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Tennessee public records: who holds what

In Tennessee, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds, birth and death certificates come from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records and requests for other government records fall under the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA). Below: who holds every other record, what copies cost and the official link for each office.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Who holds what in Tennessee
  2. Public records law in Tennessee
  3. Probate records and wills in Tennessee
  4. How Tennessee organizes its records
  5. Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps
  6. Counties in Tennessee
  7. Warnings from official sources
  8. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  9. Official directories
  10. Sources

Who holds what in Tennessee

The office that keeps each record, and the fee the law or the office sets for a copy. Open a record type for the full rules, ordering steps and older records.

RecordWho holds itCopy fee
DeedsCounty Register of Deeds (an elected office in each of the 95 counties)1$1.00 per page for a certified copy of a document (up to 8½x14); $5.00 for a certified copy of a plat, map or survey (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1001)2
Property recordsCounty Assessor of Property appraises and classifies property and sets assessments3—
Court recordsTennessee's 95 counties form 32 judicial districts with Circuit and Chancery Courts, plus legislatively established Criminal and Probate Courts in some districts, and General Sessions courts. Records are kept by county-level clerks: elected Circuit Court Clerk (often also General Sessions clerk), appointed Clerk and Master (Chancery); some counties have a separate Criminal Court Clerk or General Sessions Clerk4Clerk copy fees under T.C.A. § 8-21-401(i): $5.00 per certification and seal plus $0.50 per page; $0.50 per page non-certified (as applied by the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk)5
Marriage recordsLicenses issued and recorded by the County Clerk (any county; valid 30 days); state certificates at the Office of Vital Records for the last 50 years; older records at the Tennessee State Library and Archives6County clerk: $5.00 to certify a copy; $0.50 per page for copies7
Divorce recordsDivorce case file: clerk of the court that granted it (Circuit Court Clerk or Clerk and Master of Chancery Court). Divorce certificates: Office of Vital Records (last 50 years); State Library and Archives for July 1945-1975; before July 1, 1945 only in county court records8$15.00 per certified copy from the Office of Vital Records9
Birth certificatesTennessee Office of Vital Records (Nashville) and every county health department (statewide electronic issuance)10$15.00 per certified copy (first and each additional); no-record letter $15.009
Death certificatesTennessee Office of Vital Records and every county health department10$15.00 per certified copy (first and each additional)9
Probate and willsChancery Court (Clerk and Master) by default; some counties have a separate Probate Court set up by law11—

Public records law in Tennessee

Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) (Tenn. Code Ann. Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5 (core access provision § 10-7-503; court petition § 10-7-505)) Read the law12

This law covers records that agencies hold, such as a county office's correspondence or a property file. Recorded deeds, vital records and court files usually have their own rules, set out in each record section.

Who can ask
Tennessee citizens only (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A)); an agency may, but need not, serve non-citizens; government-issued photo ID with address may be required13
Response time
Promptly if readily available; otherwise within 7 business days the custodian must (1) make records available, (2) deny in writing with the basis, or (3) give a written estimate of the time reasonably needed13
If a request is refused
Petition for access in the appropriate circuit or chancery court (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505); the Office of Open Records Counsel informally assists with disputes over ongoing requests13
What is exempt
Exemptions are spread throughout the Tennessee Code; OORC's January 30, 2018 report identified 538 statutory exceptions, with annual appendices (2018-2022) and a searchable Public Records Exception Database14
Official guide
Tennessee's official guidance comes from the Comptroller's Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC), not the Attorney General: comptroller.tn.gov/…13
Fees: inspection
Free; no charge to inspect unless another law requires one13
More on the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA)
Fees: copy per page
Up to $0.15 per black-and-white page and $0.50 per color page (8½x11 or 8½x14); duplex counts as two pages; higher only with documented actual cost or another legal basis15
Fees: labor
Hourly wage (base salary, no benefits) of employees needed, charged only after the first hour (labor threshold; an entity may set a higher threshold)15
Fees: estimate required
Custodian must give an estimate before charging13
Fees: electronic
No per-page charge for electronic copies unless paper must be produced (e.g., printing to redact); actual cost of flash drives/media; labor allowed13
Fees: statutory fees override
Other statutes can set specific fees for specific records (e.g., Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506(c)); register, clerk and vital-record fees are set by their own statutes15
How to ask
No central repository: request from the specific agency (each must have a public records policy naming a Public Records Request Coordinator); inspection requests cannot be required in writing, copy requests can13
ID requirement
Agency may require government-issued photo ID that includes an address13
Purpose
Requester generally need not state a purpose13
Repeat request penalty
An agency need not honor requests for 6 months from a person who makes 2 or more inspection requests within 6 months and each time fails to view the records within 15 business days of notice (unless for good cause); an agency may also refuse further requests from a person who fails to pay for produced copies after receiving and agreeing to an estimate, until that person pays13

How to write a public records request

Probate records and wills in Tennessee

Who holds it
Chancery Court (Clerk and Master) by default; some counties have a separate Probate Court set up by law11
Separate courts
Some judicial districts have legislatively established Probate Courts4
Older records
Historic wills and probate records (after 1861) can be ordered from the State Library and Archives8

How this works in other states: probate records and wills by state.

