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Tennessee court records

Who holds it: Tennessee'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 Clerk1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How the courts keep their files
  2. What is public and what is sealed
  3. More details
  4. Related records in Tennessee
  5. How Tennessee handles it
  6. Court records in Tennessee counties with a full guide
  7. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  8. Sources

Fees

Clerk 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)2

Statewide case search

No official statewide trial-court case search was found. The AOC's Appellate Case Search (Public Case History, pch.tncourts.gov) searches appellate cases only; for trial-court records, contact the clerk in the county where the case originated (some clerks have their own online search, e.g., Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk)3

How the courts keep their files

County search (example)
Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk online case search: sci.ccc.nashville.gov/Search/Search4

What is public and what is sealed

What is public
Court records are generally open for inspection at the clerk's office; e.g., Davidson County gives free viewing of all public criminal records and free online case summaries2
Sealed and confidential records
Expungement (T.C.A. § 40-32-101) is ordered by the court where the case originated; free for dismissed charges, no true bill, release without charge, acquittal, nolle prosequi, or an order of protection denied after hearing5

More details

Clerks
Circuit Court Clerk: elected, 4-year term, sometimes also General Sessions clerk; Clerk and Master: appointed by the Chancellor for 6 years6
Separate clerks
Some populous counties have an elected Criminal Court Clerk and/or a separate General Sessions Clerk7
Criminal history checks: state repository
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), CJIS Division8
Criminal history checks: fee
$29 (Tennessee only, name-based)8
Criminal history checks: who may order
Anyone (general public) for the name-based check8
Divorce records: who holds it
Divorce 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 records9
Probate: who holds it
Chancery Court (Clerk and Master) by default; some counties have a separate Probate Court set up by law10

How Tennessee handles it

  • Probate goes to the Chancery Court (Clerk and Master) unless a county has a separate Probate Court established by law10
  • Court clerk offices differ by county: separate elected Criminal Court Clerk and/or General Sessions Clerk in some counties, created by private act or charter7

Court records in Tennessee counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Blount County—Chancery Court (also Circuit Equity, General Sessions Domestic and General Sessions Probate filings) - Clerk & Master11Circuit Court copies $0.50 per page; certified $5 plus $0.50 per page (all cases except Juvenile are public record)12
Bradley County———
Davidson County—Criminal Court and General Sessions Court (criminal), Davidson County13
Circuit Court (eight Circuit Courts) and General Sessions Court civil division14
Chancery Court15		Circuit Court Clerk: certification and seal $5.00; copies $0.50/page (effective January 1, 2026). Criminal Court Clerk: $5.00 per certification and seal plus $0.50 per page; $0.50 per page non-certified16
Hamilton County—Criminal Court (Divisions I-III) and General Sessions Court, Criminal Division17
Circuit Court and General Sessions Court, Civil Division18		Circuit Court Clerk copies $0.50 per page; certified copies $5.00 plus $0.50 per page19
Knox County—Circuit Court (three divisions) and Civil Sessions Court20
Criminal Court, General Sessions Court - Criminal, and Fourth Circuit Court21		Fees: chancery copy: $.50 per page22
Madison County——Circuit Court certified copies $5.00 per certification plus 50 cents a page; large requests use the open records room23
Maury County—Circuit Court (22nd Judicial District), General Sessions Parts I & II, Juvenile Court24
Chancery Court24		Clerk and Master copies: $.50 per page25
Montgomery County—Circuit Court, General Sessions and Juvenile26—
Putnam County—Circuit Court27
General Sessions Court27		Certified Copy $5.00 (all courts under this schedule); plain copy fee not listed28
Rutherford County—Circuit Court29
General Sessions Court29
Chancery Court30		Circuit Civil: copies $0.50 per page; certification & seals $5.00; exemplified copy $15.00 + $0.50 per page31
Sevier County—Sevier County General Sessions Court32General Sessions: copies $.50, certified copy $5.00, exemplified copy $10.00. Chancery copies: $0.50 per page plus $5 per certification32
Shelby County—Circuit Court33
Chancery Court33
Criminal Court34		Circuit and Chancery: certified copies $5.00 plus $0.50 per page; non-certified $0.50 per page; credit cards accepted; no online payment for copies35
Sullivan County—Circuit Court / Law Court (Blountville, Bristol, Kingsport), General Sessions and Juvenile Courts36
Chancery Court37		Chancery: copies $.50/page; certification and seal $5.00; exemplified copy $10.00 plus $0.50 per page (fee sheet 1/1/2026-12/31/2026)38
Sumner County—Circuit Court39
General Sessions Court39		—
Washington County—Criminal Court40
Circuit Court41
General Sessions Court42		—
Williamson County——General Sessions: copies $.50 each; certification and seal $5.00; exemplification $15.00 (effective 01/01/2026)43
Wilson County——Fees: circuit copies: $0.50 per page; certification and seal $5.00 plus $.50 per page44

