Service of Process in Bradley County
Administered from the county seat of Cleveland (155 N Ocoee Street, Cleveland, ZIP 37311), Bradley County forms part of the 10th Judicial District in Eastern TN Division. Pleadings can be served across American Heritage / Red Hill / Pine Hill / Dockery / East Cleveland / Hopewell and along US-64/74, US-11 and I-75. Under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01(2) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-901, any disinterested adult at least 18 years old may serve Tennessee civil process. Instead of losing the non-refundable $50 county sheriff charge on an unsuccessful attempt (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-901(a)(1)(D)), law firms can order $85 routine, $150 rush, or $215 same-day service, with the return prepared under Rule 4.03(1).
| Bradley County Venue Specification | Statutory and Clerk Record |
|---|---|
| Clerk Location (Cleveland) | 155 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN 37311 (10th Judicial District) |
| Division and Route Access | Eastern TN Division Corridor (I-75 / US-11 / US-64/74) |
| Private Rates vs. Sheriff | $85 Routine • $150 Rush • $215 Same-Day (Sheriff benchmark: $50 under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-901(a)(1)(A)) |
Courts & Filing Deadlines in Bradley County
Three statutory rules govern civil execution in Bradley County (10th Judicial District): (1) Circuit and Chancery summonses issued at 155 N Ocoee Street in Cleveland must be served within 90 days under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(1), whereas General Sessions civil warrants must be served within 60 days of issuance under Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-902(b); (2) personal delivery is required under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.04(1) unless the target evades service; and (3) In Bradley County, URLTA statutory provisions (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-102) govern residential tenancies across American Heritage / Red Hill / Pine Hill / Dockery / East Cleveland / Hopewell alongside General Sessions detainer procedure. Any General Sessions detainer warrant must be served ≥6 full days prior to the Cleveland hearing (Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-18-117), and live testimony subpoenas under Rule 45 require a $30.00/day attendance fee (Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-4-101).
Cities We Cover in Bradley County
- American Heritage (Bradley)
- Red Hill (Bradley)
- Pine Hill (Bradley)
- Dockery (Bradley)
- East Cleveland (Bradley)
- Hopewell (Bradley)
- Wildwood Lake (Bradley)
- South Cleveland (Bradley)
- Charleston (Bradley)
- Cleveland (Bradley)
Bradley County Process Server FAQ
- Who is authorized to serve civil process in Bradley County, Tennessee?
- Under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01(2) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-901, any disinterested adult at least 18 years old is legally authorized to serve Circuit, Chancery, and General Sessions process throughout Bradley County.
- Why does door posting a detainer warrant in Cleveland bar a back-rent judgment?
- Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-18-115 and Tennessee appellate precedent, constructive posting grants in rem possession only; personal delivery is required for an in personam money judgment.