Process Serving · General Sessions
Detainer Warrant and Eviction Service in Tennessee
DFS serves detainer warrants, eviction papers and General Sessions civil warrants for landlords, property managers and the attorneys who represent them.
Possession cases move on volume
Property managers may have several detainer warrants in different counties in the same week. Each one has a court date, and each one depends on a valid return.
General Sessions civil warrants under Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-901 cover debt claims and other civil matters heard in Sessions. DFS handles these alongside detainers so one provider covers the docket.
Serving a detainer warrant
- Submit warrants and datesSend each issued warrant with the property address and court date.
- Confirm the quoteEach county, tier and price is listed in writing before attempts begin.
- Serve the occupantsAgents attempt personal service and log each attempt with GPS time stamps.
- Return before courtReturns and affidavits come back in time for the Sessions setting.
Landlord and Sessions papers
Detainer warrants, eviction papers and General Sessions civil warrants for landlords, managers and attorneys.
- Detainer warrantsService on tenants and occupants named in the warrant, timed ahead of the court date.
- Eviction-related papersRelated notices and filings counsel or the landlord needs delivered.
- General Sessions civil warrantsDebt, damages and other civil warrants issued out of Sessions court.
- Multi-property batchesSeveral warrants across different properties or counties submitted in one order.
- Recorded deliveryBody camera on every serve, which helps if the tenant later disputes receipt.
What DFS does not do in evictions
DFS serves papers. It does not remove tenants, change locks, handle property or enforce writs of possession.
- Any self-help eviction step is outside DFS's role.
- Method of service and notice requirements are set by statute and the court; counsel or the landlord confirms them.
- Agents do not negotiate rent, move-out dates or settlements with tenants.
Questions about detainer warrants & evictions
Can I submit several detainer warrants at once?
Yes. Send them together and each will be quoted by county and tier in one written quote.
What if the tenant has already left?
The agent documents what is observed at the property and reports back so you can decide the next step.
Do you serve civil warrants for small debt claims?
Yes. General Sessions civil warrants are served the same way as detainers, with a full return.
Guides on this topic
Longer answers from the DFS Guides & FAQ.
Related services
Next steps and alternatives that often go with this work.
Reviewed October 2026 by Delator Field Services. General information, not legal advice.
Papers ready to go out?
Send the documents and the recipient’s last known address through the request form. DFS confirms the county, tier and price in writing before the first attempt.
Questions first? Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com.