Part 1 Establishment 16-15-101 – 16-15-103
Part 2 Judge 16-15-201 – 16-15-211
Part 3 Clerk 16-15-301 – 16-15-304
Part 4 Powers and Duties 16-15-401 – 16-15-406
Part 5 Jurisdiction 16-15-501 – 16-15-505
Part 7 Miscellaneous Provisions 16-15-701 – 16-15-735
Part 8 General Provisions 16-15-801 – 16-15-807
Part 9 Service of Process 16-15-901 – 16-15-905
Part 50 Compensation and Qualifications of Judges – Jurisdiction 16-15-5001 – 16-15-5014

Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 16 > Chapter 15 - Courts of General Sessions

  • Account: means any deposit or credit account with a bank, including a demand, time, savings, passbook, share draft, or like account, other than an account evidenced by a certificate of deposit. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Affiliate: means any company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another company, as set forth in the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Afternoon: means the period of a day between twelve o'clock noon (12:00 noon) and twelve o'clock midnight (12:00 midnight). See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Annual percentage rate: means the annual percentage rate for the loan calculated according to the federal Truth-in-Lending Act (15 U. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Annual percentage rate: The cost of credit at a yearly rate. It is calculated in a standard way, taking the average compound interest rate over the term of the loan so borrowers can compare loans. Lenders are required by law to disclose a card account's APR. Source: FDIC
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Applicable ad valorem taxes: means any ad valorem taxes that, but for ownership of a project by a corporation, would have been due and payable pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • articles of organization: means , in the case of an LLC, articles of organization or, to the extent applicable with respect to an LLC initially formed under and governed by the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act, compiled in chapters 201-248 of this title, articles of conversion, taken together with all of the following, to the extent they modify, correct, restate or otherwise affect the articles of organization or articles of conversion: articles of amendment, articles of correction, certificates of merger and all documents required to be filed with any of the articles of amendment, articles of correction and certificates of merger, as part of the formation and continuation of an LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Bank: means any person, as hereinafter defined, doing a banking business subject to the laws of this or any other jurisdiction and, for the purposes of supervision, examination and liquidation, includes industrial investment companies and industrial banks authorized by chapter 5 of this title. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Banking day: means the part of a day on which a bank is open to the public for carrying on substantially all of its banking functions, except that any day that is not a banking day for purposes of federal reserve regulations, Regulation CC (12 C. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Bequest: Property gifted by will.
  • board of directors: means the governing board of a corporation, whether denominated the board of directors or otherwise, except that no person or group of persons is the board of directors because of powers delegated to that person or group pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Bona fide loan discount points: means loan discount points actually paid by the borrower to the lender for the purpose of reducing, and that in fact result in a bona fide reduction of, the interest rate applicable to the loan by a minimum of twenty-five (25) basis points per discount point. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Bonds: means bonds, notes, interim certificates or other obligations of a corporation issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Borrower: means a natural person obligated to pay a home loan, including a co-borrower. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Business: means every trade, occupation, profession, investment activity, and other lawful purpose for gain or the preservation of assets, whether or not carried on for profit. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Buyer: means a person who buys or contracts to buy goods. See Tennessee Code 47-2-103
  • Cemetery: means any land or structure in this state dedicated to and used, or intended to be used, for interment of human remains. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Cemetery: means any land or structure in this state dedicated to and used, or intended to be used, for interment of human remains. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Cemetery company: means an individual, partnership, corporation, or association, now or hereafter organized, owning or controlling cemetery lands or property and conducting the business of a cemetery. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Cemetery merchandise: means personal property sold by a cemetery company, such as foundations, markers, memorials, memorial bases, monuments, urns, vases, and lawn and mausoleum crypts. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Cemetery operator: means any owner, director, principal, manager, member, stockholder with a majority ownership interest, or other person who has any ownership interest in, or has any control over, the financial operations of a cemetery company. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Cemetery purposes: means all things requisite or necessary for, or incident or convenient to, the establishment, maintenance, management, operation, improvement and conduct of a cemetery, the preparation of the premises for interment and the interment of the human dead, and the care, preservation and embellishment of cemetery property. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Check: means any payment instrument. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Check casher: means a person who, for compensation, provides currency in exchange for payment instrument received. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Clearing house: means an association of banks or other payors regularly clearing items. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Columbarium: means a structure, room or space in a building or structure used, or intended to be used, for the interment of cremated human remains. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Commercial unit: means such a unit of goods as by commercial usage is a single whole for purposes of lease and division of which materially impairs its character or value on the market or in use. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of financial institutions. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of financial institutions. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Commodity: includes , but is not limited to, memorials consisting of permanent monuments or gravemarkers of marble, granite or bronze, bronze plaques, or bronze vases, and foundations or footings of the memorials. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Company: includes a bank, trust company, corporation, partnership, association, business or other trust, or similar business entity. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • construction: means the erection, building, acquisition by purchase or condemnation, alteration, reconstruction, improvement, or extension of energy production facilities, the engineering, architectural designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other action necessary in the construction of such facilities, and the inspection and supervision of the construction of such facilities. See Tennessee Code 7-54-101
