# Tenn. R. Civ. P. 2: Rule 2. One Form of Action

> Tennessee · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R2

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. R. Civ. P. 2
- **Heading:** Rule 2. One Form of Action
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Tennessee Court Rules / Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure / Tenn. R. Civ. P. 2

## Text

All actions in law or equity shall be known as “civil actions.”
Advisory Commission Comments.
Prior to the adoption of these Rules, Tennessee practice spoke of “civil actions at law”(T.C.A. §20-201) [since repealed] and of “suits”in chancery (T.C.A. §21-102) [since repealed]. Rule 2 simplifies the terminology of applying a single term to all civil actions.
Advisory Commission Comment [2013].
The 2013 Advisory Commission Comment to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3 provides guidance for determining whether a statutorily authorized “petition” is considered a “complaint” or a “motion” for purposes of the Rules of Civil Procedure.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 1 Rule 1. Scope of Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R1.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 2 Rule 2. One Form of Action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R2.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3 Rule 3. Commencement of Action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R3.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3A.01 Rule 3A.01. Enrollment of Foreign Judgments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R3A_01.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3A.02 Rule 3A.02. Notice of Filing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R3A_02.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3A.03 Rule 3A.03. Clerk's Duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R3A_03.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3A.04 Rule 3A.04. Enrollment and Execution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R3A_04.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01 Rule 4.01. Summons; Issuance; By Whom Served; Sanction for Delay](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_01.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.02 Rule 4.02. Summons; Form](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_02.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03 Rule 4.03. Summons; Return](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_03.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.04 Rule 4.04. Service Upon Defendants within the State](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_04.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.05 Rule 4.05. Service Upon Defendant Outside This State](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_05.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.06 Rule 4.06. Reserved](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_06.md)
- [Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.07 Rule 4.07. Waiver of Service; Duty to Save Costs of Service; Request to Waive](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_07.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.