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Putnam County, Tennessee public records

In Putnam County, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds; property values come from the Property Assessor; court files are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Putnam County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsRegister of Deeds4Search deeds2Fee chargedCertified copy fee: $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)3
Property values and ownersProperty Assessor4Property search5—
Property tax billsTrustee4Tax bill search6—
Court casesCircuit Court Clerk2Circuit Court7
General Sessions Court7		Certified Copy $5.00 (all courts under this schedule); plain copy fee not listed8
Marriage recordsCounty Clerk4——
Divorce recordsClerk and Master or Circuit Court Clerk2——
Birth certificatesPutnam County Health Department, Cookeville Clinic9—$15.00 each9
Death certificatesPutnam County Health Department, Cookeville Clinic9—$15.00 each9
Probate and willsCircuit Court Clerk2——
Business names (DBA)County Clerk4——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Putnam County are recorded by the Register of Deeds.4

Online search
ustitlesearch.com2Fee charged
Cost
Fee: monthly subscription2
Who runs it
US Title Search2
Earliest records
18542
Certified copy fee
$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)3
Recording fees
All other documents $5.00 per page, 2 page minimum, plus $2.00 EDP fee; e-filed documents add $2.002
How to order
In person, by phone, by mail, or by email2
DD-214
DD-214s are the one exception to public access; recording a discharge is free2
Fraud alerts
My Land Alert, free2

How deeds work in Tennessee

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Property Assessor sets property values4; Trustee bills and collects the tax4.

Tax bill search
citisenportal.com/…6
Tax payment fees
Card 2.5%; eCheck $1.256
Tax due
First Monday in October through last day of February without interest; interest from March 1 at 1.5% per month6
Delinquent
Clerk and Master collects delinquent taxes and holds delinquent tax sales10
Parcel map (GIS)
tnmap.tn.gov/assessment5
Appealing a value
County Board of Equalization; book a hearing through the Assessor's office5
State appeal
1) County Board of Equalization (usually convenes June 1; contact the county assessor for deadlines); 2) State Board of Equalization: file by August 1 of the tax year or within 45 days of the county board's notice, whichever is later; hearing before an administrative judge; 3) chancery court within 60 days of the State Board's final order11

How property tax works in Tennessee

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit CourtCivil and criminal; dockets and local rules are published separately7Circuit Court Clerkputnam.tncrtinfo.com/cmCaseList.aspx7
General Sessions CourtCriminal (Mon, Wed, Fri) and civil (Tue, Thu); judges also sit as probate and juvenile judges7Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit and General Sessions civil)putnam.tncrtinfo.com/cmCaseList.aspx7
Chancery Court (Thirteenth Judicial District)Divorce, adoption, contract/debt, property and boundary disputes, name changes, conservatorship, and more10Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit and General Sessions civil)—
Clerk duty
Circuit Court Clerk keeps records for General Sessions, Circuit and Juvenile courts7
How to order
Email the records clerk with the defendant, plaintiff, case number and year7
Fees
Certified Copy $5.00 (all courts under this schedule); plain copy fee not listed8
Not all public
Not all court documents are public7
Statewide note
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 Clerk12

Criminal records and background checks

Local background
Sheriff's Records Division does local background checks and report copies13
Accident reports
$5.00 cash14
Police reports
Lobby request form13

How Tennessee courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the County Clerk.4

Marriage license fee
$99.00; $41.00 with notarized 4-hour pre-marital counseling form; no checks15
License validity
30 days15
State
Licenses 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 Archives16

Tennessee marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by the Clerk and Master (Chancery divorce) or Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit divorce).2

Chancery
Chancery Court hears divorce (Clerk and Master)10
Circuit
Circuit Court Clerk also takes divorce filings; pro se forms on its site17
State
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 records18

Tennessee divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Putnam County Health Department, Cookeville Clinic.9

Fee
$15.00 each9
What it covers
Anyone born in Tennessee9
State
Tennessee Office of Vital Records (Nashville) and every county health department (statewide electronic issuance)19
Who may order
Restricted: the registrant, mother, father (only if listed), son, daughter, husband, wife; legal guardians, legal representatives and attorneys with documentation20

Ordering a Tennessee birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Putnam County Health Department, Cookeville Clinic.9

Fee
$15.00 each9
Who may order
Spouse, children, or someone with legal documentation9
State who may request
Mother, father, son, daughter, husband, wife, and the funeral director handling services; beneficiaries, executors, guardians, legal representatives and attorneys with documentation of a legal right or claim20
State
Tennessee Office of Vital Records and every county health department19

Ordering a Tennessee death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Circuit Court Clerk (General Sessions probate filings).2

Which court
General Sessions judges also serve as Probate judges21
Filings
Circuit Court Clerk's fee schedule lists probate filings, such as $376.50 for a testate executor petition8
Forms
Clerk's Forms page has small-estate forms17
State default
Chancery Court (Clerk and Master) by default; some counties have a separate Probate Court set up by law22

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the County Clerk.4

Business license
County Business License, initial cost $15.0015
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 such23
Companies and LLCs
Corporations, LLCs and other entities file with the Secretary of State; search at tncab.tnsos.gov/…23

