When someone needs to serve a lawsuit, subpoena, or demand notice on an insurer, TDCI’s service-of-process page is the public checklist. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-2-504, process to be served on an insurance company may be made through the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
TDCI is explicit about identifiers: complaints, demand notices, duces tecum, subpoenas, and similar papers need the complete insurance company name to be served AND the NAIC CoCode on the summons. The department also states it cannot forward miscellaneous mail to an insurance company — service packets are not a free mail drop.
Seasons change. So should your coverage. For a free personal policy review, call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/.
By All Seasons Insurance Group — informational only; not legal advice; no coverage or eligibility promise.
| TDCI service-of-process requirement | Detail from TDCI page |
|---|---|
| Summons copies | 2 copies of a court-issued summons, 1 original and 1 copy |
| Complaint copy | 1 copy (not necessary if filed in General Sessions Court) |
| Fee | $15 cash, check, or money order payable to the Commissioner of Insurance |
| Affidavit | Last known address of the defendant(s) |
| Identifiers on summons | Complete company name AND NAIC CoCode |
Before you assemble a packet, look up the company license and NAIC CoCode with Tennessee as the jurisdiction and Company as the search type, as TDCI instructs. A wrong CoCode is a common reason service stalls.
This pathway is separate from filing a consumer insurance complaint and separate from asking an agent for a policy review. East Tennessee readers with ordinary coverage questions — not litigation — can still use the All Seasons quote link above for a declarations check.
Can TDCI accept service of process for an insurance company?
Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-2-504, the process to be served on an insurance company may be made through the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
What must appear on the summons?
TDCI states that complaints, demand notices, duces tecum, subpoenas, and similar papers need the complete insurance company name to be served AND the NAIC CoCode on the summons.
What documents and fee does TDCI require to serve process?
TDCI lists 2 copies of a court-issued summons (1 original and 1 copy), 1 copy of the Complaint (not necessary if filed in General Sessions Court), $15 cash, check, or money order payable to the Commissioner of Insurance, and an affidavit giving the last known address of the defendant(s).
Will TDCI forward miscellaneous mail to an insurer?
No. TDCI’s page states: Miscellaneous Mail: The Department is unable to forward miscellaneous mail to an insurance company.
How do I look up an NAIC CoCode before serving?
TDCI directs readers to verify an insurance company’s license and research its NAIC CoCode, and to note that jurisdiction on the lookup should be Tennessee with search type Company.
Is filing a consumer insurance complaint the same as service of process?
No. Service of process is a legal-service pathway described on TDCI’s service-of-process page. Consumer complaint filing is a separate TDCI tool.
Does All Seasons provide legal advice about lawsuits?
No. This article restates TDCI’s public service-of-process instructions for consumer education. Lawsuit questions belong with your attorney.
How can I get a policy review unrelated to litigation?
For ordinary coverage questions, call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/. Bring your declarations page so company names and NAIC numbers are clear.
