Rules of civil procedure and service of process requirements for Tennessee.
Last updated October 22, 2026
Tennessee's rules for serving a summons and complaint are in the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, mainly Rule 4. Service of process in general sessions court is also covered by Tennessee Code Annotated (Tenn. Code Ann.) §§ 16-15-901 and 16-15-902.
Tennessee doesn't license process servers statewide. Some counties set their own rules for private servers in general sessions court, as Shelby County does.
Disclaimer: Laws change, and this page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Check the current Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure or ask an attorney before relying on it.
Tennessee process servers
Process-serving software: ServeManager
ServeManager is process-serving software used by agencies across Tennessee. It tracks every attempt with date, time, GPS and photos, and generates affidavits of service from the job, so you have a record of each attempt if the defendant is evading service.
No. Tennessee has no statewide license, registration or certification for process servers. Under Rule 4.01, any person 18 or older who isn't a party can serve a summons and complaint.
In general sessions court, the party or their attorney can designate a private server for civil warrants, attachments, subpoenas and summonses. Other process and court orders are served by sheriffs or constables (Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-901). The return must identify a private server by name and a mailing or physical address.
Shelby County is an exception for its General Sessions Court. Private servers there must petition the Shelby County Clerk, pass background checks by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and the TBI, show a business license and post a $15,000 bond (Shelby County private process servers). Check with the local clerk before serving in other counties.
For a step-by-step guide, see Become a Process Server in Tennessee.
The server delivers a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant personally, or to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service for them.
If the defendant evades or tries to evade service, the server can leave the papers at the defendant's dwelling house or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion who lives there. That person's name must appear on the proof of service. Substituted service isn't allowed just because the defendant isn't home.
The plaintiff, the plaintiff's attorney or a person authorized by statute can mail a certified copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. Service is complete if the defendant, or a person who can accept for them, signs the receipt (Rule 4.03(2)).
A default judgment can't be based on mail service unless the return receipt shows personal acceptance or a refusal. If the defendant refuses the mail and the Postal Service notes the refusal on the receipt, that counts as valid service (Rule 4.04(11)). A notation that the mail was "unclaimed" isn't enough on its own.
When Tennessee law allows service outside the state, it can be made by any method allowed in Tennessee, by the law of the state where service is made, or as the court directs (Rule 4.05).
Where a statute allows constructive service, such as service by publication, it must be made the way the statute says (Rule 4.08). See What is service by publication?
A plaintiff can mail the defendant a request to waive formal service. A defendant who waives has 60 days from the date the request was sent to answer. A defendant who refuses without good cause can be ordered to pay the costs of service (Rule 4.07).
Civil process generally can't be served on Sunday. Exceptions allow Sunday service when the defendant is leaving, or about to leave, the jurisdiction (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 20-2-104, 20-2-105).
If a summons isn't served within 90 days after it's issued, it must be returned with the reasons it wasn't served. The plaintiff can get a new summons. To keep relying on the original filing date for the statute of limitations, the plaintiff must get new process issued within one year of the previous issuance (Rule 3).
Rule 4.04 sets who can receive service for an organization:
When a corporation is served by mail and refuses delivery, a default judgment requires Secretary of State records confirming the entity's correct name and registered agent (Rule 4.04(10)).
Anyone authorized to serve process can serve a subpoena. Service is made by delivering or offering to deliver a copy to the person named, or the witness can acknowledge service in writing on the subpoena (Rule 45.03).
The person serving the summons must promptly file proof of service with the court. It must identify the person served and describe how service was made. For mail service, the server files the original summons endorsed with the mailing and receipt dates, an affidavit describing how the rule was followed, and the return receipt. Failing to file proof promptly doesn't make the service invalid (Rule 4.03(3)).
Find agencies across the state in our Tennessee process server directory.
This page is a general overview of Tennessee law, not legal advice. Laws change. Check the current rules or talk to an attorney about your case.
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