Tennessee § 20-3-101 - Filing of abstract — Effect of not filing.
Full text of Tennessee Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-3-101 — Filing of abstract — Effect of not filing., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 20-3-101. Filing of abstract — Effect of not filing.
When any person, in any court of record, by declaration, petition, bill or cross bill, seeks to fix a lien lis pendens on real estate, or any interest in real estate, situated in the county of suit, in furtherance of the setting aside of a fraudulent conveyance, of subjection of property under return of nulla bona, tracing a trust fund, enforcing an equitable vendor's lien, or otherwise, that person shall file for record in the register's office of the county an abstract, certified by the clerk, containing the names of the parties to the suit, a description of the real estate affected, its ownership and a brief statement of the nature and amount of the lien sought to be fixed. Until the abstract is so filed, so far as concerns the rights of bona fide purchasers and encumbrancers, for value, of the realty, or any interest in the realty, they shall not be affected. Code 1932, § 8053; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 20-301. Cross-References. Registration of abstract, §§ 25-5-107 — 25-5-109 . Textbooks. Gibson's Suits in Chancery (7th ed., Inman), §§ 89, 90, 329. Tennessee Forms (Robinson, Ramsey and Harwell), No. 8-801. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 18 Tenn. Juris., Lis Pendens, §§ 3, 5. Law Reviews. The Tennessee Recording System (Toxey H. Sewell), 50 Tenn. L. Rev. 1 (1982). Comparative Legislation. Lis pendens: Ala. Code § 35-4-130 et seq. Ark. Code § 16-59-101 et seq. Ga. O.C.G.A. § 23-1-18 . Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 382.440 et seq. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-47-1 et seq. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 527.260. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-116 et seq. Va. Code §§ 8.01-268, 8.01-269. Cited: In re Airport-81 Nursing Care, Inc., 29 B.R. 501, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 6536 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 1983); In re Adams, 57 B.R. 1, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 4826 (Bankr. M.D. Tenn. 1983); In re Bell, 55 B.R. 246, 1985 Bankr. LEXIS 4923 (Bankr. M.D. Tenn. 1985); Atkins v. Marks, 288 S.W.3d 356, 2008 Tenn. App. LEXIS 349 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 11, 2008); Smith v. Smith, — S.W.3d —, 2008 Tenn. App. LEXIS 557 (Tenn. Ct. App. Sept. 24, 2008); Haggard v. Aguilar, — S.W.3d —, 2010 Tenn. App. LEXIS 760 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 7, 2010); Barone v. Barone, — S.W.3d —, 2012 Tenn. App. LEXIS 218 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 3, 2012).
Source: official Tennessee text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee § 20-3-101
What does Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-3-101 cover?
Section 20-3-101 ("Filing of abstract — Effect of not filing.") is part of the Tennessee Code Annotated, the codified statutory law of Tennessee. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Tennessee § 20-3-101?
A common citation format is "Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-3-101" (Tennessee). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Tennessee law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Tennessee official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Tennessee attorney.
How does Tennessee § 20-3-101 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Tennessee can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.