Rule 101 Title of Rules —Scope —Purpose and Construction

(a) Title. These rules shall be known and cited as the Tennessee Rules of Juvenile Practice and Procedure.

(b) Scope. These rules apply to delinquent, unruly, and dependent and neglect proceedings.

(c) Exclusions.

(1) Traffic offenses are governed by T.C.A. § 37-1-146.

(2) Surrenders of parental rights are governed by T.C.A. §§ 36-1-111 and 112.

(3) The Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure shall govern the following

proceedings:

(A) termination of parental rights pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-1-113;

(B) parentage pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-2-301, et seq;

(C) guardianship and mental health commitment involving children;

(D) child custody proceedings under T.C.A. §§ 36-6-101, et seq., 36-6-201, et seq., and 37-1-104(a)(2) and (e);

(E) grandparent visitation proceedings pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-6-306; and

(F) civil contempt pursuant to T.C.A. §§ 29-9-104 and 105.

(4) The procedures employed in general sessions court under the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure shall govern the following proceedings:

(A) child abuse prosecutions, pursuant to T.C.A. §§ 37-1-412 and 39-15-401;

(B) nonsupport of children pursuant to T.C.A. § 39-15-101, et. seq.;

(C) contributing to the delinquency or unruly behavior of a child, pursuant to T.C.A. § 37-1-156;

(D) contributing to the dependency and neglect of a child, pursuant to T.C.A. § 37-1-157;

(E) offenses involving adultsarising under T.C.A. § 49-6-3001, et. seq.; and

(F) criminal contempt pursuant to T.C.A. § 29-9-102.

(5) The Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court shall govern proceedings under T.C.A. §§ 37-10-303 and 304.

(d) Purpose and Construction. These rules are designed to implement the purposes of the juvenile court as expressed in T.C.A. § 37-1-101 by providing speedy and inexpensive procedures for the hearing of juvenile cases that assure fairness and equity and that protect the rights and interests of all parties; by promoting uniformity in practice and procedure; and by providing guidance to judges, magistrates, attorneys, parties, youth services and probation officers, and others participating in the juvenile court.