Which Tennessee court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | General Sessions Court Small claims are heard in General Sessions; forcible entry/detainer is unlimited. | Up to $25,000 | Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 |
| Limited civil | General Sessions Court | Up to $25,000 | Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 |
| General civil | Circuit or Chancery Court Over the General Sessions limit; general jurisdiction. | No limit | Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-10-101 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.01).
16 Tennessee forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Tennessee practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Summons (Circuit Court)TRCP 4 / TRCP 12.01: 30-day answer
- Civil Warrant (General Sessions)Court-approved statewide form: $25,000 or less (T.C.A. § 16-15-501(d)); no written answer, appear on return date
- Civil Cover SheetCounty/e-file cover sheet (no statewide form)
- Officer's Return / Proof of ServiceTRCP 4.03: proof of service
- Uniform Civil Affidavit of IndigencyTenn. Sup. Ct. R. 29: official statewide indigency affidavit
- Notice of Voluntary NonsuitTRCP 41.01: voluntary dismissal/nonsuit
- Motion for Default JudgmentTRCP 55.01: 30-day default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentTRCP 55.01: rate fixed at entry under T.C.A. § 47-14-121 (8.75% as of July 2026)
- Execution / Garnishment: WagesAOC pattern: 25% less $2.50/wk per dependent child under 16 (T.C.A. §§ 26-2-106, 26-2-107); 6-month lien (§ 26-2-214)
- Notice to Judgment DebtorMANDATORY with every execution/garnishment: T.C.A. § 26-2-404(a)
- Answer of GarnisheeTRCP 69.05(3): garnishee answers within 10 days
- Conditional Judgment / Scire FaciasT.C.A. §§ 26-2-205, 26-2-206: against non-answering garnishee
- Execution: Levy on PropertyT.C.A. § 26-1-101: levy on bank accounts & property; return as provided by law
- Supplemental Proceedings: InterrogatoriesT.C.A. § 26-2-201: post-judgment asset discovery
- Satisfaction and Release of JudgmentAttorney-drafted: clears record and Register of Deeds lien (T.C.A. § 25-5-101)
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Tennessee matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons (Circuit Court) · Civil Cover Sheet · Officer's Return / Proof of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Warrant (General Sessions) · Summons (Circuit Court) · Civil Cover Sheet · Officer's Return / Proof of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Execution / Garnishment: Wages · Notice to Judgment Debtor · Answer of Garnishee · Execution: Levy on Property · Supplemental Proceedings: Interrogatories
Fee Waiver
Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency
Voluntary Nonsuit
Notice of Voluntary Nonsuit
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Tennessee county are in the 1Court Directory: Tennessee.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.