Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (2026)
Jurisdiction - Venue
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) The juvenile court or any trial court with general jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction of an action brought under this chapter; provided, that, in any county having a population not less than eight hundred twenty-five thousand (825,000) nor more than eight hundred thirty thousand (830,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, only the juvenile court shall have jurisdiction of an action brought under this chapter.
- (2) The court shall have statewide jurisdiction over the parties involved in the case.
- (b) Any minimum contact relevant to a child's being born out of wedlock that meets constitutional standards shall be sufficient to establish the jurisdiction of the courts of Tennessee over the parents for an action under this chapter. Any conduct in Tennessee that results in conception of a child born out of wedlock shall be deemed sufficient contact to submit the parents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Tennessee for action under this chapter.
- (c)
- (1) The complaint may be filed in the county where the father resides or is found, the county where the mother resides or is found, or the county in which the child resides or is present when the application is made. However, a man who seeks to establish parentage of a child who is the subject of a pending petition for adoption pursuant to chapter 1, part 1 of this title, must file this petition in the court where the adoption petition is filed.
- (2) Any complaint to establish parentage that may be filed or that is pending in any court subsequent to the filing of an adoption petition involving the same child shall be transferred for any further proceedings to the court where the adoption proceedings are pending on motion of any party to the paternity complaint or the adoption petition, on the court's own motion, or upon the request of the court in which an adoption petition is pending.
- (3) The adoption court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine the issues relating to the parentage of the child.
- (4) Any order of parentage entered by any court other than the adoption court subsequent to the date of the adoption petition is filed shall be void, unless the adoption petition is denied or dismissed.
Acts 1997, ch. 477, § 1; 1998, ch. 1098, § 9.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1998–2024 · leading case: In Re Baby, 447 S.W.3d 807 (Tenn. 2014).
In Re Baby, 447 S.W.3d 807 (Tenn. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1), (c)(1)–(4); see also Price v.”
In Re Adoption of M.J.S., 44 S.W.3d 41 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 36-2-307(c), 36-2-318(j) (Supp.”
Pek v. Jm, 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “all cases to establish paternity of children born out of lawful wedlock," prevents the chancery court from assuming jurisdiction over the paternity proceedings involving this child.”
P.E.K. v. J.M., 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “all cases to establish paternity of children born out of lawful wedlock,” prevents the chancery court from assuming jurisdiction over the paternity proceedings involving this child.”
State, ex rel., Tynesha April Dior Moody v. Damond Julian Roker (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “”); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (giving juvenile courts subject matter jurisdiction over paternity actions).”
Marie Soledad Torrico (Morales) v. David Randal Smithson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “The Juvenile Court concluded that it had jurisdiction over the proceedings pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 . In November of 2002, Father was ordered to begin making temporary child support payments.”
In Re Baby (Tenn. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1), (c)(1)–(4); see also Price v.”
In Re: Lucius H. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 . There is no dispute that Appellant, Ms.”
In Re. Mikayla Grace Clark, Samuel Kent Clark v. Leah Joy Cerden (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “” T.C.A. § 36-2-307 (2005); see Isaacson v.”
Dillon Brooks v. Heather Avery Andrews (2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1). See also Tenn.”
In Re: Francis P, 532 S.W.3d 356 (2017). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (2014). Ultimately, the court designated Mother as the primary custodian of the Child, allowing Tony P.”
Thomas W. Gilland v. Janet Faye Gilland (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 . As a result, one court, not two, can and should hear matters such as this in the future so that much of the cost, confusion and inconsistent rulings presented here can be avoided.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(a)(1) — 4 cases
In Re Baby, 447 S.W.3d 807 (Tenn. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1), (c)(1)–(4); see also Price v.”
Pek v. Jm, 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “all cases to establish paternity of children born out of lawful wedlock," prevents the chancery court from assuming jurisdiction over the paternity proceedings involving this child.”
P.E.K. v. J.M., 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “all cases to establish paternity of children born out of lawful wedlock,” prevents the chancery court from assuming jurisdiction over the paternity proceedings involving this child.”
In Re Baby (Tenn. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1), (c)(1)–(4); see also Price v.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(a)(1)(A) — 1 case
Est. of Key v. Hamilton Co. Nursing (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(a)(l) — 2 cases
In Re Baby, 447 S.W.3d 807 (Tenn. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1), (c)(1)–(4); see also Price v.”
P.E.K. v. J.M., 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “all cases to establish paternity of children born out of lawful wedlock,” prevents the chancery court from assuming jurisdiction over the paternity proceedings involving this child.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(b) — 1 case
Isaacson v. Fenton (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(c) — 1 case
In Re Adoption of M.J.S., 44 S.W.3d 41 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 36-2-307(c), 36-2-318(j) (Supp.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(c)(2) — 1 case
In Re Baby, 447 S.W.3d 807 (Tenn. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307 (a)(1), (c)(1)–(4); see also Price v.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-307(c)(3) — 1 case
In Re Adoption of M.J.S., 44 S.W.3d 41 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 36-2-307(c), 36-2-318(j) (Supp.”
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