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TCA 37-1-103

Exclusive original jurisdiction

VIOLATIONViolation

What does this charge mean?

This statute gives the juvenile court exclusive authority to handle certain types of cases involving children under 18, meaning only the juvenile court can hear these cases and no other court can. The specific cases covered are defined in the statute but are not fully provided in the text excerpt.

Penalty Details

ClassificationViolation
Penalty SummaryViolation
(a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: (A) A person under eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102Custody: means the control of actual physical care of the child and includes the right and responsibility to provide for the physical, mental, moral and emotional well-being of the child. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.Foster care: means the temporary placement of a child in the custody of the department of children's services or any agency or institution, whether public or private, for care outside the home of a parent or relative, by blood or marriage, of the child, whether the placement is by court order, voluntary placement agreement, surrender of parental rights or otherwise. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,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.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.Juvenile court: means the general sessions court in all counties of this state, except in those counties and municipalities in which special juvenile courts are provided by law, and "judge" means judge of the juvenile court. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102State: 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(1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, unruly or dependent and neglected, or to have committed a juvenile traffic offense as defined in § 37-1-146; (2) Proceedings arising under §§ 37-1-141 – 37-1-144; (3) Proceedings arising under § 37-1-137 for the purposes of termination of a home placement; (4) Prosecutions under § 37-1-412, unless the case is bound over to the grand jury by the juvenile court or the defendant is originally charged with a greater offense of which violation of § 37-1-412 is a lesser included offense; (5) Proceedings arising under [former] § 49-5-5209(e) [repealed]; and (6) Proceedings in which a parent or legal guardian is alleged to have violated parental responsibilities pursuant to § 37-1-174. (b) The juvenile court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by the laws relating thereto without regard to the other provisions of this part: (1) Proceedings to obtain judicial consent to employment, or enlistment in the armed services of a child, if consent is required by law; (2) Proceedings under the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, compiled as chapter 4, part 1 of this title; and (3) Proceedings under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, compiled as chapter 4, part 2 of this title. (c) Except as provided in subsection (d), when jurisdiction has been acquired under this part, such jurisdiction shall continue until the case has been dismissed, or until the custody determination is transferred to another juvenile, circuit, chancery or general sessions court exercising domestic relations jurisdiction, or until a petition for adoption is filed regarding the child in question as set out in § 36-1-116(f). A juvenile court shall retain jurisdiction to the extent needed to complete any reviews or permanency hearings for children in foster care as may be mandated by federal or state law. This subsection (c) does not establish concurrent jurisdiction for any other court to hear juvenile cases, but permits courts exercising domestic relations jurisdiction to make custody determinations in accordance with this part. (d) (1) A juvenile court in any county of this state shall have temporary jurisdiction to issue temporary orders pursuant to this section upon a petition on behalf of a child present or residing in that county. Upon being informed that a proceeding pertaining to the same child has been commenced in or a determination pertaining to the same child has been made by a court of a county having prior jurisdiction under this part; provided, that the court having temporary jurisdiction shall immediately notify and attempt to communicate with the court having original jurisdiction regarding the status of the child before issuing any temporary order hereunder, the courts shall coordinate with one another to resolve any jurisdictional issues, protect the best interests of the child, and determine the duration of any order entered by a court pursuant to this section. (2) A court sh
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026

Quick Facts

VIOLATION
TCA Section37-1-103
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Geographic Distribution

Putnam
234
Monroe
1