The cost of an eviction in Tennessee for all filing, court, and service fees can vary on service fees. For cases filed in Circuit Court (for claims less than $25,000), the average cost is $351. Cases can also be filed in General Sessions Court (for claims up to $25,000), the average cost of an eviction is $187.
| Fee | Circuit | General Sessions |
| Initial Court Filing | $225 | $42 |
| Summons Service | ~$40 | ~$40 |
| Writ of Possession Issuance | $6 | $25 |
| Writ of Possession Service | $40 | $40 |
| Writ of Restitution Execution | $40 | $40 |
These filing, court, and service fees do not include outside costs such as legal fees or post-eviction fees (i.e., locksmith fees, storage costs for a tenant’s abandoned property, cleaning service fees, repair costs, or advertising costs for a vacant dwelling unit).
1. Initial Court Filing Fee
In Tennessee, if the eviction notice expires and the tenant remains on the property without correcting the issue, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (“Forcible Entry and Detainer”) with the court the following business day.
The filing fee for an initial Forcible Entry and Detainer is $225 [ttip number=’1′ icon=’popover-balance’] in Circuit Court. For claims filed in General Sessions Court, the filing fee is $42. [ttip number=’2′ icon=’popover-balance’]
2. Summons Service Fee
Once a Detainer Warrant is filed in Tennessee, the court will issue a Summons. The Summons is the tenant’s official notice of an eviction lawsuit and contains important information (i.e., when and where to appear in court). The landlord must arrange for a process server to deliver the Summons to the tenant.
The Summons service fee varies by process server. For example, a sheriff or constable may charge $40 [ttip number=’3′ icon=’popover-balance’] for delivering a Summons; however, a registered private process server may charge more.
3. Writ of Possession Issuance Fee
In Tennessee if the court rules in favor of the landlord, the court shall issue a Writ of Possession. The writ is the tenant’s final notice to vacate the premises.
The filing fee for a writ issuance is $6 [ttip number=’4′ icon=’popover-balance’] in Circuit Court. In the General Sessions Court, the issuance fee varies by county, for example, the filing fee in Nashville is $25.
4. Writ of Possession Service Fee
A Tennessee sheriff or constable must serve the Writ of Possession to the tenant. The service fees for both Circuit Court and General Sessions Court the sheriff or constable can charge $40.[ttip number=’5′ icon=’popover-balance’]
5. Writ of Possession Execution Fee
In Tennessee, if a tenant remains at the premises after the writ expires, a sheriff or constable may execute the writ by removing the tenant from the premises.
They can charge a fee of $40 [ttip number=’6′ icon=’popover-balance’] for executing the writ. Once the writ is executed, possession of the property is legally returned to the landlord.
Sources
- 1 TN Code § 8-21-401 (2021)
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Fees in Civil Cases in Circuit and Chancery Court.
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- Unless otherwise provided, court clerks in civil cases in courts of record shall charge a standard court cost of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) at the institution of a case.
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- 2 TN Code § 8-21-401 (2021)
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Actions in General Sessions Court.
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- General sessions civil filing fee, forty-two dollars ($42.00). Unless otherwise provided elsewhere in this section, court clerks in civil cases in general sessions court shall charge a standard filing fee of forty-two dollars ($42.00). This fee is intended to cover all initial court clerk’s costs for initiating a civil proceeding in general sessions court…
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- When a general sessions court is exercising concurrent civil jurisdiction with a court of record, the clerk shall charge the litigation taxes and court costs applicable in courts of record.
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- 3 TN Code § 8-21-901 (2021)
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TN Code § 8-21-901 (2021)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the sheriff or constable is entitled to demand and receive the respective fees for the following services where services are actually rendered:Service of Process.
For serving any process except as otherwise provided in this section or other applicable law, whether issued by a clerk for a general sessions, criminal, circuit, chancery or any other court, the sheriff or constable shall be entitled to the following fees, based on the manner in which process is served, for each item of process that must be served separately per person served:
For service in person $40.00 - 4 TN Code § 8-21-401 (2021)
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- For issuing summons, subpoenas, citations, writs and notices, including copies of process when required by law, other than initial process, six dollars ($6.00);
- 5 TN Code § 8-21-901 (2021)
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For serving any process except as otherwise provided in this section or other applicable law, whether issued by a clerk for a general sessions, criminal, circuit, chancery or any other court, the sheriff or constable shall be entitled to the following fees, based on the manner in which process is served, for each item of process that must be served separately per person served:
- For service in person $40.00
- 6 TN Code § 8-21-901 (2021)
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- … for executing a writ of possession $40.00
- 7 TN Code § 8-21-401 (2021)
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In the following specific types of civil actions, the clerk shall charge a standard court cost of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) at the institution of a case:
- Appeals to the circuit or chancery court from juvenile court, general sessions court, probate courts, municipal courts or an administrative hearing; writs of certiorari from lower courts; or administrative hearings;
