Tennessee § 20-5-101 - No abatement where cause survives.
Full text of Tennessee Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-5-101 — No abatement where cause survives., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 20-5-101. No abatement where cause survives.
Actions do not abate by the death or other disability of either party, or by the transfer of any interest in the action, if the cause of action survives or continues. Code 1858, § 2845 (deriv. Acts 1785, ch. 2, § 2; 1786, ch. 14, § 1; 1819, ch. 16, §§ 1, 3; 1835-1836, ch. 77, § 1); Shan., § 4568; mod. Code 1932, § 8693; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 20-601. Cross-References. Costs on abatement, §§ 20-12-110 , 20-12-113 . Death of party during continuance, § 20-7-105 . Motion for judgment against officer, § 25-3-106 . Revival of judgments, title 25, ch. 4. Substitution of parties, Tenn. R. Civ. P. 25. Textbooks. Gibson's Suits in Chancery (7th ed., Inman), § 319. Pritchard on Wills and Administration of Estates (4th ed., Phillips and Robinson), §§ 691, 706. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 1 Tenn. Juris., Abatement, Survival and Revival, § 26; 20 Tenn. Juris., Parties, § 8. Law Reviews. An Exegesis of the Ejectment Statutes of Tennessee (R.D. Cox), 18 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. 581 (1988). The Abatement of Criminal Fines upon Death of Defendant: Punishment, Precedent, and Policy, 11 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. 67. Wrongful Death Actions in Tennessee (T. A. Smedley), 27 Tenn. L. Rev. 447. Comparative Legislation. Abatement and survival of actions: Ala. Code § 6-5-460 et seq. Ark. Code § 16-62-101 et seq. Ga. O.C.G.A. § 9-2-40 et seq. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 411.130, 411.140. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-25 et seq. Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 52.13. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 25. Va. Code § 8.01-16 et seq. Cited: Brummett v. Evans, 148 F. Supp. 309, 1957 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4020 (D. Tenn. 1957); Miller v. Bomar, 230 F. Supp. 204, 1963 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6572 (M.D. Tenn. 1963); Commercial Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. v. McCampbell, 580 S.W.2d 765, 1979 Tenn. LEXIS 427 (Tenn. 1979); Leffew v. Mayes, 685 S.W.2d 288, 1984 Tenn. App. LEXIS 3055 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1984); Brock v. Warren County, 713 F. Supp. 238, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5027 (E.D. Tenn. 1989); Thompson v. Williamson County, 219 F.3d 555, 2000 FED App. 233P, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 16679 (6th Cir. Tenn. 2000); Rusnak v. Phebus, — S.W.3d —, 2008 Tenn. App. LEXIS 328 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 29, 2008); Timmins v. Lindsey, 310 S.W.3d 834, 2009 Tenn. App. LEXIS 731 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 28, 2009).
Source: official Tennessee text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee § 20-5-101
What does Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-5-101 cover?
Section 20-5-101 ("No abatement where cause survives.") 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 § 20-5-101?
A common citation format is "Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-5-101" (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 § 20-5-101 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.