Voter records

Kept by the Election Commission.4

Check your registration
Voters can check their own registration and absentee ballot status at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup25
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 paper26

Historical records

County archives
Putnam County Archivist, also in charge of the Veterans Hall27
State
Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), Secretary of State: sos.tn.gov/tsla28

Good to know about Putnam County records

  • Register of Deeds records date back to 18542
  • County originated in 1842, per the UT CTAS directory29
  • Deed searches online require a paid monthly subscription; in-office research is the alternative2
  • Unpaid taxes stay with the Trustee until the following March 31, then go to Chancery Court, where the Clerk and Master collects them6
  • Courts sit at the Putnam County Justice Center, with a free hourly shuttle from the parking lots30

Office addresses, phones and hours

Register of Deeds

Address
300 E Spring St, Room 3, Cookeville, TN 385012
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.2

Property Assessor

Address
300 East Spring St, Room 1, Cookeville, TN 385015
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.5

Trustee

Address
300 E. Spring St, Room 2, Cookeville, TN 385016
Mail
Putnam County Trustee, 300 East Spring Street Room 2, Cookeville, TN 385016
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.6

County Clerk

Address
121 S Dixie Ave, Cookeville, TN 3850115
Hours
Lobby Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.15

Circuit Court Clerk

Address
421 East Spring Street, Room 1C, Suite 49A, Cookeville, TN 3850130
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM30

Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit and General Sessions civil)

Address
421 East Spring Street, Room 1C, Suite 49A, Cookeville, TN 3850130
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM30

Clerk and Master (Chancery Court)

Address
421 E. Spring St., Suite 1C38, Cookeville, TN 3850110
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.10

Circuit Court Clerk (General Sessions probate filings)

Address
421 East Spring Street, Room 1C, Suite 49A, Cookeville, TN 3850130
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM30

Clerk and Master (Chancery divorce) or Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit divorce)

Address
421 E. Spring St., Suite 1C38, Cookeville, TN 3850110
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.10

Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Records Division

Address
421 East Spring Street, Cookeville, TN14

Putnam County Health Department, Cookeville Clinic

Address
701 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 385019
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.9

Election Commission

Address
705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 3850124
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm24

Putnam County Archives

Address
1656 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN 3850127
Hours
Wednesday-Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm27

Records that are not online: public records requests

State rule
Tennessee has no central repository for public records31

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Putnam County?

The Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: In person, by phone, by mail, or by email. Certified copies: $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).423

Can I search Putnam County land records online for free?

No, the official online search charges a fee. Fee: monthly subscription. The official search: ustitlesearch.com2

How much is a birth certificate in Putnam County?

$15.00 each.9

How much does a marriage license cost in Putnam County?

$99.00; $41.00 with notarized 4-hour pre-marital counseling form; no checks.15

How do I look up who owns a property in Putnam County?

Use the property search of the Property Assessor: assessment.cot.tn.gov/TPAD5

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 Putnam County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Tennessee with a full guide: Blount County, Bradley County, Davidson County, Hamilton County, Knox County, Madison County, Maury County, Montgomery County, Rutherford County, Sevier County, Shelby County, Sullivan County, Sumner County, Washington County, Williamson County, Wilson County. Every county in the state: Tennessee county list.

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. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Register of DeedsPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  3. Standard Fees (CTAS-794)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Lichecked November 8, 2026
  4. Departments (county department list)Putnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  5. Property AssessorPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  6. TrusteePutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  7. Circuit Court Clerk FAQ'sPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  8. Putnam County General Sessions Circuit Court Filing FeesPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  9. Birth & Death Certificates | Putnam County Health DepartmentPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  10. Clerk and MasterPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  11. Appealing to the State Board of EqualizationTennessee State Board of Equalization (Comptroller)checked November 8, 2026
  12. Circuit, Criminal, Chancery & Business CourtsTennessee Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 8, 2026
  13. Sheriff's Office Records DivisionPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  14. Putnam County Sheriff's OfficePutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  15. County ClerkPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  16. Marriage (CTAS-390)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Lichecked November 8, 2026
  17. Circuit Court Clerk FormsPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  18. Order Records from TSLATennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee State Library and Archiveschecked November 8, 2026
  19. How do I get my certificate? (In Person, Local County Health Department, Mail, or Online)Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 8, 2026
  20. Entitlement GuidelinesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 8, 2026
  21. Judges Office of the General Sessions CourtPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  22. Probate Court (CTAS-498)University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), e-Lichecked November 8, 2026
  23. Business Services FAQsTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizationschecked November 8, 2026
  24. Election CommissionPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  25. Elections FAQsTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Electionschecked November 8, 2026
  26. Order a Voter ListDavidson County Election Commission (Nashville.gov)checked November 8, 2026
  27. ArchivesPutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  28. Library & ArchivesTennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee State Library and Archiveschecked November 8, 2026
  29. Putnam County directory entryUniversity of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Servicechecked November 8, 2026
  30. Circuit Court Clerk's OfficePutnam Countychecked November 8, 2026
  31. Tennessee Public Records Act FAQsTennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counselchecked November 8, 2026
  32. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026