Service of Process in Hickman County
Serving legal papers in Hickman County requires navigating the TN-100, TN-50 and I-40 corridor and the procedural requirements of the 32nd Judicial District in Central TN Division. With trial courts located at 104 College Avenue in Centerville, TN 37033, service extends to Coble / Buffalo / Bucksnort / Bond / Bon Aqua / Bates and surrounding rural routes. Pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.01(2) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-901, non-party adults 18 and older are empowered to serve all civil process. Rather than relying on sheriff service ($50.00 non-refundable fee under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-901(a)(1)(A)), counsel can select $85 routine, $150 rush, or $215 same-day execution.
| Hickman County Venue Specification | Statutory and Clerk Record |
|---|---|
| Clerk Location (Centerville) | 104 College Ave, Centerville, TN 37033 (32nd Judicial District) |
| Division and Route Access | Central TN Division Corridor (I-40 / TN-50 / TN-100) |
| 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 Hickman County
When pleadings are issued by the Hickman County clerks at 104 College Avenue in Centerville, TN 37033, counsel must track the 90-day summons limit in Circuit and Chancery Court (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(1)) versus the 60-day service limit for General Sessions process (Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-902(b)). Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-102, Hickman County is exempt from URLTA, so eviction actions in Centerville follow Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-18-101 to § 29-18-134. For eviction dockets in Centerville, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-18-117 mandates service a minimum of six full days before court, and personal hand delivery is essential to recover unpaid rent damages under Tennessee appellate precedent. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-2-106, civil process generally may not be executed on Sunday in Hickman County, subject to the narrow exceptions in §§ 20-2-104 and 20-2-105.
Cities We Cover in Hickman County
- Coble (Hickman)
- Buffalo (Hickman)
- Bucksnort (Hickman)
- Bond (Hickman)
- Bon Aqua (Hickman)
- Bates (Hickman)
- Aetna (Hickman)
- Wrigley (Hickman)
- Lyles (Hickman)
- Centerville (Hickman)
Hickman County Process Server FAQ
- What happens if a Hickman County defendant cannot be located for personal service?
- If a defendant has vacated Hickman County or cannot be found after multi-shift attempts and skip tracing, a sworn due diligence (non est inventus) affidavit can be prepared to support publication under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.08 and Tenn. Code Ann. § 21-1-203.
- What must a Return of Service show in Centerville?
- For service in Hickman County, Tenn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(1) requires the server to make prompt proof of service that identifies the person served and describes the manner of service; the return may be verified as permitted by Tenn. R. Civ. P. 72.