§ 16-15-904 — Service upon defendants outside of state

(a) (1) Whenever the law of this state authorizes service outside this state, service, when reasonably calculated to give notice, may be made: (A) By any form of service authorized within this state pursuant to this part; (B) In any manner prescribed by the law of the state in which service is effected for an action in any of the courts of general jurisdiction in that state; and (C) As directed by the court. (2) This section is inapplicable when service is effected in a place not within any judicial district of the United States. (b) Service of process pursuant to this section shall include a copy of the warrant, writ or other papers. (c) Service by mail upon a corporation shall be addressed to an officer or managing agent of the corporation, to the chief agent in the county in which the action is brought or by delivering the copies to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service on behalf of the corporation. (d) Service by mail upon a partnership or unincorporated association, included a limited liability company, that is named defendant upon a common name shall be addressed to a partner or managing agent of the partnership or to an officer or managing agent of the association, or to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service on behalf of the partnership or association. (e) When service of a warrant, writ, or other papers is provided for or permitted by registered or certified mail under the laws of this state, and the addressee, or the addressee's agent, refuses to accept delivery, and it is so stated in the return receipt of the United States postal service, the written return receipt, if returned and filed in the action, shall be deemed an actual and valid service of the warrant, writ, or other papers. Service by mail is complete upon mailing. Service by mail shall not be the basis for the entry of a judgment by default unless the record contains either: (1) A return receipt showing personal acceptance by the defendant or by persons designated by statute; or (2) A return receipt stating that the addressee or the addressee's agent refused to accept delivery, which is deemed to be personal acceptance by the defendant pursuant to this subsection (e).

Legislative History

Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 806,s 2, eff. 7/1/2018. Acts 2002, ch. 794, § 2.