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 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.

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

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.

The GoVoteTN app is available for download in the Apple store or the Google Play store.  You can also access the app through any web browser as a website application.

You may obtain Form #SS-4507, Application for Certification of Municipal Clerks & Recorders and Continuing Education Credit, from our website or upon request from our office. 

For certification, the application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate(s) from the institution(s) at which the qualifications were completed.  The certificate(s) (other than a degree) should indicate the number of hours completed.  If credit is claimed for job-related seminars, then documents must also be submitted outlining seminar content. 

For continuing education credit, the application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate(s) of attendance and a statement as to the number of credit hours completed.  If credit is claimed for job-related seminars, then documents must also be submitted outlining seminar content. Please note that the Division of Business Services does not pre-certify seminars for content applicability or for applicable credit hours. Applications are accepted by mail, fax or in person. Upon receipt and approval of an application, the Division of Business Services will issue to the applicant a certificate confirming the certification or continuing education credit. 

The GoVoteTN app allows Tennesseans the opportunity to view their sample ballot, locate their polling location and learn about their district.  

Highlights of the app include:

• Early voting and Election Day polling locations and hours of operation
• Candidate list for upcoming election
• Ability to mark sample ballots for upcoming election
• Navigation to early voting and Election Day polling locations
• County election commission information
• Access online election results through the application