Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-14-113 (2026)

Liberal construction

✓ current as of May 2026
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This chapter is declared to be remedial; its purpose is to settle and to afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal relations; and is to be liberally construed and administered.

Acts 1923, ch. 29, § 12; Shan. Supp., § 4726a12; Code 1932, §8846; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-1113.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 49 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · 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 6× “With respect to the Declaratory Judgments Act, this Court has asserted: The primary purpose of the Declaratory Judgment[s] Act is “to settle and to afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal relations.”
Colonial Pipeline Co. v. Morgan, 263 S.W.3d 827 (Tenn. 2008). · cites it 2× “whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a statute ... may have determined any question of construction or validity arising under the .”
Dobbs v. Guenther, 846 S.W.2d 270 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “Dobbs have a real interest in this litigation and that their claims involve present rights that have accrued under presently existing facts. Tenn.Code Ann.”
UT Med. Grp., Inc. v. Vogt, 235 S.W.3d 110 (Tenn. 2007). · cites it 2× “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-14-113 (2000). And, although the Act is “to be liberally construed and administered,” id.”
State v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 18 S.W.3d 186 (Tenn. 2000). “§ 29-14-113. Athough the Act is “to be liberally construed and administered,” id.”
Mills v. Shelby Cnty. Election Comm'n, 218 S.W.3d 33 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “which reads, in relevant part, as follows: 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…”
Dave Brundage v. Cumberland Cnty., 357 S.W.3d 361 (Tenn. 2011). “§ 29-14-113 (2000). In accordance with TenmCode Ann.”
MC Props., Inc. v. City of Chattanooga, 994 S.W.2d 132 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “” T.C.A. § 29-14-113. Any evidence that is relevant to the court’s responsibility of determining whether the zoning decision is “fairly debatable” or whether there is “any possible reason” for *135 the zoning regulation should be admitted.”
Madison Loan & Thrift Co. v. Neff, 648 S.W.2d 655 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1982). · cites it 2× “T.C.A. § 29-14-113 provides: “Liberal construction — This chapter is declared to be remedial; its purpose is to settle and to afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal relations; and is to be liberally construed and…”
Kevin Sanders & Patricia Sanders v. Lincoln Cnty. & Steve Graham, Chmn of Lincoln Cnty. Comm'n (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 6× “” T.C.A. § 29-14-113 (1980).7 In Fallin v. Knox County Board of Commissioners, 656 S.”
Rebecca M. Little v. The City Of Chattanooga, Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “” See Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-14-113 (“This chapter is declared to be remedial; its purpose is to settle and to afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal relations; and is to be liberally construed and administered.”
Tennessee Farmers Mut. Ins. Co. v. Brandon Debruce (Tenn. 2019). · cites it 2× “19, 2007) (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-14-113 ). To achieve the goal of finality and certainty in a declaratory judgment action, all necessary parties must be joined.”
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