Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-401 (2026)

Part definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Child" means a person entitled to support from such person's parents by virtue of such person's minority or who is entitled to support as provided in § 34-1-102(b);

(2) "Magistrate" means a duly licensed attorney who has been actively engaged in the practice of law for a period of not less than two (2) years appointed by court authority to set and enforce child support, to review the administrative hearing decisions of the department of human services pursuant to § 36-5-1003 and to administer expedited process as set out in this part;

(3) "Petitioner" means a person or governmental entity seeking to be awarded or to enforce support for a child, or seeking to modify a previous child support order;

(4) "Respondent" means a person from whom child support is sought or a person in opposition to modification of a prior order; and

(5) "Support" or "order of support" means child support and support for a spouse or ex-spouse if the obligor is responsible for the support of a child residing with the spouse or ex-spouse.

Acts 1985, ch. 477, § 13; 2000, ch. 922, § 10; Acts 2009, ch. 235, § 1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 2015–2020 · leading case: Lester G. Murphy, Sr. v. State of Tennessee Child Support Servs. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015).

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Lester G. Murphy, Sr. v. State of Tennessee Child Support Servs. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “” White, 2001 WL 134601 , at *2 (citing Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-5-401 , -701, - 2101, 37-1-104(d)).”

Sherilyn Mary Dawson v. Dana Lee Dawson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2020). “This Court explained that “Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-5-401 et seq., establishes the procedure to expedite support proceedings - 15 - by delegating their administration” to a magistrate, who “has the same authority and power as a Circuit Judge to conduct hearings and other…”

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