The Hague Convention is preprinted as an annotation to Rule 4, 28 U.S.C.A., Fed. R. Civ. P., Rules 1011, (1992) (Annotation to Rule 4).
How many summonses do the Division of Business Services process annually?
The Division of Business Services processes over 13,800 summonses annually.
How can TSLA help if you find lost or stolen public records?
Tennessee has a replevin law that provides for the restoration of alienated public records to their rightful custodians. Law enforcement authorities can reclaim these documents without any compensation to the would-be private owner. Contact TSLA if you have knowledge of the whereabouts of misplaced public records, or if you would like to report a lost or stolen public record. We can offer advice on how to proceed. We generally advise callers to contact their county attorney, county sheriff, or county archivist, depending on the unique circumstances of each county. Even though it is up to law enforcement authorities to prosecute theft, we have been able to aid several Tennessee counties in recovering their lost or stolen public records.
Why report Tennessee's lost public records?
Staff members at TSLA's Archives Development Program will work with you to determine whether items are, indeed, government records that belong in a state or county archive. By avoiding the purchase of stolen records on eBay or through other auctions, you will ultimately save time, the loss of your money, and potential lawsuits. It will also ensure that we, as Tennessee citizens, continue to have access to the records of our own government.
What can you do to avoid buying and selling public records?
f you are a document collector, dealer, or staff member at an archives, library, historical society, or museum, you can:
avoid buying, selling, or trading in lost or stolen Tennessee public records.
Sometimes, collectors like to obtain records relating to, for example, Civil War history or African-American slavery. For more information about the nationwide interest in these items, see our article on "eBay Sales of Public Records."
In some cases, well-meaning citizens have "saved" their county records from destruction or neglect years ago. In other cases, county archives did not exist, and the records were long stored in private hands. Now, however, most counties have a safe place to store county records, and the items need to be returned to their proper location. Please contact TSLA if you need help getting in touch with the proper state or county official in order to return public records in someone's possession.
How can I check on the status of a request for issuance of Service of Process?
The Service of Process Search allows you to check on the status of a Service of Process issuance by the defendant’s last name (or company name if a company) or by court docket number. This database reflects all non-archived processes served through the Tennessee Secretary of State as of three working days prior to the requested date. Service of Process records are archived on an annual basis.
What reason might a Service of Process filing be rejected by the Division of Business Services?
A Service of Process filing may be rejected for many reasons. Some of the most common reasons are:
An insufficient number of copies of the summons are submitted (an original and one certified copy are required for each defendant).
An address for an out-of-state defendant is not provided.
The defendant and/or agent for Service of Process has a Tennessee address requiring Service of Process by the Sheriff of the county of the defendant and/or agent not by the Secretary of State.
The $20.00 filing fee is not enclosed.
The check, bank draft, or money order is not made payable to the “Tennessee Secretary of State.”
The original and/or certified copy of the summons is not signed by the Clerk or Deputy Clerk.
The Clerk’s certified stamp, seal, or imprint is not affixed to the summons.
The process is to be served on an insurance company requiring Service of Process through the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
The action is instituted in a court outside Tennessee.