How Tennessee organizes its records

  • Assessment data for 9 counties (Chester, Davidson, Hamilton, Hickman, Knox, Montgomery, Rutherford, Shelby, Williamson) is kept by the counties, not the Comptroller; TPAD links out for those counties16
  • Probate goes to the Chancery Court (Clerk and Master) unless a county has a separate Probate Court established by law11
  • Court clerk offices differ by county: separate elected Criminal Court Clerk and/or General Sessions Clerk in some counties, created by private act or charter17
  • Public records access under the TPRA is a right of Tennessee citizens only; non-residents can be refused13
  • Any county health department can issue any Tennessee birth or death certificate10
  • Marriage license fee discount: $60 off with a premarital course; in Sevier County non-residents also get the $60 exemption18

Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps

Criminal history checks

State repository
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), CJIS Division19
Name based
$29: Tennessee-only adult criminal history on any person, no fingerprints, online (TORIS: tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris) or by mail; results by email19
Fee
$29 (Tennessee only, name-based)19
Fingerprint checks
FBI nationwide check: $50 through TBI's contractor IdentoGO (fingerprints required); qualified organizations: applicant $37.15, volunteer $33.15, international adoptions $23.9019
FBI fee
$5019
More about criminal history checks
Who may order
Anyone (general public) for the name-based check19

Sex offender registry

Official registry
sor.tbi.tn.gov/home19
Agency
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation19
Other registries
TBI also runs the Animal Abuse, Drug Offender and Persistent Domestic Violence Offender registries19

Inmate and jail lookups

State prisons
TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL): foil.app.tn.gov/foil/search.jsp — current and former felony offenders in TDOC custody or supervision (photo, status, location, offense, sentence, parole hearing, release)20
Disclaimer
TDOC makes no warranty of accuracy21
County jails
County jails are run by the county Sheriff; contact the sheriff's office22

Voter records

Check your registration
Voters can check their own registration and absentee ballot status at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup23
Who keeps them
County election commission23
Lists
Voter registration data may be bought for political purposes from the county election commission at uniform State Election Commission prices: $40 computer set-up (100,000 voters or fewer) or $75 (more than 100,000); $30 per 1,000 voters on paper24

Business names (DBA)

Companies and LLCs
Corporations, LLCs and other entities file with the Secretary of State; search at tncab.tnsos.gov/…25
Assumed names
Entities register an "assumed name" with the Secretary of State (valid 5 years, renewable); Tennessee does not recognize DBAs or fictitious names as such25
Assumed name fee
$20 (Application for Registration of Assumed Name, SS-4402, corporations)26
Certified copies
Request for a Certificate or Certified Copies form: no form fee listed26

Liens and UCC filings

Central
Secretary of State: file and search UCC records online via TNCaB (tncab.tnsos.gov/portal); bulk UCC database and images also available27
State fees
UCC-1 financing statement $15*, UCC-3 amendment $15*, UCC-11 information request $15* (*additional fees may apply)26
Fixture filings
Fixture filings are recorded with the county Register of Deeds: $15 per record (+$0.50 per page over ten), $15 per additional name indexed, $1.00 per page for UCC copies (T.C.A. § 47-9-525)2
Federal liens
Federal tax lien notices and releases are recorded with the county Register of Deeds28
Judgment liens
Liens and judgments are recorded with the Register at the standard per-page rate (Davidson: $5/page, $10 minimum + $2 DP fee)29
More about liens and ucc filings
Fraudulent filing
SOS form SS-4306 (UCC Fraudulent Lien Filing), no fee26

