, who again illegally possesses the premises, commits a Class C misdemeanor. (b) The only evidence, required or admitted on the trial of the criminal charge, is that the defendant was turned out of possession by action brought for the purp…

The judgment in a case of forcible entry and detainer shall be no bar to an action against the defendant for trespass.

(a) (a) As used in this section, “immediate family member” means a spouse, parent, sibling, or child.(b) The intent of this section is to quickly restore possession of residential real property to the lawful owner of the property when the property is being unlawfully occupied and…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Civil process related to an eviction proceeding” includes an eviction notice, a judgment of possession, and a writ of possession; and(2) “Participant in an eviction process” means a private entity or person who is serving or executing civil proces…