Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-224 (2026)
Information in first pleading or affidavit - Stay - Continuing duty to inform court - Sealing records
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) Subject to § 36-4-106(b), in a child-custody proceeding, each party, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath, as to the child's present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the last five (5) years, and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or affidavit must state whether the party:
- (1) Has participated, as a party or witness or in any other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of the child-custody determination, if any;
- (2) Knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and
- (3) Knows the names and addresses of any person not a party to the proceeding who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or physical custody of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons.
- (b) If the information required by subdivisions (a)(1)-(3) is not furnished, the court, upon motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the information is furnished.
- (c) If the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions (a)(1)-(3) is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under oath as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the court's jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.
- (d) Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.
- (e) If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information must be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public unless the court orders the disclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child and determines that the disclosure is in the interest of justice. Nothing in this subsection (e) shall be construed to require sealing of any information or records maintained by the state or a local government except identifying information in a custody or visitation action brought under this part.
Acts 1999, ch. 389, § 25.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1992–2026 · leading case: Falco Adkins v. Falco Antapara, 850 S.W.2d 148 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992).
Falco Adkins v. Falco Antapara, 850 S.W.2d 148 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). “Falco asserts she was not given notice nor an opportunity to be heard prior to the February 20, 1992, "resolution" by the Panamanian Juvenile Court and, therefore, Tennessee should not recognize the child custody action by the Panamanian court.”
Button v. Waite, 208 S.W.3d 366 (Tenn. 2006). “(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 36-6-219, a court of this state, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 36-6-224. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has…”
In Re Kailyn B. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2022). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-224 . 11 Rule 9A reads: In addition to meeting all other applicable rules governing the filing of pleadings, any complaint or petition seeking a termination of parental rights shall contain the following notice: “Any appeal of the trial court's final…”
Barry Craig Taylor v. Sarah Ann McClintock (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-224 (2010). -5- A few days later, on August 26, 2013, the Tennessee Court held a hearing on Father’s motion for determination of jurisdiction.”
In Re: Natalie R.C. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). “Father also argues that the petition failed to comply with Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-224 in that the petition did not contain certain statistical information concerning the Child’s present addresses, places where the Child had lived during the past five years, and names and present…”
In Re Emma S. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “6 Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-224 requires that the petition include certain statistical information, as well as the existence and history of any other proceeding involving the child or which could otherwise affect the termination proceeding.”
Elliott J. Schuchardt v. Bd. of Prof'l Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee (Tenn. 2026). “, all filings in which the custody of a child is at issue shall set forth in the first filing the information required by the Act and in particular by Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-224 .”). Mr. Schuchardt did not include the required affidavit in his motion for spousal support and…”
Mark Cowan v. Kim Hatmaker, In Re: BC, D.O.B 4/15/93, Minor Child Under Eighteen (18) years of age (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “The Answer also averred that the Petition should be dismissed for plaintiff’s failure to comply with Tenn. Code Ann. §36-6-224 , and because the Plan itself provided that the parties would submit any disputes to a Rule 31 mediator.”
Adedamola Olagoki Oni v. Cassondra Tucker Oni (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 36-6-219, a court of this state, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 36-6-224. If the 5 Dr. Oni makes many statements in his appellate…”
Lyn S. Summers v. Christopher J. Ryan (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “iate court in this state: -5- (1) A letter or other document requesting registration; (2) Two (2) copies, including one (1) certified copy, of the determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the…”
Steven A. Davis, Jr. v. April Dawn (Blackmon) Davis (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 36-6-219, a court of this state, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 36-6-224. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has…”
In Re B.N.W. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 36-6-219, a court of this state, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 36-6-224. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has…”
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