Who may serve a summons and complaint in Tennessee?

Any person who is not a party to the case and is at least 18 years old, under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01(2). Tennessee has no statewide license or certification requirement for a private process server, and a sheriff is not required, though sheriffs traditionally serve civil process. The server's name and address must appear on the return.

Can a party serve their own summons in a Tennessee lawsuit?

No, not by hand delivery. Rule 4.01(2) requires the server to be at least 18 and not a party, so a plaintiff or defendant cannot personally deliver their own summons. Rule 4.04(10) is the one exception: it lets the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney mail the summons and complaint directly, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.

Does Tennessee require an affidavit or a certification to prove service?

It depends on the method. For personal or substituted service, the AOC summons template's officer's return is an unnotarized certification signed by the server. For service by mail, Rule 4.03(2) calls the document an affidavit, and the template's mail-return block is notarized or taken by a deputy clerk.

How long do I have to serve a summons in Tennessee?

The summons must be served within 90 days after it is issued, under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(1). If it is not, the summons is returned stating the reasons for failure to serve, and the plaintiff may obtain a new summons under Rule 3.

Is there a deadline to file the proof of service in a Tennessee case?

No fixed day count. Rule 4.03(1) requires the person serving the summons to promptly make proof of service, and Rule 4.03(3) expressly states that failing to promptly file the proof does not affect the validity of the service itself.

How do I prove service of a motion or other later paper in a Tennessee case?

Later papers are served under Rule 5.02, by hand delivery, mail, email with a subject line alerting the recipient, or the court's e-filing system for registered users. Rule 5.03 allows proof by a certificate of a member of the bar, an affidavit of the person who served the papers, or other proof the court finds satisfactory, and unlike the summons, a party may serve these papers.

What happens if service of a Tennessee summons is defective?

Defective service can prevent the court from gaining authority over the defendant, which can void a default judgment later. Follow the manner and content Rules 4.01 through 4.04 require exactly, and never sign a return or affidavit that misstates how or when service occurred, since the mail-service affidavit is sworn.

Does this Tennessee proof of service cover federal court, service abroad, or a government defendant?

No. Service on the federal government, a foreign country, or under the Hague Service Convention, and service in federal court under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, follow separate rules not covered on this page.

Tennessee Proof of Service

Q: Is ordinary mail alone enough to serve a Tennessee summons?

No. Ordinary first-class mail alone does not serve a summons in Tennessee. Rule 4.04(10) requires a certified copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Service is complete upon mailing under Rule 4.04(11), but no default judgment may be entered without a signed return receipt showing acceptance or a documented refusal.

Tennessee bars a party from hand-delivering their own summons, but Rule 4.04(10) lets the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney mail it directly, requires no statewide process-server license, and sets a 90-day deadline to serve with no fixed deadline to file the proof itself.

Find out where you stand in Tennessee

Where are you with service?

DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.

Introduction

Tennessee requires a summons and complaint to be served by someone who is not a party and is at least 18, under Rule 4.01(2); no statewide license or certification is required, and a sheriff is not the only option. A party cannot hand-deliver their own summons, but Rule 4.04(10) lets the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney mail it directly. Tennessee has no separate numbered proof-of-service form; the AOC's Circuit/Chancery Civil Summons template prints the proof on its back, and the issuing court's own template controls if one is required. For personal or substituted service, the return is an unnotarized certification. For service by mail, Rule 4.03(2) calls for an affidavit, notarized or taken by a deputy clerk. Substituted service applies only if the individual evades or attempts to evade service, by leaving copies at the dwelling with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there. Ordinary mail alone does not serve a summons: Rule 4.04(10) requires registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and no default judgment may be entered without a signed return receipt or a documented refusal. The summons must be served within 90 days of issuance, or a new one may be obtained under Rule 3; there is no fixed deadline to file the proof, though it must be made promptly. Later papers are served under Rule 5.02 by hand delivery, mail, email, or the e-filing system; a party may serve these. Federal, foreign, and government-entity service follow separate rules not covered here. Attorney review is available before you file.

Key Things to Know

1
A summons and complaint must be served by someone who is not a party and is at least 18 years old; Tennessee has no statewide process-server license or certification requirement (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01(2)). Tennessee has no separate numbered proof-of-service form; the proof prints on the back of the AOC's Circuit/Chancery Civil Summons template, and the issuing court's own template controls if one is required.
2
A party cannot hand-deliver their own summons, but Rule 4.04(10) lets the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney mail the summons and complaint directly, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
3
For personal or substituted service, the return is an unnotarized certification signed by the server. For service by mail, Rule 4.03(2) requires an affidavit, and the template's mail-return block is notarized or taken by a deputy clerk.
4
For an individual other than an unmarried infant or an incompetent person, Rule 4.04(1) permits personal delivery of the summons and complaint. Substituted service applies only if the individual evades or attempts to evade service, by leaving copies at the dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there, whose name must appear on the proof.
5
Ordinary mail alone does not serve a summons. Rule 4.04(10) requires a certified copy sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; service is complete upon mailing under Rule 4.04(11), but no default judgment may be entered without a signed return receipt showing acceptance or a documented refusal.
6
The summons must be served within 90 days after issuance, or the plaintiff may obtain a new summons under Rule 3; Rule 4.03(3) sets no fixed deadline to file the proof of service, and expressly states that failing to promptly file it does not affect the validity of service.
7
Later papers such as motions are served under Rule 5.02 by hand delivery, mail, email, or the court's e-filing system, and proof may be a certificate signed by a member of the bar, an affidavit of the person who served the papers, or other proof the court accepts; unlike the summons, a party may serve these papers.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Proof of Service in Tennessee, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Proof of Service guide walks through them.

