(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the costs provided in this section in civil cases are chargeable and may be collected at the time the services are requested from the clerk or other officer of the court; however, nothing in this section should be construed to limit the ability of a party to initiate a judicial proceeding by filing a pauper’s oath. In cases where payment of the clerk’s fees would create a substantial hardship for a party, judges are encouraged to use the discretion provided in Rule 29 of the Tennessee Rules of the Supreme Court to find that the party is indigent, even if that person does not meet the Legal Services Corporation‘s poverty guidelines. If a party, other than a party who initiated a proceeding under a pauper’s oath, pays costs at the time the services are requested, such payment shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement for security to be given for costs, pursuant to § 20-12-120. In proceedings covered by subdivision (b)(1)(A), and in workers compensation complaints, the attorney filing the action shall have the option to sign a cost bond, in lieu of the party paying the clerk’s fees at the time services are requested. The clerk shall not refuse to file an action where the attorney has opted to sign a cost bond. In any action where the clerk refuses to accept such cost bond in lieu of the party paying the clerk’s fees, all costs in that action shall be forfeited by the clerk. These requirements for fees to be paid or security provided when services are requested from the clerk do not apply in criminal cases. The fees listed in this section do not include officer’s fees as provided for in § 8-21-901 and elsewhere. These fees also do not include state and local litigation taxes.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 8-21-401

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: A government corporation that insures the deposits of all national and state banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Source: OCC
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Member: means any person included in the membership of the retirement system, as provided in chapter 35, part 1 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probate court: means the court having jurisdiction over the administration of the estates of decedents. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Subscription: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)Fees in Civil Cases in Circuit and Chancery Court.

(1)

(A) Unless otherwise provided, court clerks in civil cases in courts of record shall charge a standard court cost of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) at the institution of a case. The types of cases covered by this fee would include, but not be limited to, actions for enforcement of contracts or breach of contract actions; injunctions; all torts, personal injury and property damage cases, including malpractice actions, health care liability actions, and wrongful death suits; employment discrimination suits; civil rights suits; tax disputes; special remedies; other property disputes; and any other type of actions not otherwise designated in this section or elsewhere by law.
(B) In divorce cases involving minor children, the clerk shall charge a standard court cost of two hundred dollars ($200) at the institution of a case. In divorce cases that do not involve minor children, the clerk shall charge a standard court cost of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) at the institution of a case.
(C) In the following specific types of civil actions, the clerk shall charge a standard court cost of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) at the institution of a case:

(i) Appeals to the circuit or chancery court from juvenile court, general sessions court, probate courts, municipal courts or an administrative hearing; writs of certiorari from lower courts; or administrative hearings;
(ii) Transfers of cases from foreign counties;
(iii) Requests for writ of mandamus;
(iv) Worker’s compensation actions;
(v) Condemnations and inverse condemnations; and
(vi) Quo warranto proceedings.
(D) In the following specific types of civil actions, the clerk shall charge a standard court cost of one hundred dollars ($100) at the institution of a case:

(i) Adoptions;
(ii) Legitimations;
(iii) Paternity cases;
(iv) Restoration of citizenship;
(v) Termination of parental rights;
(vi) Other domestic relations matters not otherwise designated;
(vii) Name changes;
(viii) Minor settlements;
(ix) Enforcement of foreign judgments;
(x) Civil expungements where authorized by law; and
(xi) Orders of protection.
(E) In the following specific actions, the clerk shall charge a standard court cost of seventy-five dollars ($75.00): child support enforcement and modification, including interstate support cases and civil contempt actions, and requests for modification of a parenting plan.
(F) In delinquent property tax cases, the clerk shall assess a filing fee of forty-two dollars ($42.00) per parcel. For each parcel of property for which the judge issues an order to sell, there shall be a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) for clerk’s services related to that action.
(2)

(A) For the purposes of determining the fees of the clerk of court, when any third party complaint in a civil case is filed, the party filing the complaint shall be charged the same fee as was charged at the initiation of the original civil proceeding.
(B) The fee for cross-filings and counter complaints in civil cases in courts of record shall be one hundred dollars ($100).
(c) The clerks of the various courts administering estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and other probate matters are entitled to demand and shall receive for their services the following fees:

(1) For opening and closing an estate, other than a small estate, two hundred thirty dollars ($230);

