TITLE 29
REMEDIES AND SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 18
FORCIBLE ENTRY AND DETAINER
Unlawful entry prohibited.
No person shall enter upon any lands, tenements, or other
possessions, and detain or hold the same, but where entry is given
by law, and then only in a peaceable manner. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-101
Forcible entry and detainer defined - Where action does
not lie.
(a) A forcible entry and detainer is where a person, by
force or with weapons, or by breaking open the doors, windows, or
other parts of the house, whether any person be in it or not, or by
any kind of violence whatsoever, enters upon land, tenement, or
possession, in the occupation of another, and detains and holds the
same; or by threatening to kill, maim, or beat the party in
possession; or by such words, circumstances, or actions, as have a
natural tendency to excite fear or apprehension of danger; or by
putting out of doors or carrying away the goods of the party in
possession; or by entering peaceably and then turning or keeping the
party out of possession by force or threat or other circumstances of
terror.
(b) No action for forcible entry and detainer shall lie
against any tenant who has paid all rent due for their current
occupancy of the premises and who are not in violation of any law
nor otherwise in breach of their written lease, but this subsection
shall not apply in any manner to farm property, nor shall the
provisions of this subsection be construed to alter or amend any
valid lease agreement in effect on May 31, 1979. Title 29, Chap. 18,
§29-18-102
[Code 1858, § 3342 (deriv. Acts 1821, ch. 14, § 2); Shan., §
5091; Code 1932, § 9245; Acts 1979, ch. 421, §§ 1-3; T.C.A.
(orig. ed.), § 23-1602.]
Forcible detainer defined.
A forcible detainer is where a person enters lawfully or
peaceably, and holds unlawfully, and by any of the means enumerated
in § 29-18-102 as constituting a forcible entry. Title 29, Chap.
18, §29-18-103
[Code 1858, § 3343 (deriv. Acts 1821, ch. 14, § 3); Shan.,
§ 5092; Code 1932, § 9246; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1603.]
Unlawful detainer defined.
Unlawful detainer is where the defendant enters by contract,
either as tenant or as assignee of a tenant, or as personal
representative of a tenant, or as subtenant, or by collusion with a
tenant, and, in either case, willfully and without force, holds over
the possession from the landlord, or the assignee of the remainder
or reversion. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-104
[Code 1858, § 3344 (deriv. Acts 1821, ch. 14, § 5); Shan.,
§ 5093; Code 1932, § 9247; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1604.]
Scope of definitions.
Sections 29-18-101 - 29-18-104 extend to and comprehend terms
for years, and all estates, whether freehold or less than freehold.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-105
[Code 1858, § 3345 (deriv. Acts 1821, ch. 14, § 4); Shan.,
§ 5094; Code 1932, § 9248; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1605.]
Alternative actions.
Where the action is to recover real property, ejectment, or
forcible or unlawful entry or detainer may be brought. Title 29,
Chap. 18, §29-18-106
[Code 1858, § 2750; Shan., § 4441; Code 1932, § 8567;
T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1606.]
Jurisdiction of general sessions judge.
All cases of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer, and
unlawful detainer, may be tried before any one (1) judge of the
court of general sessions of the county in which the acts are
committed, who shall decide the particular case, and all questions
of law and fact arising. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-107
[Code 1858, § 3346 (deriv. Acts 1841-1842, ch. 186, § 1);
Acts 1879, ch. 23; Shan., § 5095; Code 1932, § 9249; impl. am.
Acts 1979, ch. 68, § 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1607.]
Original jurisdiction of circuit court.
The action for the recovery of the possession of land, given in
this chapter, may also be originally instituted in the circuit
court, the same forms being substantially pursued as those
prescribed, the process being issued by the clerk, the plaintiff
first giving bond and security to answer costs and damages as
provided in § 29-18-111. Title 19, Chap. 18, §29-18-108
[Code 1858, § 3366 (deriv. Acts 1841-1842, ch. 186, § 8);
Shan., § 5115; Code 1932, § 9270; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1608.]
Limitation of actions.
The uninterrupted occupation or quiet possession of the premises
in controversy by the defendant, for the space of three (3) entire
years together, immediately preceding the commencement of the
action, is, if the estate of the defendant has not determined within
that time, a bar to any proceeding under this chapter. Title 29,
Chap. 18, §109
[Code 1858, § 3347 (deriv. Acts 1821, ch. 14, § 20); Shan.,
§ 5096; Code 1932, § 9250; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1609.]
Death of parties.
(a) The heir or representative of the person who might
have been plaintiff, if alive, may bring the suit after his death.
(b) If either party die during the pendency of the suit,
it may be revived by or against the heirs or legal representatives
of the decedent, in the same manner and to the same extent as real
actions. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-110
Plaintiff's bond.
