In addition to meeting all other applicable rules governing the filing of pleadings, any complaint or petition seeking a termination of parental rights shall contain the following notice: "Any appeal of the trial court's final disposition of the complaint or petition for termination of parental rights will be governed by the provisions of Rule 8A, Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, which imposes special time limitations for the filing of a transcript or statement of the evidence, the completion and transmission of the record on appeal, and the filing of briefs in the appellate court, as well as other special provisions for expediting the appeal. All parties must review Rule 8A, Tenn. R. App. P., for information concerning the special provisions that apply to any appeal of this case."
Rule 9A.Petition for Termination of Parental Rights; Content of Petition
Last amended July 1, 2004 · Last verified July 2, 2026
In one sentenceRule 9A requires every complaint or petition seeking to terminate parental rights to include a specific notice warning the parties that any appeal is governed by the expedited procedures and shortened deadlines of Rule 8A of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Full Text of Rule 9A
Amendment History
- As added by order entered January 15, 2004, effective July 1, 2004.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 9A adds one narrow, mandatory requirement on top of the ordinary pleading rules: any complaint or petition seeking to terminate parental rights must include a specific written notice telling the parties that an appeal of the trial court’s final decision will be governed by Rule 8A of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. That appellate rule imposes shortened time limits for filing a transcript or statement of the evidence, completing and transmitting the record, and filing briefs, along with other provisions designed to move the appeal along quickly.
The Tennessee Supreme Court added Rule 9A in 2004, at the same time it adopted expedited appellate procedures for parental-termination cases. Because a termination proceeding decides whether a parent’s legal relationship with a child will end, the rule makes sure every party — not just the lawyers who may already know the appellate rules by heart — understands from the outset that any appeal will move on a faster, stricter timetable than an ordinary civil appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has to be included in a petition to terminate parental rights?
Beyond the ordinary pleading requirements, Rule 9A requires a specific notice stating that any appeal of the case will be governed by Rule 8A of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, which imposes shortened deadlines for the appeal.
Why does a termination petition need a special appellate notice?
Because Rule 8A of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure imposes special, expedited deadlines for appeals in parental-termination cases. Rule 9A makes sure every party is notified of that faster timetable from the moment the case is filed.
Does Rule 9A change any other pleading requirement for a termination petition?
No. The petition still must meet every other applicable pleading rule; Rule 9A adds only the notice requirement on top of those existing rules.
Source & verification. The rule text and Advisory Commission Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
official Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 9A). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Tennessee (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 16-3-402 to 16-3-407, 16-3-601). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 2, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: termination of parental rights petitionTPR petition noticeappellate notice requirement