Dyer County Court Records Search

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    Dyer County, Tennessee, is anchored by its county seat of Dyersburg in the state’s northwest region. Its court system handles a broad range of legal matters through multiple courts — from felony criminal prosecutions to equity disputes, small claims, juvenile proceedings, and probate administration. Each court generates official records that document filings, hearings, orders, and judgments, and understanding where those records are kept is the first step to accessing them.

    Tennessee residents looking for court records can begin their search through several avenues: clerk offices located at the Dyer County Courthouse, public access terminals available for walk-in use, and online tools maintained by the state’s judicial system. TennesseeCourts.us can help users identify the correct court, locate available case information, and navigate public access resources for courts across the state. For appellate cases, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts provides a Public Case History search covering the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Dyer County?

    All of Dyer County’s primary courts are housed at the Dyer County Courthouse, 101 West Court Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024. The appropriate clerk’s office depends on the type of case involved:

    CourtClerkPhoneRoom
    Circuit CourtTom “TJ” Jones(731) 286-7808Room 200
    General Sessions CourtTom “TJ” Jones(731) 286-7809Room 200
    Chancery Court (incl. Probate & Juvenile)Cindy Rose(731) 286-7818Room 201
    County ClerkDiane Moore(731) 286-7814201 W. Market St.

    All clerk offices operate Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    For online case searches and fee payments, the Circuit Court and General Sessions Court use the CourtFeePay online payment system, which accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. A service fee of 2.5% plus $1.00 applies to all online transactions. Dyersburg City Court fines and fees can be paid separately through the nCourt online payment portal.

    For records not accessible online, requesters may submit written requests by mail to the appropriate clerk’s office or visit in person during business hours. Providing the case number, party names, and approximate filing date will help staff locate documents efficiently.

    Are Court Records Public in Dyer County?

    Court records in Dyer County are governed by the Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, which grants Tennessee citizens the right to inspect and copy public records maintained by state and local governmental entities. The Act creates a presumption of openness — records must be made available unless a specific statutory or legal exception applies.

    Several categories of court records are exempt from public disclosure or subject to restricted access:

    • Juvenile court records — confidential under Tennessee law to protect the privacy of minors
    • Adoption records — sealed under court order
    • Surrender of parental rights records — not open to general public inspection
    • Victim-identifying information — withheld to protect crime victims
    • Order of protection filings — documents required to initiate a protective order case carry confidentiality protections
    • Attorney-client privileged materials — exempt from disclosure
    • Records sealed by court order — inaccessible without a court directive authorizing release

    When a record contains both public and restricted information, clerks may redact the exempt portions and provide the remainder. Requesters who believe a records request has been improperly denied may seek review under the Public Records Act’s dispute resolution process.

    Dyer County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Dyer County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the offense. Felony charges and more serious criminal proceedings are heard by the Dyer County Circuit Court, while misdemeanors and lower-level criminal matters are handled by the Dyer County General Sessions Court. Both are served by Circuit Court Clerk Tom “TJ” Jones at Room 200 of the courthouse.

    Criminal court records typically include charging documents, indictments, arraignment orders, pre-trial motions, plea agreements, trial transcripts, verdicts, and sentencing orders. To request copies:

    1. Contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (731) 286-7808 (felonies) or (731) 286-7809 (General Sessions) during business hours.
    2. Provide the defendant’s full name, approximate case filing date, and case number if known.
    3. Pay applicable copying or certification fees at the time of the request.
    4. Mail requests may be directed to: Dyer County Circuit Court Clerk, 101 West Court Street, Room 200, P.O. Box 1360, Dyersburg, TN 38024.

    For arrest records, booking information, incident reports, and jail records, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office is the relevant agency. Sheriff Jeff Box leads the office, and the Dyer County Sheriff’s Communications Division operates around the clock to manage emergency and non-emergency calls. The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office maintains booking records, jail logs, and incident reports in accordance with the Tennessee Law Enforcement Records Retention Schedule. Public records requests to the Sheriff’s Office should be submitted in writing in compliance with the Tennessee Public Records Act.

    For a comprehensive statewide criminal history check, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) operates the state’s central criminal records repository. The general public may request a Tennessee-only name-based background check for $29.00 per request — fingerprints are not required, and results are delivered electronically to a valid email address. For a nationwide FBI background check, fingerprints are required and the fee is $50.00. Qualified organizations requiring both Tennessee and FBI checks pay $37.15 for applicants or $33.15 for volunteers.

    Dyer County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Dyer County are distributed across the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and General Sessions Court depending on the nature and dollar amount of the dispute. The General Sessions Court handles smaller civil claims — including money disputes, detainer warrants (landlord-tenant), and small claims — with a jurisdictional limit of $25,000. Parties may represent themselves in General Sessions civil proceedings without an attorney.