The party complaining is required, before the issuance of the
writ, to give bond, with good security, to pay all costs and damages
which shall accrue to the defendant for the wrongful prosecution of
the suit. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-111
Form of warrant.
The warrant may be issued by a single general sessions judge in
the following form:
State of Tennessee, To the sheriff or any constable of
such county:
__________ County.
Whereas, complaint is made to me by A B, of a certain
forcible and unlawful entry and detainer, made by C D, into and of a
certain tract or lot of land, situated in the county aforementioned,
and bounded [or known and described] as follows [insert boundaries
and description], which land A B alleges he is entitled to the
possession of, and C D unlawfully detains from him: We therefore
command you to summon C D to appear before some judge of the court
of general sessions, in and for such county, to answer the above
complaint. This ________ day of ________, 20___. E F, G.S.J. Title
29, Chap. 18, §29-18-112
Notice to quit not required.
No notice to quit need be given by the plaintiff to the
defendant, other than the service of this warrant. Title 29, Chap.
18, §29-18-113
Defects in proceedings.
The warrant need not set forth the particular species of entry
or detainer, and any defect therein, or in any of the proceedings,
may be amended as other process and pleadings in court. Title 29,
Chap. 18, §29-18-114
Method of serving summons.
(a) In commencing an action under the provisions of this
chapter, summons may be served upon any adult person found in
possession of the premises; and service of process upon such party
in possession shall be good and sufficient to enable the landlord to
regain possession of such landlord's property. In the event the
summons cannot be served upon any adult person found in possession
of the premises, personal service of process on the defendant is
dispensed with in the following cases:
(1) When the defendant is a nonresident of this state;
(2) When, upon inquiry at the defendant's usual place of abode,
the defendant cannot be found, so as to be served with process, and
there is just ground to believe that the defendant has gone beyond
the limits of the state;
(3) When the summons has been returned "not to be found in
my county";
(4) When the name of the defendant is unknown and cannot be
ascertained upon diligent inquiry;
(5) When the residence of the defendant is unknown and cannot be
ascertained upon diligent inquiry; or
(6) When a domestic corporation has ceased to do business and
has no known officers, directors, trustee, or other legal
representatives, on whom personal service may be had.
In those cases where personal service of process on the
defendant is dispensed with, the proceeding shall be governed by
§§ 21-1-203 - 21-1-205, and in addition thereto, the plaintiff
shall post or cause to be posted on the front door or other front
portion of the premises a copy of the publication notice at least
fifteen (15) days prior to the date specified therein for the
defendant to appear and make a defense.
(b) In commencing an action under the provisions of this
chapter, service of process may be made by the plaintiff, the
plaintiff's attorney, or the plaintiff's agent, in lieu of
subsection (a), by lodging the original summons and a copy certified
by the clerk with the sheriff of the county in which suit is
brought, who shall promptly send postage prepaid a certified copy by
certified return receipt mail to the individual as follows:
(1) In the case of an individual defendant, to the party named;
(2) In the case of a domestic corporation or a foreign
corporation doing business in this state, to an officer or managing
agent thereof, or to the chief agent in the county where the action
is brought or to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law
to receive service on behalf of the corporation; or
(3) In the case of a partnership or an unincorporated
association which is a named defendant under a common name, to a
partner or managing agent of the partnership or to an officer or
managing agent of the association, or to an agent authorized by
appointment or by law to receive service on behalf of the
partnership or association.
(c) In any case in which such warrant or process is
returned undelivered for any reason whatsoever, service of process
shall then be made as otherwise provided by law.
(d)
(1)The original process, endorsed as indicated below, an
affidavit of the appropriate sheriff setting forth the sheriff's
compliance with the requirements of the preceding provisions, and
the return receipt signed by the defendant shall be attached
together and sent to and filed by the clerk of the court of general
sessions. There shall be endorsed on the original warrant by the
sheriff over the sheriff's signature the date of the sheriff's
mailing the certified copy to the defendant; thereupon service of
the defendant shall be consummated. An act of a deputy of the
sheriff in the sheriff's behalf, hereunder shall be deemed the
equivalent of the act of the latter.
(2) When service of process by mail is made upon one or more
individual defendants, service of process shall not be complete as
to any individual unless a return receipt, signed or acknowledged on
its face by the individual personally, is returned to the deputy
sheriff.
(e)
(1) In addition to the methods set out in this section, service
of process for an action commenced under this chapter shall be good
and sufficient to enable the landlord to regain possession of such
landlord's property if the sheriff of the county in which the action
is brought, or such sheriff's deputy, personally serves a copy of
the warrant or summons upon any named defendant who has a
contractual or possessory property right in the subject premises.
