How do I access court records?

County Clerk of Court / Circuit Court Clerk (county level - each of TN's 95 counties) / Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (state level)

Step by Step

How to do it

Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (major civil, criminal felonies in some counties), Criminal Court (felonies in larger counties), Chancery Court (domestic relations, equity in many counties), General Sessions Court (misdemeanors, small civil), Juvenile Court, or TN Court of Appeals / Supreme Court
Search online:
TENNESSEE COURTS PORTAL: tncourts.gov - Tennessee's main court website; links to court records and case lookups
TN eCOURTS / CASE SEARCH: Tennessee Courts offers case information online through its portal; access varies by county and court type
TENNESSEE APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS: tncourts.gov/courts - Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions searchable online
For full case documents or certified copies: contact the appropriate county Clerk of Court
In-person access: visit the county courthouse; bring photo ID and case details

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
Case number or full legal name of parties

Fee

Online case search: free for basic information where available; certified copies: typically $0.50-$1 per page; contact specific county Clerk for current schedule

Processing Time

Online: immediate where available; same day or by mail for certified copies

Online Option

Yes - tncourts.gov; case access varies by county

Where to Go

Appropriate county Clerk of Court in county where case was filed

County-specific variations apply

TN's 95 counties each have their own clerks for different court types. Shelby County (Memphis) has separate Criminal and Civil Court Clerks; Davidson County (Nashville Metro) has a consolidated court clerk structure. Knox County, Hamilton County, and Rutherford County have well-resourced clerk offices. Many rural TN counties have single General Sessions and Circuit/Chancery clerks handling all court types. The level of online access varies considerably by county.

Tennessee Notes

Important state-specific details

TN appellate opinions at tncourts.gov are well-organized and searchable.
Marriage records: at county Clerk where license was issued (same as County Clerk for licenses); copies also through TN Vital Records.
Divorce records: Chancery/Circuit Court in county where divorce was filed; certificates also through TN Vital Records.
Criminal history background checks: TN Bureau of Investigation (TBI) - tn.gov/tbi | (615) 744-4000; fee-based.
TN Sex Offender Registry - tn.gov/tbi/criminal-investigation-division/sex-offender-registry-unit.html - searchable online.
Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules.
TN Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503): presumption of public access; agencies must respond within 7 business days.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts - tncourts.gov | (615) 741-2687; TN Bureau of Investigation (criminal records) - tn.gov/tbi | (615) 744-4000