Instant Access to Civil and
Criminal Court Records

Tennessee Court Records

The Tennessee Courts Website is designed to  help provide insight into the hierarchy and structure of the state’s judicial system. Tennessee's court system is organized in a hierarchical structure that includes trial courts (e.g., chancery, criminal, circuit, and probate courts), intermediate appellate courts (the Court of Appeals and Courts of Criminal Appeals), and the Supreme Court.

In Tennessee, circuit courts are courts of general jurisdiction that hear civil and criminal cases and appeals of decisions from lower-level courts. Chancery Courts typically hear cases involving contract disputes, applications for injunctions, and name changes. Criminal courts relieve circuit courts with heavy caseloads by handling misdemeanor appeals from lower courts. Probate courts oversee wills and the administration of estates as well as conservatorships and guardianships.

The Tennessee Supreme Court, as the state's apex court, may hear appeals of civil and criminal cases from lower state courts, interpret state and federal laws, and decide cases in the Court of Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Tennessee Public Records Act provides general access to state government records subject to certain restrictions. In contrast, Supreme Court Rule 34 specifically provides public access to court records, but access to certain records may be restricted or sealed, depending on the case type or applicable privacy laws. This website offers general information to assist the public with accessing Tennessee Public Records where possible. It does not provide official records or legal advice.