Service of Process is issued under the following statutes:

• Tennessee’s Long-Arm Statutes, Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) Title 20, Chapter 2, Part 2.
• The Tennessee Business Corporation Act, T.C.A. Title 48, Chapters 11-27
• Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act, T.C.A. Title 48, Chapters 51-68
• Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act ,T.C.A. Title 48,Chapters 201-248
• The Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, T.C.A. Title 48, Chapter 249
• The Tennessee Revised Uniform Partnership Act, T.C.A.  Title 61, Chapter 1
• Tennessee Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, T.C.A. Title 61, Chapter 2

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).

The Division of Business Services processes over 13,800 summonses annually.

Program Participants are not subject to selection for state or municipal jury duty. T.C.A. § 40-38-607.

Program participants should not appear on state or municipal jury selection lists. If a program participant is selected for jury service, the summoning court should excuse the program participant.

If a program participant receives a jury summons for either state or municipal jury duty, the Participant must notify the summoning court of the participant's exempt status and provide a copy of the Participant's Certificate of Program Participation, if requested.

Participants may not fail to respond to a jury summons.

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.

• Whenever a program participant is required by law to swear to or affirm the participant’s address, the participant may use the participant’s substitute address. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
• Wherever a program participant is required by law to establish residency, the participant may use the participant’s substitute address. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
• The substitute address may be used for motor vehicle records and may be printed on a drivers license. T.C.A. § 40-38-602.
• The substitute address may also be used as your official mailing address for all public utilities and public utility service providers. T.C.A. §§ 40-38-602, 606.
• Participants may also request that private entities use the substitute address, although they are not required to do so.

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.

Private businesses are not required by statute to accept a Safe at Home Participant's substitute address. However, private companies or agencies are encouraged to make every effort to keep a participant’s information safe by accepting the substitute address whenever possible. If agency or business employees have questions about using the substitute address, they may contact the Safe at Home Program directly.

• When listing, appraising, or assessing property taxes;
• When collecting property taxes;
• On any document related to real property recorded with a county clerk or recorder.

Program Participants must vote by absentee ballot. T.C.A. § 40-38-607.

Program participant absentee ballots must be treated as confidential and must be processed confidentially by the Administrator of Elections. Program participants shall appear in the statewide official voter registration list only by the Participant Identification Number. 

As authorized by law, properly designated law enforcement agency officials and administrative agency officials may request disclosure of information relating to a program participant. T.C.A. § 40-38-609. What information may be available to law enforcement or administrative agency officials?

• Properly designated law enforcement agency officials and administrative agency officials may request confirmation of program participation pertaining to a supposed program participant.
• Properly designated law enforcement agency officials and administrative agency officials may request disclosure of information pertaining to a program participant, including the confidential address, subject to the discretion of the Secretary of State. Program Participants may be entitled to prior notice and appeal rights.
• Disclosure of a participant’s confidential address, or any other information contained within a program participant’s file, shall be limited to ensure that the disclosure and dissemination of the confidential address will be no greater than necessary for the specific purpose for which it was requested.