Open the Proof of Service guide

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RETURN OF SERVICE OF SUMMONS

Tennessee has no separate numbered proof-of-service form. The proof of service prints on the back of the Administrative Office of the Courts' Circuit/Chancery Civil Summons template under Rule 4.02, and this document follows the content Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03 requires. If the issuing court requires its own version of that template, the court's form controls instead.

[PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff, v. [DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

[CIRCUIT OR CHANCERY] COURT FOR [COUNTY] COUNTY, TENNESSEE NO. [CASE NUMBER]

The summons came to hand for service on [DATE RECEIVED FOR SERVICE].

I served a copy of the summons and of [LIST OF PAPERS SERVED, INCLUDING THE COMPLAINT] on [NAME OF PERSON OR ENTITY SERVED].

RETURN ON PERSONAL OR SUBSTITUTED SERVICE

I served the summons and complaint by the method checked below:

[ ] PERSONAL DELIVERY. I delivered a copy of the summons and of the complaint to [NAME OF PERSON SERVED] personally on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [TIME OF SERVICE], at [ADDRESS], under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.04(1).

[ ] SUBSTITUTED SERVICE. Because [NAME OF PERSON SERVED] evaded or attempted to evade personal service, I left copies of the summons and of the complaint on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [ADDRESS] with [NAME OF PERSON OF SUITABLE AGE AND DISCRETION], who resides there, under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.04(1).

By: [SIGNATURE] [NAME AND TITLE OF SERVER] Address: [SERVER ADDRESS]

RETURN ON SERVICE BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL

I mailed a certified copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint to [NAME OF DEFENDANT] by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, on [DATE OF MAILING]. The return receipt was signed by [NAME OF PERSON WHO SIGNED, OR REFUSED IF DELIVERY WAS REFUSED] on [DATE RECEIPT RETURNED], under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(2) and 4.04(10). The return receipt is attached to this proof.

[SIGNATURE OF PERSON MAKING SERVICE] [NAME OF PERSON MAKING SERVICE]

Sworn to and subscribed before me on [DATE].

[SIGNATURE OF NOTARY PUBLIC OR DEPUTY CLERK] Notary Public or Deputy Clerk Commission expires: [DATE]

[ ] NOT SERVED. The summons was not served within 90 days of issuance. The reasons for failure to serve are: [REASONS SERVICE FAILED].

Server's name and address: [SERVER NAME], [SERVER ADDRESS].

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE OF LATER PAPERS

I certify that on [DATE], I served a copy of [TITLE OF LATER PAPER] on [NAME OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD, OR THE PARTY IF SELF-REPRESENTED] by [DESCRIPTION OF METHOD USED, SUCH AS HAND DELIVERY, MAIL, EMAIL WITH A SUBJECT LINE ALERTING THE RECIPIENT, OR THE COURT'S E-FILING SYSTEM], under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 5.02.

[SIGNATURE] [NAME OF PERSON WHO SERVED]

Tennessee Requirements for Proof of Service

Non-Party Server Age 18 or Older
A summons and complaint may be served only by a person who is not a party and is at least 18 years old, identified by name and address on the return; Tennessee has no statewide process-server license or certification requirement (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01(2)).
Mail Exception for the Plaintiff or Plaintiff's Attorney
A party cannot hand-deliver their own summons, but Rule 4.04(10) lets the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney mail the summons and complaint directly, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
No Separate Numbered Proof-of-Service Form
Tennessee has no standalone numbered proof-of-service form; the proof prints on the back of the AOC's Circuit/Chancery Civil Summons template under Rule 4.02, and the issuing court's own version controls if one is required.
Unnotarized Certification for Personal Service, Affidavit for Mail
The officer's return for personal or substituted service is an unnotarized certification signed by the server, while Rule 4.03(2) requires the mail-service proof to be an affidavit, notarized or taken by a deputy clerk.
Substituted Service Limited to Evasion
Substituted or abode service is permitted only if the individual evades or attempts to evade personal service, by leaving copies at the dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there, whose name must appear on the proof (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.04(1)).
Registered or Certified Mail Required, Not Ordinary Mail
Mail service of a summons requires a certified copy sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; service is complete upon mailing, but no default judgment may be entered without a signed return receipt or a documented refusal (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.04(10), (11)).
90-Day Deadline to Serve From Issuance
The summons must be served within 90 days after its issuance, or it is returned stating the reasons for failure to serve, and the plaintiff may obtain a new summons under Rule 3 (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(1)).
No Fixed Deadline to File the Proof
Rule 4.03(3) sets no fixed day count to file the proof of service and expressly states that failing to promptly file it does not affect the validity of the service itself.
Certificate of Service for Later Papers
Later papers such as motions are served under Rule 5.02, and proof may be a certificate of a member of the bar, an affidavit of the person who served the papers, or other proof the court finds satisfactory; unlike the summons, a party may serve these papers (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 5.03).

Find out where you stand in Tennessee

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Proof of Service Template with DocDraft

Tennessee Requirements for Proof of Service

Non-Party Server Age 18 or Older

Mail Exception for the Plaintiff or Plaintiff's Attorney

No Separate Numbered Proof-of-Service Form

Unnotarized Certification for Personal Service, Affidavit for Mail

Substituted Service Limited to Evasion

Registered or Certified Mail Required, Not Ordinary Mail

90-Day Deadline to Serve From Issuance

No Fixed Deadline to File the Proof

Certificate of Service for Later Papers

Frequently Asked Questions