(2) If the sheriff is unable to serve any such named defendant
personally, or if after three (3) attempts of personal service of
process during a ten-day period with such attempts being documented
on the face of the warrant, no such person is found in possession of
the premises, service of process for determining the right of
possession of the subject premises as to all who may have a
contractual or possessory property right therein may be had by the
sheriff of the county, or such sheriff's deputy, taking the
following actions at least ten (10) days prior to the date specified
therein for the defendant(s) to appear and make a defense:
(A) Posting a copy of the warrant or summons on the door of the
premises;
(B) Sending by United States postal service first class mail
with certificate of mailing a copy of the warrant or summons to the
so named defendant(s) at the last known address, if any; and
(C) Making an entry of this action on the face of the warrant or
summons filed in the case.
The method of service of process provided for in this
subdivision shall be used only after the defendant who has a
contractual or possessory property right in the subject premises is
more than ten (10) days past due on rental installment payments or
has held over after expiration of proper notice of termination of
tenancy for more than ten (10) days. The provisions of this
subdivision shall apply only to the service of process in an action
brought to regain possession of real property, and shall not apply
to the service of process in any action seeking monetary judgment.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-115
Neglect to execute process.
Any officer neglecting or refusing to execute any process, under
this chapter, shall forfeit two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) to
the party aggrieved, to be recovered with costs before any tribunal
having jurisdiction thereof. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-116
Time of trial.
The officer serving the warrant shall notify the defendant of
the time and place of trial, the time not to be less than six (6)
days from the date of service. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-117
Postponement of trial.
The general sessions judge may, at the request of either party,
and on good reason being assigned, postpone the trial to any time
not exceeding fifteen (15) days, the party making the application
paying the cost. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-118
Manner of trial - Title not inquired into.
(a) The cause shall be tried at the time and place
designated, by a single general sessions judge, without the
intervention of a jury, and in all respects like other civil suits
before the court of general sessions.
(b) The general sessions judge will try every case upon
its merits and ascertain whether the plaintiff or defendant is
entitled to the possession of the premises agreeably to the laws
governing such cases, and give judgment accordingly.
(c) The estate, or merits of the title, shall not be
inquired into. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-119
Trial in circuit court.
(a) Actions originally instituted in the circuit court
will stand for trial at the first term after the pleadings are
complete.
(b) The jury, if they find for the plaintiff, will
ascertain the damages he has sustained, including rent, and judgment
shall be given accordingly.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-120
Subpoenas.
The general sessions judge before whom the complaint is made, or
the one before whom the cause is to be tried, may issue subpoenas
for witnesses into any county of the state. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-121
Fees.
(a) The general sessions judge is entitled to one dollar
($1.00) per day for trying cases of forcible entry and detainer,
forcible detainer, or unlawful detainer.
(b) The officer is entitled to two dollars and fifty cents
($2.50) for each defendant named in the original process, and one
dollar ($1.00) for each witness summoned.
(c) Each witness shall receive one dollar ($1.00) for each
day's attendance.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-122
Bond to confess judgment at termination of lease -
Judgment and writ.
(a) Any person, granting a lease of lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, may incorporate or take from the tenant a bond
covenanting to deliver possession of the rented premises on the day
specified therein as the end of the term of the lease, and further
authorizing the party from whom the premises are rented, or any
other person whose name may be mentioned as attorney, in case
possession of the premises is not delivered in conformity with the
provisions of the lease, to appear on any day of the term of any
court having jurisdiction in such case, the term of such court to be
expressly named, and the premises to be sufficiently described in
the bond, and then and there, in the name of the party executing the
bond, confess a judgment for possession of the rented premises.
(b) Upon presentation of the bond, and satisfactory proof
of its execution, the court shall enter judgment for possession and
also for costs of the proceeding, in favor of the party granting the
lease against the tenant thus unlawfully holding over.
(c) The writ of possession shall have effect to dispossess
any party in possession who holds as assignee or sublessee of the
original tenant.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-123
Form of judgment for plaintiff.
The judgment for the plaintiff should be endorsed on the warrant
or annexed thereto, substantially to the following effect:
A B Judgment for the plaintiff, that he be
restored to possession of the
v. land described in the within warrant,
and that a writ of possession
C D or restitution issue therefor, and also
for the costs of suit. This __________ day of __________, 19______.
E F, G.S.J.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-124
Monetary judgments for plaintiff.
In all cases of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer,
and unlawful detainer, the judge of the court of general sessions
trying the cause shall be authorized and it shall be his duty, if
his judgment
shall be that the plaintiff recover the possession, to ascertain
the arrearage of rent, and interest, and damages, if any, and render
judgment therefor. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-125
Delay before execution.