For any other county, see the county list on the Tennessee guide.

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.

Rules in other states: court records in every state. Everything else in Tennessee: Tennessee public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Circuit, Criminal, Chancery & Business CourtsTennessee Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  2. Criminal Background ChecksCriminal Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson Countychecked November 4, 2026
  3. Appellate Case Search (Public Case History)Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  4. Criminal Court ClerkMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson Countychecked November 4, 2026
  5. ExpungementsTennessee Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  6. About Court ClerksTennessee Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  7. Clerks of Court (CTAS-75)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Lichecked November 4, 2026
  8. Background ChecksTennessee Bureau of Investigation, CJIS Divisionchecked November 4, 2026
  9. Order Records from TSLATennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee State Library and Archiveschecked November 4, 2026
  10. Probate Court (CTAS-498)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Lichecked November 4, 2026
  11. Online Court Records SearchBlount County, TNchecked November 4, 2026
  12. Circuit Criminal CourtBlount County, TNchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Criminal Background ChecksCriminal Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson Countychecked November 4, 2026
  14. Circuit Court Clerk - Joseph P. Day, Clerk (home)Davidson County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Chancery Information Access (CIA)Davidson County Chancery Court Clerk and Masterchecked November 4, 2026
  16. Circuit Court Filing Fees (Effective January 1, 2026)Davidson County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Hamilton County Court SystemHamilton County Governmentchecked November 4, 2026
  18. Circuit Court TN Case FinderHamilton County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Frequently Asked Questions: Circuit CourtHamilton County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  20. KnoxCircuit RecordsKnox County, Tennesseechecked November 4, 2026
  21. Criminal Court Clerk (home)Knox County, Tennesseechecked November 4, 2026
  22. Chancery - Copies and CertificationKnox County, Tennesseechecked November 4, 2026
  23. Request Certification of Copies and Cost (Circuit Court form)Madison County, Tennesseechecked November 7, 2026
  24. Clerk & MasterMaury Countychecked November 4, 2026
  25. Copies of Court Documents Office Policy (PDF)Maury County Clerk and Masterchecked November 4, 2026
  26. Tn-mon-circuitrecMontgomery County Government, TNchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Circuit Court Clerk FAQ'sPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  28. Putnam County General Sessions Circuit Court Filing FeesPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  29. Subscription Login NoticeRutherford County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  30. Chancery Court homeRutherford County Chancery Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  31. Circuit Court Clerk - Civil DivisionRutherford County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  32. General Sessions ClerkSevier County, Tennesseearchived copychecked November 7, 2026
  33. CourtsShelby County Governmentchecked November 4, 2026
  34. Shelby County Criminal Justice System PortalShelby County Government (Tyler Technologies portal)checked November 4, 2026
  35. Divorce CopiesShelby County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  36. Sullivan County: cm-linksSullivan County, Tennesseechecked November 5, 2026
  37. Sullivan County Online Court Records SystemSullivan County (tncrtinfo.com host)checked November 5, 2026
  38. Chancery Filing Fees 1/1/2026-12/31/2026Sullivan County Clerk and Masterchecked November 5, 2026
  39. Case Search (Online Court Records System)Sumner County (court records portal linked by the Sheriff)checked November 4, 2026
  40. Washington County Online Court Records SystemWashington County (tncrtinfo.com host)checked November 5, 2026
  41. Washington County TN: circuit-courtWashington County, Tennesseechecked November 5, 2026
  42. Washington County TN: sessions-courtWashington County, Tennesseechecked November 5, 2026
  43. General Sessions Civil Court Costs effective 01/01/2026Williamson County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  44. Circuit Civil Court: FeesWilson County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026