Shelby County General Sessions Court -- Civil Court FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where is the Civil Division of General Sessions Court Clerk's Office located?

Main Office
Civil Division
140 Adams, Room 106
Memphis, Tennessee 38103-2093

East Office
Civil Division
1075 Mullins Station Road
Room W115
Memphis, Tennessee 38134

Q: Is the east office able to assist with any court transaction like the downtown office?

A: No. The east office is unable to process or present matters which need the immediate attention of a Judge.

Q: When making a judgement payment or garnishment payment to the Civil Division where do I send it?

General Sessions Court Clerk's Office
Civil Division
P.O. Box 3824
Memphis, Tennessee 38173

Q: What are the Civil Division office hours?

Main Office - 140 Adams Office hours - 8:00 a.m.. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
East Office - 1075 Mullins Station Road Room W 115 Office hours - 9:00 a.m.. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Q: What is the Civil Division's phone number and Fax number

Main Office
140 Adams Ave.
(901) 545-4031 (office)
(901) 545-2515 (fax)

East Office
1075 Mullins Station Road
Room W 115
(901) 379-7052 (office)

Q: What are the court costs associated with the filing of a civil lawsuit?

A: Please review our current Clerk Cost Sheet. Filing fees are due upon the filing of a civil lawsuit.

Q: How do I file a civil lawsuit with the General Sessions Court and what is the process?

The Clerk's office provides the necessary preprinted forms.
The form is completed with needed information, such as: the defendant's name and address to obtain personal service on the defendant(s), and state a cause of action.
The summons must sufficiently state the causes of action so as to give the defendant notice of the charge he is to meet and enable him to prepare a defense .
The filing fees are paid to the clerk's office.
The clerk's office forwards the summons to the requested server toallow for the attempt of service to be made on the defendant(s).
The server will set a court date upon successful attempt of service. * The server shall return the process back to the clerk's office.
A hearing will be held before a General Sessions Court Judge to render a decision in the matter.
Judgment entries are final ten days from the date of entry.
Collection procedures may commence after this period of time.

* Please Note: The 24 Hour Clerk's Office, located at 201 Poplar Suite LL-26, is available to file civil lawsuits, after the Civil Division main office is closed.

Q: How do I file a FED (Forcible Entry and Detainer) action to remove someone from the premises not paying their rent?

The Clerk's office provides the necessary preprinted forms.
The form is completed with needed information, such as: the defendant's name and address of the real property to obtain personal service on the defendant(s), and state a cause of action. The summons must sufficiently state the cause of action so as to give the defendant notice of the charge he is to meet and enable him to prepare a defense.
The filing fees are paid to the clerk's office.
The clerk's office forwards the summons to the requested server to allow for the attempt of service to be made on the defendant(s).
The server will set a court date upon successful attempt of service.
The server shall return the process back to the clerk's office.
The Plaintiff (Property Owner) must appear at the court hearing before a General Sessions Court Judge to render a decision in the matter.
Judgment entries are final ten days from the date of entry.
If the Defendant does not make arrangement to pay. The property owner must file a "Writ of Possession" obtained from the Clerk's Office, along with a filing fee. The Clerk's office will issue the writ of possession. The server will make arrangements to meet the owner at the premises and the eviction process will take place.
If a judgment for a monetary amount was given, collection Procedures may commence after ten (10) days from the judgment entry.
- Please Note: The clerk's office does not notify plaintiff's of court settings. It is the responsibility of the filing party to make inquires to the Clerk's Office, Sheriff's Office and or the Private Process Server's Office concerning your case status for a court setting.

Please Note: The 24 Hour Clerk's Office, located at 201 Poplar Suite LL-26, is available to file civil lawsuits, after the Civil Division main office is closed.

Q: What time does civil court convene?: A: The court calendar is called daily at 10:00 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. with the exception of Friday afternoon. On Friday, the court calendar is called only at 10:00 a.m.
Q: Am I required to have an attorney in the General Sessions Court?: A: No. You may represent yourself in a court matter.

You should be familiar with the Rules of Court. The Judge will not be able to assist you. The General Sessions Court- Civil Division Court Rules may be obtained from the Judges' Secretary's Office and or the Clerk's Office.

However, corporations are required to have legal representation in any court proceedings.

"Power of Attorney" is not recognized in the Courts of General Sessions.
Q: How do I appeal a case to the Circuit Court?: A: Appeals must be filed within ten days from the entry date of the judgment. Either party may appeal from a final judgment. A $211.50 cost bond (in lieu of pauper's oath) is required. Bond requirements are set out in the Tennessee Code Annotated. Bond requirements pertaining to F.E.D. matters differ from bond requirements of a civil lawsuit.

The General Sessions Court 24-Hour Clerk's Office is available for accepting the filing of an appeal from both the Civil Division and the Criminal Division of the General Sessions Courts.
Q: How do I collect my judgment?: A: The Plaintiff or Attorney of record can request the issuance of a garnishment or levy.

You must have knowledge that the judgment debtor owns land or personal property free of liens or mortgages to issue a levy to satisfy the judgment.

You must have knowledge of the judgment debtor's employer to garnish their wages or knowledge of their bank account to garnish the account.
Q. When may I receive funds from the Clerk's Office?

A. Funds received are held for twenty working days from the date of receipt in accordance with Tennessee laws. After the twenty day hold period has expired, funds are payable to the Attorney of record or Plaintiff' upon request Monday through Friday, with the exception of the first five working days of the month.