  • Construction loan: means a loan for the initial construction of a borrower's principal dwelling on land owned by the borrower, with a maturity of less than eighteen (18) months, that only requires the payment of interest until the time that the entire unpaid balance is due and payable, or a fee in lieu of interest. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Consumer lease: means a lease that a lessor regularly engaged in the business of leasing or selling makes to a lessee who is an individual and who takes under the lease primarily for a personal, family, or household purpose, if the total payments to be made under the lease contract, excluding payments for options to renew or buy, do not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Consumer price index: means the consumer price index (all items-United States city average), as published by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Contract for sale: includes both a present sale of goods and a contract to sell goods at a future time. See Tennessee Code 47-2-106
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: means any corporation organized pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • County mayor: means and includes "county executive" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Court: includes every court and judge having jurisdiction in the case. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Credit report: A detailed report of an individual's credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's creditworthiness. Source: OCC
  • Crypt: means a chamber of sufficient size to inter the remains of a deceased person. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Crypt: means a chamber of sufficient size to inter the remains of a deceased person. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Currency: includes United States silver certificates, United States notes, and Federal Reserve notes. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Customer: means a person having an account with a bank or for whom a bank has agreed to collect items, including a bank that maintains an account at another bank. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Defense attorney: Represent defendants in criminal matters.
  • Department: means the department of financial institutions. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Department: means the department of financial institutions. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Department: means the department of financial institutions. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Deposit: means a deposit of money, bonds or other things of value, creating a debtor-creditor relationship. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Depository institution: means any company included for any purpose within any of the definitions of insured depository institution, as set forth in 12 U. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Directors: means natural persons, designated in the charter or bylaws or elected or appointed by the incorporators, and their successors and natural persons elected or appointed to act as members of the board, irrespective of the names or titles by which such persons are described. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Dissolution: means that the LLC has incurred an event under §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Distribution: means a direct or indirect transfer of money or other property by an LLC, except for the issuance of its own membership interests or financial rights, with or without consideration, or an incurrence or issuance of indebtedness, whether directly or indirectly, including through a guaranty, to or for the benefit of any of its members or holders of financial rights, as applicable, in respect of membership interests or financial rights. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Document: means :
    (A) Any tangible medium on which information is inscribed, and includes any writing or written instrument. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Documentary draft: means a draft to be presented for acceptance or payment if specified documents, certificated securities (§. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • domestic: means a limited liability company formed under this chapter, or a limited liability company formed under the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act, compiled in chapters 201-248 of this title, that has elected to be governed by this chapter, or, where expressly indicated, a limited liability company formed under and governed by the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Domestic entity: means any entity formed under the laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-249-701
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Draft: means a draft as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Drawee: means a person ordered in a draft to make payments. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Eligible headquarters facility: means a facility, located in a county with a population in excess of eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, that houses an international, national or regional headquarters facility of an entity that agrees, at a minimum, to make payments to the municipality in lieu of any special assessments or other fees or charges that would be levied on the project pursuant to chapter 84 of this title if the project were privately owned. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
  • Energy production facility: means a facility for the production, conversion or transmission of energy from the controlled processing of fossil or other fuels or other sources of energy and the production of electricity, steam or other forms of energy for heating, cooling, manufacturing processes and other uses, and includes "energy recovery facilities" as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 7-54-101
