Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-3-603: Jurisdiction and venue

(a) The complaint may be filed in a county in which the defendant resides or may be found. If the defendant is in a hospital or treatment resource, the complaint shall be filed where the person is, and jurisdiction of the proceedings may be transferred for good cause to the court of residence. This venue requirement does not apply to complaints filed in accordance with § 33-7-301 or § 33-7-303 . (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this title, only the following courts have jurisdiction over the complaint: (1) Chancery court; (2) Circuit court; (3) Juvenile courts in proceedings held by judges who are lawyers or by referees; (4) Probate court in counties having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census; and (5) Court of general sessions in counties having a metropolitan form of government and having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census; provided, that the jurisdiction conferred by this subdivision (b)(5) is conferred only for petitions concerning mandatory outpatient treatment. Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 76, eff. 7/1/2024. Acts 1983, ch. 323, § 9; T.C.A., § 33-362; Acts 1984, ch. 922, § 16; 1985, ch. 437, § 13; 1986, ch. 570, § 4; 1986, ch. 836, § 5; 1994, ch. 743, § 1; 2000, ch. 947, § 1.

(a) The complaint may be filed in a county in which the defendant resides or may be found. If the defendant is in a hospital or treatment resource, the complaint shall be filed where the person is, and jurisdiction of the proceedings may be transferred for good cause to the court of residence. This venue requirement does not apply to complaints filed in accordance with § 33-7-301 or § 33-7-303 .

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this title, only the following courts have jurisdiction over the complaint: (1) Chancery court; (2) Circuit court; (3) Juvenile courts in proceedings held by judges who are lawyers or by referees; (4) Probate court in counties having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census; and (5) Court of general sessions in counties having a metropolitan form of government and having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census; provided, that the jurisdiction conferred by this subdivision (b)(5) is conferred only for petitions concerning mandatory outpatient treatment.

(1) Chancery court;

(2) Circuit court;

(3) Juvenile courts in proceedings held by judges who are lawyers or by referees;

(4) Probate court in counties having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census; and

(5) Court of general sessions in counties having a metropolitan form of government and having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census; provided, that the jurisdiction conferred by this subdivision (b)(5) is conferred only for petitions concerning mandatory outpatient treatment.