Tennessee § 36-6-219 - Temporary emergency jurisdiction — Order enforcement — Communication with foreign courts.
Full text of Tennessee Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-219 — Temporary emergency jurisdiction — Order enforcement — Communication with foreign courts., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 36-6-219. Temporary emergency jurisdiction — Order enforcement — Communication with foreign courts.
A court of this state has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this state and the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because the child, or a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse. If there is no previous child custody determination that is entitled to be enforced under this part and a child custody proceeding has not been commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218, a child-custody determination made under this section remains in effect until an order is obtained from a court of a state having jurisdiction under §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218. If a child custody proceeding has not been or is not commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218, a child custody determination made under this section becomes a final determination, if it so provides and this state becomes the home state of the child. If there is a previous child custody determination that is entitled to be enforced under this part, or a child-custody proceeding has been commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218, any order issued by a court of this state under this section must specify in the order a period that the court considers adequate to allow the person seeking an order to obtain an order from the state having jurisdiction under §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218. The order issued in this state remains in effect until an order is obtained from the other state within the period specified or the period expires. A court of this state which has been asked to make a child-custody determination under this section, upon being informed that a child-custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child-custody determination has been made by, a court of a state having jurisdiction under §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218, shall immediately communicate with the other court. A court of this state which is exercising jurisdiction pursuant to §§ 36-6-216 — 36-6-218, upon being informed that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child-custody determination has been made by, a court of another state under a statute similar to this section shall immediately communicate with the court of that state to resolve the emergency, protect the safety of the parties and the child, and determine a period for the duration of the temporary order. Acts 1999, ch. 389, § 20. Compiler's Notes. Former part 2, §§ 36-6-201 — 36-6-225 (Acts 1979, ch. 383, §§ 1-25; 1981, ch. 483, § 1; T.C.A., §§ 36-1301 — 36-1325), the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, was repealed and replaced by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act by Acts 1999, ch. 389, § 1, effective June 14, 1999. For current provisions, see this part.
Source: official Tennessee text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee § 36-6-219
What does Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-219 cover?
Section 36-6-219 ("Temporary emergency jurisdiction — Order enforcement — Communication with foreign courts.") 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 § 36-6-219?
A common citation format is "Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-219" (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 § 36-6-219 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.