  • Enterprise: means the manufacturing, processing, assembling, commercial, service and agricultural operations to be carried on with or otherwise using the facilities of the project. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Entity: means , whether foreign or domestic and whether for profit or not-for-profit, limited liability companies, corporations, unincorporated associations, real estate investment trusts, statutory or business trusts or associations, estates, general partnerships, limited partnerships, registered or unregistered limited liability partnerships, limited liability limited partnerships or similar organizations, trusts, joint ventures, two (2) or more persons having a joint or common economic interest, and local, municipal, state, United States and foreign governments. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Executor: includes an administrator, where the subject matter applies to an administrator. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Fault: means wrongful act, omission, breach, or default. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Federal Reserve System: The central bank of the United States. The Fed, as it is commonly called, regulates the U.S. monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve System is composed of a central governmental agency in Washington, D.C. (the Board of Governors) and twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks in major cities throughout the United States. Source: OCC
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Finance lease: means a lease with respect to which:
    (i) the lessor does not select, manufacture, or supply the goods. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Financial rights: means a member's or holder's rights to:
    (A) Share in profits and losses, as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • foreign: means a limited liability company that is formed under the laws of a jurisdiction other than this state. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Foreign entity: means any entity formed under the laws of any state of the United States other than this state, the laws of the United States or the laws of any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction. See Tennessee Code 48-249-701
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • General fund: means the sum total of specific funds placed in a single fund. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Good faith: means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Goods: means all things that are movable at the time of identification to the lease contract, or are fixtures (§. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Governing body: means the board or body charged by law with governing the municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-54-101
  • Governing body: means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of the municipality are vested. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • grave space: means a space of ground in a cemetery used or intended to be used for interment, the beautification of the ground, or the memorialization of the deceased person. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • High-cost home loan: means a home loan in which the terms of the loan meet or exceed the rate threshold or the total points and fees threshold. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Highway: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • holder: means a person, other than a member, owning any financial rights in an LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Home loan: means a loan in which:
    (A) The principal amount of the loan does not exceed the lesser of the conforming loan size limit for a single-family dwelling as established by the federal national mortgage association, or three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000). See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Improvement care: means the continual maintenance of the cemetery grounds and graves in keeping with a properly maintained cemetery, including cutting of grass, raking and cleaning of cemetery plots at reasonable intervals, and pruning of shrubs and trees. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Individual: includes the estate of an incompetent or deceased individual. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Interest: means either or both of the following rights under the organic law of an unincorporated entity:
    (A) The right to receive distributions from the entity either in the ordinary course or upon liquidation. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • interested persons: means any and all persons who have any right or easement or other right in, or incident or appurtenant to, a burial ground as such, including the surviving spouse and children, or if no surviving spouse or children, the nearest relative or relatives by consanguinity of any one (1) or more deceased persons whose remains are buried in any burial ground. See Tennessee Code 46-4-102
  • Interment: means any lawful disposition of the remains of a deceased person as provided by law. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Interment: means any lawful disposition of the remains of a deceased person as provided by law. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Interment right: means the right to inter human remains in a particular space in a cemetery, including, but not limited to a grave space, mausoleum crypt, niche, memorial bench, or scattering garden. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Item: means an instrument or a promise or order to pay money handled by a bank for collection or payment. See Tennessee Code 47-4-104
  • Item: means any instrument for the payment of money, even though not negotiable, but does not include money. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lands: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Lawn crypts: means pre-installed, below-the-ground concrete chambers, either single or double depth, covered by earth or sod. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Lease: includes a lease containing an option to purchase the project for a nominal sum upon payment in full, or provision for payment in full, of all bonds issued in connection with the project and all interest on the bonds and all other expenses in connection with the project, and a lease containing an option to purchase the project at any time, as provided in the lease, upon payment of the purchase price, which shall be sufficient to pay all bonds issued in connection with the project and all interest on the bonds and all other expenses incurred in connection with the project, but which payment may be made in the form of one (1) or more notes, debentures, bonds or other secured or unsecured debt obligations of the lessee providing for timely payments, including, without limitation, interest on the obligations sufficient for such purposes and delivered to the corporation or to the trustee under the indenture pursuant to which the bonds were issued. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Lease: means a transfer of the right to possession and use of goods for a term in return for consideration, but a sale, including a sale on approval or a sale or return, or retention or creation of a security interest is not a lease. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Lease agreement: means the bargain, with respect to the lease, of the lessor and the lessee in fact as found in their language or by implication from other circumstances including course of dealing or usage of trade or course of performance as provided in this chapter. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Lease contract: means the total legal obligation that results from the lease agreement as affected by this chapter and any other applicable rules of law. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Leasehold interest: means the interest of the lessor or the lessee under a lease contract. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Legal tender: coins, dollar bills, or other currency issued by a government as official money. Source: U.S. Mint
