All actions in law or equity shall be known as “civil actions.”
Tenn. R. Civ. P. 2
Advisory Commission Comments.
Prior to the adoption of these Rules, Tennessee practice spoke of “civil actions at law”(T.C.A. §20-201) [since repealed] and of “suits”in chancery (T.C.A. §21-102) [since repealed]. Rule 2 simplifies the terminology of applying a single term to all civil actions.
Advisory Commission Comment [2013].
The 2013 Advisory Commission Comment to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 3 provides guidance for determining whether a statutorily authorized “petition” is considered a “complaint” or a “motion” for purposes of the Rules of Civil Procedure.