Search Tennessee court records online. Access criminal cases, civil suits, small claims, family law, probate, and appellate decisions through official Tennessee court portals.
Access Tennessee Courts online directly. Search court records; from Tennessee county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Tennessee dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state web sites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to Tennessee probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Tennessee state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.
Access court case information through official Tennessee portals and county clerk offices.
Access TNCourts (free) to search statewide case records. You can typically search by party name, attorney, case number, or filing date. Criminal and civil cases are usually searchable without charge.
Tennessee courts include: Trial Courts (circuit, district, superior), Appellate Courts (Court of Appeals), and the Tennessee Supreme Court. For local matters — misdemeanors, traffic, small claims — search at the county or municipal court level.
For older records or certified copies, contact the county court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Fees for certified copies vary by county (~$1–$5 per page). Clerks can also confirm whether a case is sealed or restricted.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal criminal, civil rights) are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER charges $0.10/page but the first $30/quarter is free for casual users.
As there may be more one source to obtaining Tennessee criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.
Tennessee supreme court may, within the court's discretion, i.e., "discretionary jurisdiction", hear cases involving civil, criminal, non-capital criminal, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision matters. Tennessee's court of criminal appeals must hear, i.e., has "mandatory jurisdiction" over, capital criminal, criminal, juvenile, and original proceeding cases. These courts have discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases. Tennessee's court of appeals have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, administrative agency, and juvenile cases. These courts have discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases. Tennessee's criminal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve criminal matters, including criminal appeals. Tennessee's chancery courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $50 and up, except regarding small claims cases, and domestic relations matters. Jury trials are available in these courts. Tennessee's probate courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve estate matters, and administrative agency appeals. No jury trials are available in these courts. Tennessee's municipal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve misdemeanors, DWI or DUI matters, and traffic or other violations. These courts hold venue to preliminary hearings. No jury trials are available in these courts. Tennessee's juvenile courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve juvenile matters, mental health matters, support, custody, paternity, and other miscellaneous domestic relations matters. No jury trials are available in these courts. Tennessee's general sessions courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $0 to an unspecified "varying" amount, mental health, and estate, i.e., probate, cases. These courts have exclusive small claims jurisdiction, where the amount in controversy falls within $0 to $15,000-$25,000. General sessions courts also hear cases involving marriage dissolution, support, custody, juvenile matters, misdemeanors, DWI or DUI matters, and traffic or other violation. These court hold venue to preliminary hearings. No jury trials are available in these courts.Most Tennessee court case information is free to view online through the official court portal: TNCourts (free). Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1–$5 per page when requested from the county clerk. Federal court records through PACER cost $0.10/page after the $30/quarter free threshold.
Public Tennessee court records include: criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors), civil lawsuits, small claims, family court (divorce, custody, support), probate (wills, estates), traffic cases, and appellate decisions. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and domestic violence protective orders may be restricted.
Request certified copies in person, by mail, or through the court's online portal from the county court clerk where the case was filed. Provide the case number, parties' names, and the type of document needed. Fees typically range from $1–$10 per page plus certification fees. Processing time is usually 1–5 business days.