No execution or writ of possession shall issue against the
defendant upon any judgment, under the provisions of this chapter,
until after the lapse of ten (10) days from the rendition of the
judgment. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-126
Form of execution and writ.
The execution for costs shall issue in the usual form, and the
writ of possession may be as follows:
State of Tennessee, To the sheriff or any constable of such
county:
__________ County.
Whereas, at a trial of forcible and unlawful detainer had
in such county on the ________ day of ________, 19____, before E F,
a judge of the court of general sessions of such county, judgment
was given that A B recover from C D possession of a certain tract or
parcel of land, bounded [or known and described] as follows [insert
the description in the warrant]: We therefore command you, that you
take with you the force of the county, if necessary, and cause A B,
the plaintiff in such judgment, to have and be restored to the
possession of such tract or parcel of land, and that you remove C D,
the defendant in such judgment, therefrom, and give such plaintiff
peaceable possession of such premises, and make return to me in
twenty days how you have executed this writ.
This ________ day of ________, 19____. E F, G.S.J.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-127
Appeal.
An appeal will also lie in suits commenced before general
sessions judges, under the provisions of this chapter, within the
ten (10) days allowed by § 27-5-108, as in other cases, the
appellant, if the defendant, giving bond as in the case of a
certiorari. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-128
Certiorari and supersedeas to circuit court.
The proceedings in such actions may, within thirty (30) days
after the rendition of judgment, be removed to the circuit court by
writs of certiorari and supersedeas, which it shall be the duty of
the judge to grant, upon petition, if merits are sufficiently set
forth, and to require from the applicant a bond, with security
sufficient to cover all costs and damages; and, if the defendant
below be the applicant, then the bond and security shall be of
sufficient amount to cover, besides costs and damages, the value of
the rent of the premises during the litigation.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-129
Immediate execution of writ of possession - Bond pending
appeal.
(a) When judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff,
in any action of forcible entry and detainer, forcible detainer, or
unlawful detainer, brought before a judge of the court of general
sessions, and a writ of possession is awarded, the same shall be
executed and the plaintiff restored to the possession immediately.
(b)
(1) If the defendant pray an appeal, then, in that case,
the plaintiff shall execute bond, with good and sufficient security,
in double the value of one (1) year's rent of the premises,
conditioned to pay all costs and damages accruing from the wrongful
enforcement of such writ, and to abide by and perform whatever
judgment may be rendered by the appellate court in the final hearing
of the cause.
(2) In cases where the action has been brought by a landlord to
recover possession of leased premises from a tenant on the grounds
that the tenant has breached the contract by failing to pay the
rent, and a judgment has been entered against the tenant, the
provisions of subdivision (b)(1) shall not apply. In that case, if
the defendant prays an appeal, the defendant shall execute bond, or
post either a cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit from a
regulated financial institution, or provide two (2) good personal
sureties with good and sufficient security in the amount of one (1)
year's rent of the premises, conditioned to pay all costs and
damages accruing from the failure of the appeal, including rent and
interest on the judgment as provided for herein, and to abide by and
perform whatever judgment may be rendered by the appellate court in
the final hearing of the cause. The plaintiff shall not be required
to post a bond to obtain possession in the event the defendant
appeals without complying with this section. The plaintiff shall be
entitled to interest on the judgment, which shall accrue from the
date of the judgment in the event the defendant's appeal shall fail.
Title 29, Chap. 18 §29-18-130
Monetary judgment in circuit court.
(a) If the defendant obtain certiorari, and, upon trial in
the circuit court, the jury find that the plaintiff is entitled to
the possession of the land, they shall also ascertain the value of
the rents during the time the plaintiff has been kept out of
possession, and such other damages as the plaintiff is entitled to,
and the court shall give judgment against the defendant and his
sureties for the amount.
(b) Should the cause be taken to the circuit court by the
plaintiff, and a verdict be found in his favor, the jury shall, in
like manner, ascertain the value of the rents, and the damages they
may consider the plaintiff entitled to, and return the amount in
their verdict, upon which the court shall give judgment accordingly.
Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-131
[Repealed.] 29-18-132
Penalty for resuming possession.
(a) A person, once dispossessed by action, who again
illegally possesses the premises, commits a Class C misdemeanor.
(b) The only evidence, required or admitted on the trial
of the criminal charge, is that the defendant was turned out of
possession by action brought for the purpose, and that the defendant
has again taken possession of the premises. Title 29, Chap. 18, §29-18-133
Trespass action.
The judgment in a case of forcible entry and detainer shall be
no bar to an action against the defendant for trespass. Title 29,
Chap. 18, §29-18-134
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