# Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.02: Rule 4.02. Summons; Form

> Tennessee · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_02

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.02
- **Heading:** Rule 4.02. Summons; Form
- **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. 4.02

## Text

RULE 4. PROCESS
Rules of Civil Procedure
.02
The summons shall be issued in the name of the State of Tennessee, be dated and signed by the clerk, contain the name of the court and county, the title of the action, and the file number. The summons shall be directed to the defendant, shall state the time within which these rules require the defendant to appear and defend, and shall notify the defendant that in case of his or her failure to do so judgment by default will be rendered against that defendant for the relief demanded in the complaint. The summons shall state the name and address of the plaintiff's attorney, if any; otherwise, it shall state the plaintiff's address.
NOTE: For the Advisory Commission Comments, please refer to Rule 4.09.

## 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)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRCP_R4_02. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.