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Q: How do I stop the garnishment on my wages?: A: The defendant may, upon payment of a $25.00 filing fee, file a motion for installment payments.

A stay of garnishment is issued upon the first filing of a motion for installment payments.

A court date is set within approximately eight days from the filing of the motion for installment payments to be reviewed by a General Sessions Court Judge. The Judge will grant or deny the motion before the court.

Payments are to be made to the Clerk's Office. If judgment debtor complies with the order stating the payment schedule, wage deductions are stayed.
Q. What is a "Motion to Quash"?

A. A judgment debtor may claim exemption rights after the service of an execution or garnishment by filing a motion to quash the garnishment or execution. The Clerk's office will provide the necessary form. The motion to quash form must be filed Twenty (20) days from the withholding of wages and or bank account by a garnishee/ employer.
Q: What if the defendant does not comply with the agreed Installment payment arrangement?: A: The plaintiff and or attorney may submit to the clerk's office a "Reinstatement of Garnishment" form. These forms are available in the Civil Division Clerk's Office, Garnishment Counter. There is not a filing fee for this request.

Upon the filing of the "Reinstatement of Garnishment" form the Clerk's Office will calculate payments and give notice to the employer of the credits. The form is forwarded to a server to be served on the employer. The employer should commence deductions and remit to the court.
Q: What is the cost to get a release on a garnishment?: A: All outstanding cost are due upon the issuance of a release. A letter from the attorney of record and or the plaintiff must be obtained giving the clerk's office a directive regarding further steps to be taken by the Clerk's Office regarding each individual case.
Q: How can I clear up my credit report with the credit bureau?: A: Once the General Sessions Court Clerk's office has received a "Satisfaction" letter from the Attorney of record and or the plaintiff , for a $6.00 fee, the General Sessions Court Clerk's office can notify the credit bureau of your case status.
Q: Why does the General Sessions Court Clerk's Office assign Attorney Code numbers and what are they used for?: A: The General Sessions Court Clerk's Office assigns a code number to be used by the attorney and or plaintiffs who file numerous cases. The assigned code number should be written on each lawsuit filed. The code allows for multiple case settings to be placed on the court calendar in one division of court. The code number also provides an effecient manner to disburse judgement money we have received.
Q: How can I obtain detailed specific case information from the General Sessions Court Clerk's Office regarding a specific case?: A: Our office is happy to assist you with pertinent case information. Information can be obtained in person at our offices during normal business hours, from our IVR phone system or from this website. The clerk's office also provides public access work stations at our downtown location.

But, please remember the clerk's office is prohibited by law from giving any legal advise regarding any case. If you have a question(s) regarding a legal matter you may wish to seek the assistance of a practicing attorney.

Instructions for Consent Announcement Form

In order to take advantage of this procedure the following rules must be followed:

1. Announcements must be on the court's form or an exact duplicate of this form.
2. Announcements must be signed by an attorney (original Signature, no stamps) and the attorney's name must be typed or legibly printed in the space provided. Forms that do not comply will be ignored.
3. Announcements must be by the express consent of all of the parties. The fact that you have not heard from one or more of your opponents does not mean they agree with your announcement. There is only one exception to this rule: (a) The plaintiff may (at plaintiff's cost) enter either a voluntary non-suit or a dismissal without consent of the parties. There are no other exceptions.
4. Documents transmitted must be imprinted with a fax banner containing information that identifies the origin of the transmission.
5. This form may be transmitted via facsimile or hand carried to the court.
6. Consent judgments must comply with Rule 5.0 or the Rules of Court.
7. Fax Announcement MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE COURT ABSOLUTELY BEFORE THE TIME OF THE CASE SETTING. (IF YOUR CASE IS SET AT 10:00 A.M. DO NOT FAX IT AT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE, IT MAY NOT BE RECEIVED IN TIME FOR COURT)

THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO USE BY ATTORNEYS ONLY!!!

Quick Civil Division Phone Listing

Filing Counter: (901) 545-4031

Clerk Filing Fee
Out of County Cost- Lawsuits and executions
Request for Cost Bills/ Certified Copies
Filing of document information
Appeals

Data Transcribing Department: (901) 545-4031

Processing and the issuance of document filings:

Shelby County Sheriff's Office
Approved Private Process Server
Tennessee Out of County Sheriff's Office
Tennessee Secretary of State
Tennessee Commissioner of Insurance
Extra Territorial Service

Requests for publication
Return service obtained by Approved Private Process Server

Court Calendar Clerk: (901) 545-4031

Direct assistance regarding daily court calendar:
a: Add on's

Accounting Department: (901) 545-4031

Direct assistance regarding:
a: Funds received
b:Funds disbursed

Letter of Satisfaction
Refunds

Court Support Department: (901) 545-4031

Garnishment answers
Return service of documents
Dispositions
Certified Copies

Garnishment Counter: (901) 545-4031

Motion Filings:

Installment payments
Quash garnishment

Obtain a stay and or release
Request for reinstatement of garnishment

Records Department: (901) 545-4031

Closed case record
Microfilmed records

Q: If the Sheriff's Department is trying to serve court papers on me, where can I pick them up?

Shelby County Sheriff's Department
Civil Division
11670 Memphis Arlington Rd.
Arlington, Tn
(901) 867-1480

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