  • Lender: means "lender" as defined in 24 C. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Lessee: means a person who acquires the right to possession and use of goods under a lease. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Lessor: means a person who transfers the right to possession and use of goods under a lease. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Licensee: means a check cashing business licensed by the commissioner to engage in that business in accordance with this chapter. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Lien: means a charge against or interest in goods to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation, but the term does not include a security interest. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • LLC: means a limited liability company, organized under chapters 201-248 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Loan agreement: means an agreement providing for a corporation to loan the proceeds derived from the issuance of bonds pursuant to this chapter to one (1) or more contracting parties to be used to pay the cost of one (1) or more projects and providing for the repayment of such loan by the other contracting party or parties, and that may provide for such loans to be secured or evidenced by one (1) or more notes, debentures, bonds or other secured or unsecured debt obligations of the contracting party or parties, delivered to the corporation or to the trustee under the indenture pursuant to which the bonds were issued. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Majority vote: means , with respect to a vote of the members, managers, or directors, as applicable:
    (A) If voting on a per capita basis, a majority in number of the members, managers or directors, as applicable, entitled to vote on a specific matter. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Mausoleum crypts: means chambers contained in a structure or building constructed of reinforced concrete, whether assembled above or below ground. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Member: means a person that has been admitted to an LLC as a member, as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Member-managed: means an LLC organized pursuant to this title that has elected pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Membership: means the rights and obligations a member has pursuant to a corporation's charter, bylaws and chapters 51-68 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Memorial care: includes , but is not limited to, resetting or straightening tipped commodities, replacing damaged commodities, and providing for the general maintenance of commodities. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Metropolitan government: means the political entity created by consolidation of all, or substantially all, of the political and corporate functions of a county and a city or cities. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgage loan: A loan made by a lender to a borrower for the financing of real property. Source: OCC
  • Municipality: means any town, city, metropolitan government, county or power district of this state, and for all purposes except in §. See Tennessee Code 7-54-101
  • Municipality: means any county or incorporated city or town in this state with respect to which a corporation may be organized and in which it is contemplated the corporation will function. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. Source: OCC
  • National Credit Union Administration: The federal regulatory agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. (NCUA also administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures the deposits of federal credit unions.) Source: OCC
  • Niche: means a space in a columbarium used, or intended to be used, for the interment of the cremated remains of one (1) or more deceased persons. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Open-end credit: A credit agreement (typically a credit card) that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved credit line when purchasing goods and services. The borrower is only billed for the amount that is actually borrowed plus any interest due. (Also called a charge account or revolving credit.) Source: OCC
  • operating: means that:
    (A) A charter has been issued to a bank by the United States comptroller of the currency or a certificate of authority has been issued by the commissioner. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Operating agreement: means an agreement described in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • other contracting party: means any party to a sale contract or loan agreement except the corporation. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Payment instrument: means a check, draft, warrant, money order, traveler's check or other instrument for payment of money, whether or not negotiable. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Payments in lieu of taxes: means any amount negotiated separately from rent in lieu of applicable ad valorem taxes. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Person: means any and all persons, natural or artificial, including any individual, firm or association, business trust, partnership, joint venture, municipality, and public, municipal, nonprofit, or private corporation organized or existing under the laws of this state or any other state, and any governmental agency or county of this state and any department, agency, or instrumentality of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government. See Tennessee Code 7-54-101
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, firm, trust, estate, partnership, joint venture, or association. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, association, trust, corporation, limited liability company, or other group, however organized, but does not include the governments of the United States or this state or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Tennessee Code 45-18-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Person: means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, or any other business unit or legal entity, as the context may require. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Person: means an individual or an entity. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Points and fees: means as defined in 12 C. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Pollution: means the placing of any noxious or deleterious substances, including noise, in any air or water of or adjacent to the state of Tennessee affecting the physical, chemical or biological properties of any air or waters of or adjacent to the state of Tennessee in a manner and to an extent that renders or is likely to render such air or waters inimical or harmful to the public health, safety or welfare, or to animal, bird or aquatic life, or to the use of such air or waters for domestic, industrial, agricultural or recreational purposes. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Pre-need: means the time prior to death when the use of cemetery merchandise or services is not actually required. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • present sale: means a sale which is accomplished by the making of the contract. See Tennessee Code 47-2-106
