Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104 (2026)
Effect and treatment of authenticated foreign judgment - Foreign defamation judgment
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) A copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with the acts of congress or the statutes of this state may be filed in the office of the clerk of any circuit or chancery court of this state.
- (b) The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of a court of record of this state.
- (c) A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of a court of record of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.
- (d) For the purpose of rendering declaratory relief with respect to a person's liability for a foreign defamation judgment and determining whether the foreign defamation judgment should be deemed nonrecognizable under § 26-6-108, this state's courts have personal jurisdiction over any person who obtains a foreign defamation judgment against any person who:
- (1) Is a resident of this state;
- (2) Is a person or entity amenable to the jurisdiction of this state;
- (3) Has assets in this state; or
- (4) May have to take action in this state to comply with the foreign defamation judgment.
Acts 1976, ch. 530, § 2; T.C.A., § 26-802; Acts 2010, ch. 900, § 2.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 54
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: Hart v. Tourte, 10 S.W.3d 263 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999).
Hart v. Tourte, 10 S.W.3d 263 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “, 2 citing Hart’s failure to attach a properly authenticated copy of the California judgment 3 to his petition, as required by T.C.A. § 26-6-104. 4 On December 16, 1996, Hart sought further relief in the California court by filing an “Application for and Renewal of Judgment,”…”
Biogen Distributors, Inc. v. Tanner, 842 S.W.2d 253 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(a), however, requires only that an authenticated copy of the foreign judgment itself be filed.”
Remington Investments, Inc. v. Ronald S. Obenauf & Ardeth Obenauf, 1 S.W.3d 666 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “However, Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104 (c) states that they are subject to the same defenses and may be vacated or reopened on the same grounds and procedures used to vacate or reopen Tennessee judgments.”
First State Bank of Holly Springs v. Wyssbrod, 124 S.W.3d 566 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003). “T.C.A. § 26-6-104(c). Therefore, the grounds and procedure for vacating or reopening foreign judgments are those contained in Rule 60.”
Frazier v. Frazier, 72 S.W.3d 333 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(e). The final judgments of sister states are presumed conclusive and valid.”
Gary Guseinov v. Synergy Ventures, Inc, 467 S.W.3d 920 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(c). Tennessee courts also recognize that the UEFJA creates a “registration process that leads to enforcement, thereby tightly binding registration and enforcement[.”
Est. of Mark Bentley v. Wood Byrd, 556 S.W.3d 211 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “§ 26-6-104 (c) (“A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of a court of record of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.”
Coastcom, Inc. v. Cruzen, 981 S.W.2d 179 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “T.C.A. § 26-6-104(c). Therefore, the grounds and procedures for vacating or reopening foreign judgments are those contained in Rule 60.”
Benham v. Fisher, 650 S.W.2d 759 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983). “” T.C.A., § 26-6-104(c) provides: A [foreign] judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of a court of record of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like…”
James Eric Crain v. CRST Van Expedited, Inc., 360 S.W.3d 374 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). “T.C.A. § 26-6-104(c). Therefore, the grounds and procedures for vacating or reopening foreign judgments are those contained in Rule 60.”
Winston v. Millaud, 930 So. 2d 144 (La. Ct. App. 2006). “" Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(c). Under Tennessee law, the grounds and procedures for vacating, reopening, or setting aside a judgment are those set out in Tenn.”
Bailey v. Sneed, 49 S.W.3d 327 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “§ 26-6-104(b). Execution is stayed for thirty days, TenmCode Ann.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104(a): 5 cases
Biogen Distributors, Inc. v. Tanner, 842 S.W.2d 253 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(a), however, requires only that an authenticated copy of the foreign judgment itself be filed.”
Hart v. Tourte, 10 S.W.3d 263 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “, 2 citing Hart’s failure to attach a properly authenticated copy of the California judgment 3 to his petition, as required by T.C.A. § 26-6-104. 4 On December 16, 1996, Hart sought further relief in the California court by filing an “Application for and Renewal of Judgment,”…”
Ice Stores, Inc. v. Gregory Reier Holmes (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008).
Wells Fargo Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Mark A. Searcy (Tenn. Ct. App. 2024).
Witt v. Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104(b): 2 cases
Bailey v. Sneed, 49 S.W.3d 327 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “§ 26-6-104(b). Execution is stayed for thirty days, TenmCode Ann.”
Wells Fargo Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Mark A. Searcy (Tenn. Ct. App. 2024).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104(c): 14 cases
Biogen Distributors, Inc. v. Tanner, 842 S.W.2d 253 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(a), however, requires only that an authenticated copy of the foreign judgment itself be filed.”
First State Bank of Holly Springs v. Wyssbrod, 124 S.W.3d 566 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003). “T.C.A. § 26-6-104(c). Therefore, the grounds and procedure for vacating or reopening foreign judgments are those contained in Rule 60.”
Gary Guseinov v. Synergy Ventures, Inc, 467 S.W.3d 920 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(c). Tennessee courts also recognize that the UEFJA creates a “registration process that leads to enforcement, thereby tightly binding registration and enforcement[.”
Remington Investments, Inc. v. Ronald S. Obenauf & Ardeth Obenauf, 1 S.W.3d 666 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “However, Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104 (c) states that they are subject to the same defenses and may be vacated or reopened on the same grounds and procedures used to vacate or reopen Tennessee judgments.”
Coastcom, Inc. v. Cruzen, 981 S.W.2d 179 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “T.C.A. § 26-6-104(c). Therefore, the grounds and procedures for vacating or reopening foreign judgments are those contained in Rule 60.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-6-104(e): 2 cases
Frazier v. Frazier, 72 S.W.3d 333 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 26-6-104(e). The final judgments of sister states are presumed conclusive and valid.”
Hart v. Tourte, 10 S.W.3d 263 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “, 2 citing Hart’s failure to attach a properly authenticated copy of the California judgment 3 to his petition, as required by T.C.A. § 26-6-104. 4 On December 16, 1996, Hart sought further relief in the California court by filing an “Application for and Renewal of Judgment,”…”
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