Weird tenant eviction scenario....

[Jesse Birdwell]

Hello all, hope someone can provide me with some intell. I am in a weird situation with one of my SFH Rental's in Tennessee. On July 1 I had a tenant move into the house. Meet her the Saturday she moved in and collected her 1st month rent and deposit of $1275. She asked if I could wait a day or so to cash it I said no problem at all. End of the week I deposited her check. The next Wednesday the bank called and informed me her check was written out of a closed account. I called tenant and she said I'm sorry I already got you a money order and mailed it. Another week goes by and of course no money order. She claims they lost it. Now we're on week 3 and of course I realize she's beating me around the bush. My question is this. And may be a dumb question at that but I have never had to evict anyone in 5 years of doing this. Is our signed lease agreement valid and binding being that initial funds were technically never colllected? If so what steps does anyone suggest I take to get this tenant out?