Tennessee Code Title 36. Domestic Relations § 36-5-2301

(a) Except as otherwise provided in parts 20-29 of this chapter, this part applies to all proceedings under parts 20-29 of this chapter.

(b) An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may initiate a proceeding authorized under parts 20-29 of this chapter by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state or a foreign country which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.