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Proceeding: means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Project: means all or any part of, or any interest in:
    (A) Any land and building, including office building, any facility or other improvement on the land, and all real and personal properties deemed necessary in connection therewith, whether or not now in existence, that shall be suitable for the following or by any combination of two (2) or more thereof:
    (i) Any industry for the manufacturing, processing or assembling of any agricultural, mining, or manufactured products. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Purchase: includes taking by sale, lease, mortgage, security interest, pledge, gift, or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in goods. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Rate threshold: means that the annual percentage rate of the loan at the time the loan is consummated is such that the loan is considered a mortgage pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act: Federal law that, among other things, requires lenders to provide "good faith" estimates of settlement costs and make other disclosures regarding the mortgage loan. RESPA also limits the amount of funds held in escrow for real estate taxes and insurance. Source: OCC
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • real property: include lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. Source: FDIC
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • remains: means the body of a deceased person, including the body in any stage of decomposition, and cremated remains. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • remains: means the body of a deceased person, including the body in any stage of decomposition, and cremated remains. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Rent: means a charge for use of property, including the lessee's obligation to repay debt issued or assumed by a lessor, or rent implied by the lessee's stated obligation to construct improvements. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Retail business: means a retail establishment providing general retail sales or services to consumers. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Road: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Sale contract: means a contract providing for the sale of one (1) or more projects to one (1) or more contracting parties and includes a contract providing for payment of the purchase price in one (1) or more installments. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Savings and loan association: includes a building and loan association, a federal or state savings and loan association, a federal savings bank, and any other financial institution, the accounts of which are insured by the federal savings and loan insurance corporation (FSLIC) or any successor of such corporation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Secretary: means the corporate officer to whom the bylaws or the board of directors has delegated responsibility under §. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Secretary of state: means the individual who holds the office of secretary of state of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Seller: means a person who sells or contracts to sell goods. See Tennessee Code 47-2-103
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Servicer: means any person who in the regular course of business assumes responsibility for servicing and accepting payments for a high-cost home loan. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Services: means acts performed by a cemetery company on its premises in the final interment of human remains or the installation of cemetery merchandise used in connection with final interment. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Services: means acts performed by a cemetery company on its premises in the final interment of human remains or the installation of cemetery merchandise used in connection with final interment. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Share: means the unit into which the proprietary interests in a corporation are divided. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Solid waste: means all municipal, commercial, or industrial solid waste, garbage, rubbish, refuse, and other such similar and related materials, including, without limitation, recyclable materials when they become discarded, except those excluded by the department of environment and conservation, which will designate as "special waste" any hazardous or other waste it determines should not be processed in an energy production facility for reasons of public health or safety or because the nature of the waste is such that it is not suitable for processing in an energy production facility. See Tennessee Code 7-54-101
  • Specific funds: means funds identified with cemetery merchandise to be delivered, or services to be performed, as specified in a certain contract and earmarked as having been paid by a certain purchaser. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • Sublease: means a lease of goods the right to possession and use of which was acquired by the lessor as a lessee under an existing lease. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Supplier: means a person from whom a lessor buys or leases goods to be leased under a finance lease. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Supply contract: means a contract under which a lessor buys or leases goods to be leased. See Tennessee Code 47-2A-103
  • Termination: means the end of an LLC's existence as a legal entity and occurs when the articles of termination are filed with the secretary of state under §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Total loan amount: means the term as defined in 12 C. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Trustor: The person who makes or creates a trust. Also known as the grantor or settlor.
  • Undeveloped: means real property that is not presently suitable for interment, entombment or inurnment as described in the purchase agreement. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes district, authority, bureau, commission, department, and any other agency of the United States. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Waiver: means an agreement that does not require the payment of any payments in lieu of taxes for a period of time. See Tennessee Code 7-53-101
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105