GIS and parcel maps

State GIS portal
STS-GIS (Dept. of Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions): tn.gov/finance/sts-gis.html; GIS applications, the Tennessee Base Mapping Program and GIS data (free to state government institutions; private organizations may buy data for contractual work that benefits the State)30
Parcel data
Comptroller Geographic Services: downloadable county parcel shapefiles (Esri format) with assessment tables, updated weekly; usable for any purpose; not for Chester, Davidson, Hamilton, Hickman, Knox, Montgomery, Rutherford, Shelby and Williamson (contact those counties)16
Excluded counties
Chester, Davidson, Hamilton, Hickman, Knox, Montgomery, Rutherford, Shelby, Williamson16
Disclaimer
Parcel lines are approximate, for tax purposes only, and not legal boundaries16

Historical and genealogy records

Archives
Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), Secretary of State: sos.tn.gov/tsla31
Vital transfers
Births go to TSLA after 100 years; deaths, marriages and divorces after 50 years32
Order fees
TSLA research/copy orders: $5.00 for Tennessee residents, $10.00 out of state (mail or email); certification +$5 (mail only); certified documents on site $5.508
Holdings
Vital records, Civil War service and pension records, land grants, county deeds, tax lists, court minutes, wills/probate, newspapers and more8
Shelby indexes
Shelby County Register of Deeds hosts online indexes: Tennessee deaths 1949-2014, divorces 1980-2014, marriages 1980-201433

Counties in Tennessee

17 counties with a full guide

Each guide lists the office for every record type, the official online searches, copy fees, phones and hours.

All 95 counties

Names in bold open our guide. Names with an arrow go to the county's own website, where the US Census Bureau lists one and it opened when we checked.34

Warnings from official sources

  • Davidson County Register of Deeds warns that private companies mail offers to provide a copy of your deed for much more than the office charges; a certified copy from the Register is $1.00 per page35
  • Secretary of State (Sept 16, 2026): "Business Resource Center Compliance Division" mailers falsely suggest new businesses need a Certificate of Status for an excessive fee; no such form is required36
  • Secretary of State (Jan 12, 2026): "Tennessee Business Filing Center" mailers/emails charge excessive fees to file annual reports37
  • Vital records: VitalChek is the only state-authorized online vendor; other sites are not official10
  • Davidson County offers free Property Alert sign-up to catch fraudulent filings38

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Tennessee office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Official directories

Lists that name the office in every county.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 42 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Register of Deeds (CTAS-59)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  2. Standard Fees (CTAS-794)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  3. Assessment vs TaxationTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessments
  4. Circuit, Criminal, Chancery & Business CourtsTennessee Administrative Office of the Courts
  5. Criminal Background ChecksCriminal Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County
  6. Marriage (CTAS-390)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  7. Marriage: Fees and Taxes (CTAS-396)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  8. Order Records from TSLATennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee State Library and Archives
  9. FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  10. How do I get my certificate? (In Person, Local County Health Department, Mail, or Online)Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  11. Probate Court (CTAS-498)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  12. Sunshine LawsTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel
  13. Tennessee Public Records Act FAQsTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel
  14. Exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records ActTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel
  15. Schedule of Reasonable ChargesTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel
  16. Parcel DataTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Geographic Services
  17. Clerks of Court (CTAS-75)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  18. Additional Fee, Premarital Preparation Course (CTAS-440)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  19. Background ChecksTennessee Bureau of Investigation, CJIS Division
  20. Offender Search (FOIL)Tennessee Department of Correction
  21. Felony Offender Information search pageTennessee Department of Correction
  22. Jail Administration (CTAS-184)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  23. Elections FAQsTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Elections
  24. Order a Voter ListDavidson County Election Commission (Nashville.gov)
  25. Business Services FAQsTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations
  26. Business Forms & FeesTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations
  27. Business Services: ServicesTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations
  28. Proper Fees for Recording or Filing (CTAS-790)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  29. Register of Deeds Filing FeesMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Register of Deeds
  30. STS GISTennessee Department of Finance & Administration, Strategic Technology Solutions
  31. Library & ArchivesTennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee State Library and Archives
  32. Genealogy ResearchTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  33. Tennessee Vital Records (indexes)Shelby County Register of Deeds
  34. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  35. Homeowner Alert: Deed Copy Scam (PDF)Davidson County Register of Deeds
  36. Secretary of State Tre Hargett Issues New Warning About Third-Party Scams Targeting Newly Formed Businesses in TennesseeTennessee Secretary of State
  37. Secretary of State Tre Hargett Issues New Warning About Third-Party Solicitors Targeting Business RenewalsTennessee Secretary of State
  38. Register of DeedsMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
  39. County DirectoryUniversity of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Li
  40. Tennessee Property Assessment Data (TPAD)Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
  41. Appealing to the State Board of EqualizationTennessee State Board of Equalization (Comptroller)
  42. Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts home pageTennessee Administrative Office of the Courts