Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-12-101 (2026)
Recovery by successful party
✓ current as of May 2026
The successful party in all civil actions is entitled to full costs, unless otherwise directed by law or by a court of record, for which judgment shall be rendered.
Code 1858, § 3197 (deriv. Acts 1794, ch. 1, § 74); Shan., §4938; mod. Code 1932, § 9091; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 20-1601.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2021 · leading case: Marshall v. Sevier Cnty., 639 S.W.2d 440 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1982).
Marshall v. Sevier Cnty., 639 S.W.2d 440 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1982). “, § 20-12-101 furnishes guidance to the construction of “full cost” in T.”
Joyce R. Lawrence & Caroline Wilson v. Chancery Court of Tennessee Robert E. Corlew, Iii, Chancellor Carol McCoy Chancellor John A.W. Bratcher, Clerk & Master Claudia A. Bonnyman, Clerk & Master Chancery Court of the Sixteenth Jud. Dist. & Chancery Court of the Twentieth Jud. Dist., 188 F.3d 687 (6th Cir. 1999). “38 Like the plaintiffs in Logan and Goetz, Lawrence and Wilson claim that Tennessee's practice of assessing costs under a statute that contains no explicit classifications (T.C.A. 20-12-101) penalizes a definable group of litigants due to circumstances beyond their control.”
Potts v. Mayforth, 59 S.W.3d 167 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “See Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-12-101. We affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court and remand, with the cost of this appeal assessed jointly against the defendants Gordon R.”
Adam Paul Jasinskis v. Don R. Cameron, III (2020). “§ 20-12-110 and is, therefore, entitled to an award of costs, including its attorney’s fees, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-12-101 . II. ANALYSIS A.”
Maurice Pinson v. David Kent DeBoer M.D. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “04 and Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-12-101 and 20-12-110, for an award of discretionary costs in the total amount of $17,356.”
Marvin Bernatsky & Patricia Bernatsky v. Designer Baths & Kitchens, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-12-101 (“The successful party in all civil actions is entitled to full costs, unless otherwise directed by law or by a court of record”).”
Frank Barrett & Jodi Lynn Cheatham v. Town of Nolensville (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). “See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 20-12-101 , 119. Costs are statutory.”
Ronald A. Barker, a/k/a George N. Bailey v. Tennessee Dep't of Corr. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). “The assessment and recovery of costs in civil actions is governed by Chapter 12 of Title 20 of the Tennessee Code, Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-12-101 et seq., and administered in accordance with Tenn.”
Jack W. Gibbons v. Kyle Bennett (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Plaintiffs characterize themselves as the prevailing parties in this matter, noting - 23 - that a “successful party in all civil actions is entitled to full costs” pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-12-101 (2009). As our Supreme Court has explained: “A court abuses its…”
In Re: Bobby D. Green (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). “-3- Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-12-101 states that a successful party in a civil lawsuit is entitled to recover his costs from the unsuccessful party, “unless otherwise directed by law or by a court of record, for which judgment shall be rendered.”
Pearl Lynell Potts, Indiv.& of the Est. of Gordon Ray Potts, Sr. v. Mary Potts Mayforth v. Alice Elizabeth Nelson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “See Tennessee Code Annotated §20-12-101. We affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court and remand, with the cost of this appeal assessed jointly against the defendants Gordon R.”
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