Cal. Civ. Code § 66-28-105
Jurisdiction and service of process.
Operative Text
(a) The general sessions and circuit courts of this state shall exercise original jurisdiction over any landlord or tenant with respect to any conduct in this state governed by this chapter. In addition to any other method provided by rule or by statute, personal jurisdiction over the parties may be acquired in a civil action or proceeding instituted in law or equity by service of process in the manner provided by law. (b) A landlord who is not a resident of this state or is a corporation not authorized to do business in this state and engages in a transaction subject to this chapter may designate an agent upon whom service of process may be made in this state. The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state. The designation shall be in writing, filed with the secretary of state, and must set forth the name and street address, including zip code, of the agent, the name and street address, including zip code, of the landlord and be accompanied by a ten-dollar filing fee. If no designation is made and filed or if process cannot be served in this state upon the designated agent, process may be served upon the secretary of state forthwith by mailing a copy of the process and pleading by registered or certified mail to the defendant or respondent at that party's last known address. The process must be accompanied by a ten-dollar fee and specify the address of the defendant. An affidavit of service shall be filed by the secretary of state with the clerk of the court on or before the return day of the process.
Tennessee Code Ann. § 66-28-105 establishes which courts have authority over landlord-tenant disputes and how parties can be formally notified of legal proceedings. Both general sessions and circuit courts in Tennessee hold original jurisdiction over conduct covered by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The provision also creates a mechanism for serving legal process on out-of-state landlords or corporations not authorized to do business in Tennessee, including a fallback option of serving the Tennessee Secretary of State when a designated agent cannot be reached.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-105, landlords who own or manage rental property in Tennessee but are based out of state—or are corporations not registered to do business in Tennessee—are generally expected to designate a registered agent for service of process. That designation must be made in writing, filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, and accompanied by a ten-dollar filing fee; the agent must be a Tennessee resident or a corporation authorized to do business in the state. Operators who skip this step may find that legal process is served directly on the Secretary of State, which can affect how and when they receive notice of any legal action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 66-28-105 of the Tennessee Code means that Tennessee's general sessions and circuit courts are available forums for disputes arising under the state's landlord-tenant law, regardless of whether a landlord is based in Tennessee or elsewhere. If a landlord is out of state and has not filed a designated agent, Tennessee law provides a path for serving that landlord through the Secretary of State, so an out-of-state address does not necessarily block a tenant from pursuing a legal claim. Tenants who are unsure how to initiate or respond to court proceedings under this provision may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 29, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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