(A) For filing and docketing claims, giving notice and filing release on each claim for a decedent‘s estate, to be paid by claimant, eleven dollars ($11.00);
(B) For filing exceptions to claims against estates, mailing notices and entering order, forty-two dollars ($42.00);
(2) For filing small estate affidavits, forty-one dollars ($41.00);
(3) For filing a request for letters of guardianship and conservatorship; issuing all initial process and cost bond; entering order and issuing certificate of guardianship and conservatorship, not including fee of the sheriff; and including final accounting and order closing, regardless of court where filed, one hundred sixty dollars ($160);
(4) For filing a new request for removal of disabilities of minority, and incompetence, filing affidavits and entering orders; for filing a new request to legitimate a person, change a name or correct a birth certificate and enter orders; for filing a new request for habeas corpus, filing cost bond, issuing process and enter orders, not including fee of the sheriff, one hundred dollars ($100);
(5) For filing requests under the mental health law, compiled in title 33, issuing notices, entering return, and entering judgments after hearing, not including fee of the sheriff, fifty dollars ($50.00);
(6) For filing and docketing any request on an existing case, other than a request to close the case, not otherwise provided for, eighteen dollars ($18.00);
(7) For entering any order on an existing case, other than closing order, not otherwise provided for, twelve dollars ($12.00);
(8) For issuing summons, subpoenas, citations, writs and notices, including copies of process when required by law, other than initial process, six dollars ($6.00);
(9) For filing any document not otherwise provided for in probate court, seven dollars ($7.00); and
(10) For filing, reviewing, recording annual or interim settlement or accounting and entering order approving settlement only, forty dollars ($40.00).
(d)Fees in Criminal Cases in Courts of Record.

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, court clerks in criminal cases in courts of record shall charge a standard court cost of three hundred dollars ($300). This fee shall apply per case per defendant.
(2) The clerk shall charge a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) for proceedings related to a violation of probation or any post-judgment actions other than expunctions.
(3) The clerk may charge a fee of up to one hundred dollars ($100) for expunctions.
(4) The clerk shall charge a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for criminal contempt actions, including criminal contempt proceedings in civil courts, for failure to appear, requests for bonding company release from final forfeiture, requests to reinstate a driver license, and requests for relief.
(5) Reimbursement from the state shall be limited to the fees as currently allowed by law.
(e)Fees for Proceedings in Juvenile Court.

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, court clerks in juvenile proceedings shall charge a standard court cost of one hundred dollars ($100). This fee shall apply to all juvenile proceedings not otherwise designated, including, but not limited to, requests to establish support or nonsupport, proceedings related to parentage, paternity cases, and legitimations.
(2) For requests for modification of child support, the clerk shall charge a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00).
(3) In the following actions, the clerk of the juvenile court shall charge a fee of forty-two dollars ($42.00): juvenile traffic cases, consent orders, diversion and nonjudicial disposition of juvenile cases, voluntary motions to grant custody, marriage waivers, attachment pro corpus, and bench warrants.
(4) In the following actions, the clerk of the juvenile court shall charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00): restricted licenses, drug screenings, entering order of appeal and taking appeal bond, entering judgment from appellate court, entering order allowing rehearing, and special pleas.
(5) In the following actions, the clerk of the juvenile court shall charge a fee of sixty-two dollars ($62.00): delinquency and unruly cases, and felony and misdemeanor cases in juvenile court.
(f)Actions in General Sessions Court.

(1) General sessions civil filing fee, forty-two dollars ($42.00). Unless otherwise provided elsewhere in this section, court clerks in civil cases in general sessions court shall charge a standard filing fee of forty-two dollars ($42.00). This fee is intended to cover all initial court clerk’s costs for initiating a civil proceeding in general sessions court, including, but not limited to, hearings regarding short term mental health commitments, appeals of decisions denying the issuance of handgun permits, and requests not otherwise provided for. This fee shall not apply to orders of protection, which shall have the same fee, when costs are adjudged, as in courts of record, of one hundred dollars ($100).
(2) When a general sessions court is exercising concurrent civil jurisdiction with a court of record, the clerk shall charge the litigation taxes and court costs applicable in courts of record.
(g) Criminal Actions in General Sessions Court.

