Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-14-103 (2026)

Construction of statutes and written instruments

✓ current as of May 2026
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Any person interested under a deed, will, written contract, or other writings constituting a contract, or whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a statute, municipal ordinance, contract, or franchise, may have determined any question of construction or validity arising under the instrument, statute, ordinance, contract, or franchise and obtain a declaration of rights, status or other legal relations thereunder.

Acts 1923, ch. 29, § 2; Shan. Supp., § 4726a2; Code 1932, §8836; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1103.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 107 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Stephen Michael West v. Derrick D. Schofield, 460 S.W.3d 113 (Tenn. 2015).
Stephen Michael West v. Derrick D. Schofield, 460 S.W.3d 113 (Tenn. 2015). · cites it 12× “” The Complaint asserts that the chancery court “has jurisdiction pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 29-14-103 , 29-14-113.”
Colonial Pipeline Co. v. Morgan, 263 S.W.3d 827 (Tenn. 2008). · cites it 4× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-103 (2000). Of particular relevance to this case, the Act provides that “[a]ny person .”
May v. Carlton, 245 S.W.3d 340 (Tenn. 2008). · cites it 4× “May has other, more established remedies available to him. Specifically, should Mr.”
Tennessee Div. of United Daughters of Confederacy v. Vanderbilt Univ., 174 S.W.3d 98 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 8× “'s cause of action for breach of contract as sufficient to put at issue Vanderbilt's alleged breach of the conditions contained in the 1913, 1927, and 1933 agreements.”
Highwoods Props., Inc. v. City of Memphis, 297 S.W.3d 695 (Tenn. 2009). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-14-103 (2000). “[W ]hether to entertain a declaratory judgment action is, in certain situations, largely discretionary with the trial judge.”
State Ex Rel. Moore & Assocs., Inc. v. West, 246 S.W.3d 569 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “Declaratory Judgment Moore & Associates also argues that it was entitled to proceed directly to court under the Declaratory Judgment Act, Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-103, which provides that any person whose rights, status or other legal relations are affected by a statute or…”
Bernard v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 237 S.W.3d 658 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 8× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-103. The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and the case is remanded to the trial court for adjudication of the declara *666 tory judgment action.”
Campbell v. Sundquist, 926 S.W.2d 250 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 4× “T.C.A. § 29-14-103 provides: Construction of statutes and written instruments.”
Dobbs v. Guenther, 846 S.W.2d 270 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “The complaint demonstrates that Mr. and Mrs.”
Cannon Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. Wade, 178 S.W.3d 725 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 3× “2d 861, 863 (1968); Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-103 (2000). The fact that the party seeking declaratory relief is not entitled to the judgment sought (that it is on the losing side of the controversy) does not mean that the parties are not entitled to the relief from uncertainty that…”
Clinton Books, Inc. v. City of Memphis, 197 S.W.3d 749 (Tenn. 2006). · cites it 4× “The plaintiffs contend that the trial court has equitable jurisdiction over their businesses and their business property based upon Tennessee Code Annotated section 29-14-103 (2000) of the Declaratory Judgment Act.”
N. Telecom, Inc. v. Taylor, 781 S.W.2d 837 (Tenn. 1989). · cites it 4× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-103(1980). The key to the jurisdictional question in this case is found in the words of the act itself.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-14-103(1980) — 2 cases
N. Telecom, Inc. v. Taylor, 781 S.W.2d 837 (Tenn. 1989). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-103(1980). The key to the jurisdictional question in this case is found in the words of the act itself.”
State of Tennessee ex rel Paul Allen v. The City of Newport, 422 S.W.3d 567 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013).
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