    The Circuit Court handles civil matters that exceed the General Sessions jurisdictional threshold, as well as tort actions, appeals from General Sessions and other lower courts, and other civil proceedings within its jurisdiction. The Chancery Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over most equitable cases and concurrent jurisdiction with other courts over certain categories of civil matters, including contract disputes and real property issues.

    Civil court records encompass complaints, motions, orders, judgments, and appeals. To obtain civil court records:

    • In person: Visit the appropriate clerk’s office at the courthouse during business hours and provide case identifying information.
    • By mail: Send a written request to the Circuit Court Clerk (Room 200) or Chancery Court Clerk (Room 201) at 101 West Court Street, P.O. Box 1360, Dyersburg, TN 38024.
    • Online payments: Use CourtFeePay for paying outstanding civil court fees on General Sessions and Circuit Court cases.

    For property records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats — the Dyer County Register of Deeds is the custodian. Register Danny Fowlkes can be reached at (731) 286-7806. The office is located at 101 West Court Street, Room 200, Dyersburg, TN 38024, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Property value and ownership information is maintained separately by the Dyer County Property Assessor, Sheila Holmes, at 117 W. Market Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024; Phone: (731) 286-7804

    Dyer County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Dyer County fall primarily under the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court, which handles divorce and dissolution of marriage, child custody and support, adoption, paternity, and related proceedings involving children of unmarried parents. The Juvenile Court — also administered through the Chancery Court Clerk’s office — has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, and certain matters overlapping with circuit and chancery courts involving minor children. Chancery Court Clerk Cindy Rose can be reached at (731) 286-7818.

    Divorce records contain final decrees, custody arrangements, property settlements, and support orders. Because divorce proceedings in Dyer County are filed in Chancery Court, requests for certified copies of divorce records should be directed to the Chancery Court Clerk at Room 201, 101 West Court Street, P.O. Box 1360, Dyersburg, TN 38025. Requests should include the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the divorce.

    For certified copies of divorce certificates (as distinct from the full court file), the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records maintains certificates for divorces granted statewide. Certified divorce certificates cost $15.00 per copy. Eligible requesters may apply in person at the Vital Records Office, by mail using the divorce certificate application form, or online through VitalChek. A government-issued photo ID is required with all requests.

    Marriage licenses in Dyer County are issued by the Dyer County Court Clerk, Diane Moore, at 201 W. Market Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024; Phone: (731) 286-7814 For certified copies of marriage certificates, the same Vital Records process applies — requests may be made by mail using the marriage certificate application, in person at the state Vital Records Office (Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37243), or online through VitalChek. The fee is $15.00 per certified copy. Only authorized individuals — including the parties to the marriage, direct family members, and legal representatives — may obtain certified marriage certificates.

    Birth and death records for events occurring in Dyer County are available through the Dyer County Health Department, located at 1755 Parr Avenue, Dyersburg, TN 38024; Phone: (731) 285-7311 Access is restricted to qualified applicants such as the registrant, parents, spouses, and children. The fee is $15.00 per certified copy. Requests may also be submitted to the state’s Vital Records Office using the birth certificate application or the death certificate application, with valid photo identification and the applicable fee included.

    Dyer County Probate Court Records

    Probate jurisdiction in Dyer County rests with the Chancery Court, which oversees the administration of deceased persons’ estates, validation of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, conservatorship proceedings, and guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults. The Chancery Court Clerk and Master, Cindy Rose, maintains all probate case files and can be contacted at:

    Dyer County Chancery Court Clerk
    Address: 101 West Court Street, Room 201, P.O. Box 1360, Dyersburg, TN 38025
    Phone: (731) 286-7818 | Fax: (731) 288-7706
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    Email: Cindy.Rose@tncourts.gov

    Probate records are generally accessible to the public unless sealed by court order. To request probate documents, requesters should provide the name of the decedent or ward, the case number if known, and the names of any attorneys or personal representatives involved. Requests may be made in person at Room 201 of the courthouse or by written mail request.

    When a person dies leaving a valid will, the executor named in the will must petition the Chancery Court to have the will probated and to receive letters testamentary authorizing estate administration. When no will exists, the court appoints an administrator and directs distribution under Tennessee’s intestate succession statutes. Guardianship petitions — whether for minors whose parents are unable to care for them or for adults deemed legally incompetent — are similarly filed with the Chancery Court and managed through the Clerk and Master’s office.

    For historical probate and chancery records, the Dyer County Archives/Records Office holds materials and can be reached at (731) 288-7730, at 117 West Market Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.