(1) General session criminal base fee, sixty-two dollars ($62.00). This fee shall be charged per conviction per defendant. For cases involving traffic citations, instead of sixty-two dollars ($62.00), the base court cost shall be forty-two dollars ($42.00).
(2) Failure to appear, forty dollars ($40.00). In cases where the defendant fails to appear or pay fines or costs and the court issues an attachment, bench warrant, capias or other process to compel the defendant’s attendance at the court, the defendant shall be charged an additional fee for clerk’s costs of forty dollars ($40.00).
(3) Calling in surety, forty dollars ($40.00). The clerk shall charge the defendant this fee each time a scire facias or other proceeding is instituted to bring in a surety, or make action against a bond in criminal cases for failure to appear.
(4) The clerk shall charge a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for requests for bonding company release from final forfeiture, or requests to reinstate a driver license.
(5) The clerk may charge a fee of up to one hundred dollars ($100) for expunctions.
(h)Clerk’s Commissions.

(1) Except as provided in subdivisions (h)(2) and (3), for receiving and paying over all taxes, fines, forfeitures, fees and amercements, the clerk of the court is entitled to a five percent (5%) commission.
(2) In counties having a population of more than seven hundred thousand (700,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the commission for receiving and paying over all taxes, fines, forfeitures, fees and amercements, shall be ten percent (10%), except as provided in subdivision (h)(3).
(3) For receiving and paying over all privilege taxes on litigation, the clerk of the court is entitled to a six and seventy-five hundredths percent (6.75%) commission. The total amount of commissions receivable by the clerk of the court during any fiscal year shall not be less than the amount received by such clerk during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005; provided, that if the statewide amount of litigation tax collected during such fiscal year is less than the amount collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, then the total amount of commissions receivable by the clerk of the court for that fiscal year shall be reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage reduction in statewide litigation tax collections for that fiscal year.
(i)Other Fees of Court Clerks. The following fees apply uniformly in all courts, general sessions, juvenile, probate, circuit or chancery, and may be charged in addition to the fees for cases listed in this section:

(1)Standard Post-judgment Fee. Unless otherwise provided, court clerks in criminal and civil cases in all courts shall charge a standard post-judgment fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). This fee shall be charged per occurrence and shall be charged regardless of whether judgment is enforced by garnishment, execution, levy or other process. This fee shall also apply to post-judgment interrogatories, publications, motions to set installment payments, and orders and pleas.
(2) For issuing a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, the fee shall be six dollars ($6.00).
(3)

(A) In all cases in all courts, the clerk shall charge a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for each requested continuance.
(B) In addition to the fee provided for in subdivision (i)(3)(A), the clerk shall also collect a courtroom security enhancement fee of two dollars ($2.00). The revenues from the two-dollar courtroom security enhancement fee shall be deposited into the county general fund. All revenue from this fee shall be used exclusively for the purposes of providing security and enhancing the security of court facilities in the county. For each fiscal year, the court security committee, created by § 16-2-505(d)(2), shall develop and submit recommendations to the county legislative body regarding how such funds shall be utilized.
(C) The fees for continuances shall be collected at the conclusion of the case. If multiple litigants request a continuance, the judge may assess these fees to one (1) or more parties.
(4) For making copies as requested, other than for an original filing and other than when preparing a record upon appeal, the fee shall be fifty cents (50¢) per page.
(5) For making certification and seal, providing a copy of an abstract, or providing driver license certification, the fee shall be five dollars ($5.00).
(6) For receiving funds paid into court on confirmation of private sales or other funds paid into the clerk pursuant to court order, and collecting and paying out the proceeds, the fee shall be forty dollars ($40.00). This fee also applies where there is a pre-judgment judicial attachment or similar process to bring property into the court’s possession prior to judgment. This fee shall not apply to payments of proceeds made pursuant to court order to any person from funds held by the clerk, except for court orders concerning a redemption of delinquent taxes property sale; in such case, the fee shall only be charged one (1) time against the total amount of proceeds generated from the property.
(7) For selling real or personal property under decree of court, and receiving, collecting, and paying out the proceeds, a commission not to exceed three percent (3%) on the amount of sales. The clerk shall collect the sheriff’s fee, plus the sheriff’s fee for each additional defendant, in a proceeding to sell real estate.
(8) The clerks of the various courts have the authority to invest idle funds held under their control, not otherwise invested. Such investments shall be in banks or savings and loan associations operating under the laws of the state or under the laws of the United States; provided, that such deposits are insured under the federal deposit insurance corporation. Such investments shall not exceed the amounts that are federally insured, unless otherwise fully collateralized under a written collateral agreement, or unless the funds are deposited with an institution that is a member of the state collateral pool. The interest on such investments shall become part of the fees of the court clerk and the clerk shall be required to account for interest received, the same as with other fees received. Any funds authorized to be invested may be invested by the clerk in the local government investment pool administered by the state treasurer.
(9) Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve the clerks of courts from the responsibility of investing funds held under their control, pursuant to court order or under the rules of court. The interest on those investments shall accrue to the benefit of those directed by the court or by agreement of the parties to the litigation.
(10) For investing funds, the clerk shall receive a fee of five percent (5%) of the earnings of such investment.
(11) For preparing a record on appeal from a court of record to an appellate court, the fee shall be three hundred dollars ($300).
(12) Whenever the clerk is required by law or by a judge to send documents by certified or registered mail, the clerk is entitled to recover the clerk’s actual costs for mailing the documents.
(j) Earmarked Funds for Computerization.

