Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 (2026)

Statute of limitations

✓ current as of May 2026
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An action to establish the parentage of a child may be instituted before or after the birth of the child and until three (3) years beyond the child's age of majority. This chapter shall not affect the relationship of parent and child as established in § 31-2-105.

Acts 1997, ch. 477, § 1.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases, 1999–2014 · leading case: Lanier v. Rains, 229 S.W.3d 656 (Tenn. 2007).
Lanier v. Rains, 229 S.W.3d 656 (Tenn. 2007). · cites it 4× “3 Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-306 (2005) (emphasis added).”
Berryhill v. Rhodes, 21 S.W.3d 188 (Tenn. 2000). · cites it 4× “§ 36-2-103(b)(1) (repealed in 1997; corresponding section at Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-306). Furthermore, courts are required to apply the Child Support Guidelines as a rebuttable presumption in determining support, and the 1994 guidelines explicitly provide "that the rebuttable…”
State Ex Rel. Cihlar v. Crawford, 39 S.W.3d 172 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “In 1998, the General Assembly amended Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-304(b) to shorten the two-year limitations period to twelve months and to limit the circumstances to which it would apply.”
Tallent v. Cates, 45 S.W.3d 556 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “§ 36-2-103(b)(l)(repealed in 1997, corresponding section at Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-306). Furthermore, courts are required to apply the Child Support Guidelines as a rebuttable presumption in determining support, and the 1994 guidelines explicitly provide “that the rebuttable…”
Jordan Ashton Danelz v. John Gayden, M.D. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 5× “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 . Once parentage is established by genetic testing, the statutes set forth certain actions to be taken by the trial court: (a) Upon establishing parentage, the court shall make an order declaring the father of the child.”
William Alan Watermeier v. Sherry Dunaway Moss & Thomas R. Moss III (Tenn. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 (1997). On appeal, the parties agree that Mother and Moss were married and living together at the time of conception.”
Anna May Diggs v. Reneese Carter (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “She reasserted the defenses of failure to state a claim and standing and also asserted the statute of limitations set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-2-306 and § 28-3-110. Ms. Carter contended that Appellants failed to establish paternity within three years of attaining…”
In Re: Annie Christina Harris (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 (Supp. 1998); 1997 Tenn.”
In Re Lindsay R. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 (2010). Lindsay R.”
Dana Allanmore Smith v. Angela Childress Smith (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “§ 36-2-103 (b)(1) (repealed in 1997; corresponding section at Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 ). Furthermore, courts are required to apply the Child Support Guidelines as a rebuttable presumption in determining support, and the 1994 guidelines explicitly provide "that the rebuttable…”
State, ex rel, Purlie Page v. Ricardo Trabal (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Tenn. Code Ann. §36-2-306 . We find the Trial Court erred in holding that the mother’s action was barred by laches.”
State, ex rel Kandy Bissonette v. Joseph Marland, III, In Re: KRB (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306 . (This statute was in effect at the time this paternity action was filed in 1997.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-306(a) — 2 cases
Lanier v. Rains, 229 S.W.3d 656 (Tenn. 2007). “3 Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-306 (2005) (emphasis added).”
State Ex Rel. Cihlar v. Crawford, 39 S.W.3d 172 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “In 1998, the General Assembly amended Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-304(b) to shorten the two-year limitations period to twelve months and to limit the circumstances to which it would apply.”
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