Methods of Enforcement

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Property
  4. Mechanics' and Materialmen's Liens
  5. General Provisions
  6. Methods of Enforcement

Checkout our iOS App for a better way to browser and research.

Liens under this chapter, except as provided in subdivision (5)(A), shall be enforced only by the filing of a complaint, petition, or civil warrant seeking the issuance of an attachment in the manner as follows:

  1. For a prime contractor, the lien shall be enforced in a court of law or equity by complaint and writ of attachment or in a court of general sessions having jurisdiction by a warrant for the sum claimed and writ of attachment, filed under oath, setting forth the facts, describing the real property, with process to be served on the person or persons whose interests the prime contractor seeks to attach and sell;
  2. For a remote contractor, the lien shall be enforced in a court of law or equity by complaint and writ of attachment or in a court of general sessions having jurisdiction by a warrant for the sum claimed and writ of attachment, filed under oath, setting forth the facts and describing the real property with process to be served on the person or persons whose interests the remote contractor seeks to attach and sell. In the discretion of the plaintiff or complainant, the complaint or warrant may also be served on the prime contractor or remote contractor in any degree, with whom the plaintiff or complainant is in contractual privity. In either event, the person or persons whose interest the remote contractor seeks to attach and sell shall have the right to make the prime contractor or remote contractor a defendant by third-party complaint or cross-claim as is otherwise provided by law;
  3. A complaint, petition, or civil warrant under this chapter is timely filed if a suit seeking the issuance of an attachment is filed within the applicable period of time, even if the attachment is not issued or served within the applicable period. The clerk of the court in which the suit is brought shall issue the attachment writ without obtaining fiat of a judge or chancellor;
  4. The clerk of the court to whom application for attachment is made shall, before issuing the attachment, require the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's agent or attorney to execute a bond with sufficient surety, payable to the defendant or defendants in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or the amount of the lien claimed, whichever is less; provided, that a party may petition the court for an increase in the amount for good cause shown, and conditioned that the plaintiff will prosecute the attachment with effect or, in case of failure, pay the defendant or defendants all costs that may be adjudged against the defendant or defendants and all such damages as the defendant or defendants may sustain by the wrongful suing out of the attachment; and
    1. Where a bond has been provided pursuant to § 66-11-124, § 66-11-136, or § 66-11-142, an attachment on the real property shall not be necessary after the bond has been recorded, and the claim shall be enforced by a complaint, petition, or civil warrant on the bond before the circuit or chancery court, or before a court of general sessions where the amount is within its jurisdiction, filed under oath, setting forth the facts and describing the real property with process to be served on the obligors on the bond. In the discretion of the plaintiff or complainant, the complaint or warrant may also be served on the owner or owner's agent, prime contractor or remote contractor in any degree with whom the plaintiff is in contractual privity. In either event, the obligors on the bond shall have the right to make the owner or owner's agent, prime contractor, or any remote contractor of any degree a defendant by third-party complaint or cross-claim as is otherwise provided by law. Any complaint, petition, or civil warrant on the bond shall be filed in the county where any portion of the real property is located;
    2. Where a lien is enforced pursuant to this subdivision (5), or after suit is commenced on a bond provided pursuant to § 66-11-124, § 66-11-136, or § 66-11-142, the plaintiff shall, in case of failure to prosecute the suit with effect, pay the defendant or defendants all costs adjudged against the defendant or defendants and all the damages the defendant or defendants may sustain by the wrongful assertion of the lien; and
    3. Where a complaint, petition, or civil warrant is brought pursuant to this subdivision (5), or after suit is commenced on a bond provided pursuant to § 66-11-124, § 66-11-136, or § 66-11-142, the defendants shall retain all defenses to the validity of the underlying lien.

Code 1932, § 7948; Acts 1957, ch. 235, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1979, ch. 68, § 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 64-1126; Acts 2007, ch. 189, § 25; 2014, ch. 557, § 1; 2015, ch. 117, § 1; 2020, ch. 749, § 2.

Compiler's Notes. Acts 2014 ch. 557, § 2, provided that the act shall apply to any lien based on work or labor that is performed on or after July 1, 2014.


Download our app to see the most-to-date content.