(1) Out of all the general filing fees charged by court clerks, two dollars ($2.00) of the amount collected shall be earmarked for computer hardware purchases or replacement, but may be used for other usual and necessary computer related expenses at the discretion of the clerk. Such amount shall be preserved for these purposes and shall not revert to the general fund at the end of a budget year if unexpended.
(2) Effective July 1, 2012, all the general filing fees charged by court clerks shall be increased by two dollars ($2.00). The amount collected pursuant to this two-dollar increase shall be earmarked, along with the two dollars ($2.00) in subdivision (j)(1), for the purposes set forth in subdivision (j)(1), and shall be preserved for those purposes and shall not revert to the general fund at the end of a budget year if unexpended. Pursuant to subsection (l), the fees increased by this subdivision (j)(2) shall not be assessed against the state or otherwise represent a cost to the state in criminal cases, child support actions, mental health proceedings, actions under the Tennessee Adult Protection Act, compiled in title 71, chapter 6, part 1, actions with regard to child care licensing, and collection efforts brought by the department of human services.
(k)Costs in Extraordinary Cases. In any extraordinary cases, the clerk may petition the judge to award reasonable costs, in excess of the amounts provided in this section, to reimburse the clerk for the additional services demanded by the case. In such cases, the clerk may also petition the judge to require an appropriate cost bond. For the purposes of this subsection (k), an extraordinary case is defined as one in which there are ten (10) or more plaintiffs or ten (10) or more defendants.
(l)Charges to the State Unchanged. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, any fees increased by this section that are assessed against the state or that otherwise represent a cost to the state in criminal cases, child support actions, mental health proceedings, actions under the Tennessee Adult Protection Act. compiled in title 71, chapter 6, part 1, actions with regard to child care licensing, and collection efforts brought by the department of human services, shall be limited to the amounts chargeable prior to January 1, 2006.
(m)Indigent Parties. No clerk shall be permitted to collect any fee authorized by this section without permitting any person the opportunity to institute a cause of action by means of a pauper’s oath, in accordance with Rule 29 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
(n) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.]
(o)Fees for Electronic Filing and Retrieval of Court Documents.

(1) In any court where electronic filing, signing, or verification of papers has been authorized by local court rule and is in compliance with technological standards established by the supreme court, clerks may assess a transaction fee for each filing submitted by a party to the case. The transaction fee shall be limited to a maximum of five dollars ($5.00) per filing up to a maximum of fifty dollars ($50.00) per case. As an alternative to a transaction fee, clerks may assess an annual subscription fee for each registered user of the electronic filing system. The subscription fee shall permit the registered user unlimited electronic filing for a one-year period. The one-year period shall be defined by the clerk and shall be consistently maintained for all registered users of the electronic filing system. The annual subscription fee shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300) for each annual period. Each of these fees shall be set in an amount necessary to defray the expenses associated with implementation and maintenance of the electronic filing and document retrieval system and shall be included in the local court rule authorizing it. Pursuant to subsection (l), these fees shall not be assessed against the state.
(2) Pursuant to subsection (m), neither the transaction fee nor the subscription fee shall be assessed to a party declared indigent or to that indigent party’s legal representative.
(3) In any court where electronic filing, signing, or verification of papers has been authorized by local court rule, the state and any department or contractor of the state shall not be required to file documents electronically, notwithstanding any local court rule.
(4) Neither the electronic filing transaction fee or subscription fee shall limit a clerk’s statutory authority to charge subscription fees or transaction fees for obtaining copies of documents maintained by the clerk as part of an electronic filing system of a separate document management system.
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