Fayette County, Tennessee Court Records

Fayette County is a largely rural county east of Memphis, with its county seat in Somerville. The county court system covers everything from traffic violations to complex civil litigation and estate proceedings. Case documents — filings, orders, judgments, and transcripts — are the primary records generated by these courts and are used by attorneys, researchers, journalists, and members of the public who need verified legal information.

Start by identifying which court handled the case, since each court keeps its own records. TennesseeCourts.us can help you find court contact information, online case lookup tools, and statewide public access resources. Once you know the right court, you can request records in person at the clerk's office, search through online judicial portals, or submit a mail request.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Fayette County?

The best approach depends on the type of case and which court handled it. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts offers a Public Case History portal for searching the Tennessee Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals. For trial-level cases — circuit, chancery, general sessions, and juvenile — you'll generally need to contact the specific court directly.

Key Fayette County Court Locations

Court	Address	Phone	Hours
Circuit & General Sessions Court	705 Justice Drive, Somerville, TN 38068	(901) 465-5205	Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Chancery Court	16755 Highway 64, Suite 210, Somerville, TN 38068	(901) 465-5219	Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Juvenile Court	705 Justice Drive, Somerville, TN 38068	(901) 466-3900	Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Both the Circuit and General Sessions Courts share the Bill G. Kelley Criminal Justice Complex at 705 Justice Drive. The clerk for both courts is Ed Pulliam, and the fax number is (901) 465-5215. The Chancery Court is staffed by Clerk & Master Amy Anderson, reachable at Amy.Anderson@tncourts.gov.

In-Person Requests

Walk-in requests are accepted during normal business hours at each clerk's office. Bring the case party's name, the case number if you have it, and a valid photo ID. Staff will locate the record and let you know about any applicable copying fees before producing documents.

Online Search

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts maintains the Public Case History system for appellate-level cases. For trial court records, the TNCrtInfo portal provides access to case information for participating Tennessee courts. For complete trial court records, though, visiting the relevant clerk's office in person remains the most reliable option.

Are Court Records Public in Fayette County?

Tennessee's Public Records Act, codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, gives every Tennessee citizen the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by government entities, including courts. Custodians must respond promptly and may charge reasonable fees for copies, but they cannot charge you simply to inspect records in person.

Several categories of court records carry confidentiality protections and are not available to the general public:

Juvenile court records — Protected under Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-153, which makes juvenile court dockets and case files presumptively confidential. Identifying information about minors in dependency, delinquency, and neglect proceedings is not publicly accessible.
Grand jury records — Grand jury proceedings and related documentation are sealed under Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 6.
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and orders are closed to the public; access requires a court order.
Certain domestic matters — Information in child custody proceedings involving minors may be partially or fully restricted depending on the nature of the filing.

For records that are generally public, you can inspect documents at the clerk's office or request certified copies. The fee schedule varies by court, but standard copying fees in Fayette County run $1.00 per page for transcripts and $2.00 per certificate and seal, in addition to other assessed costs.

Fayette County Criminal Court Records

The Fayette County Circuit Court handles felony prosecutions and serious misdemeanor cases as part of the 25th Judicial District. It operates out of the Bill G. Kelley Criminal Justice Complex and maintains all criminal case files, including charging documents, motions, plea agreements, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders. The General Sessions Court handles preliminary hearings in felony cases, along with misdemeanor trials and traffic-related criminal matters.

Circuit & General Sessions Court
Address: 705 Justice Drive, Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: (901) 465-5205 | Fax: (901) 465-5215
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

To get criminal court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office directly. Have the defendant's full name ready, along with the case number or approximate filing date if you know them. Certified copies are available for a fee per the court's published schedule.

Arrest Records and the Sheriff's Office

Arrest records are maintained separately from court records by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Bobby Riles oversees the department, which operates at:

Address: P.O. Box 219, 705 Justice Drive, Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: (901) 465-3456 | Fax: (901) 466-3950
Jail Information: (901) 465-5247
Email: contactus@fcsotn.org

Public records requests submitted to the Sheriff's Office are handled under the Tennessee Public Records Act. A written request is not strictly required by law, but submitting one in writing helps ensure timely and accurate fulfillment.

Statewide Criminal History Checks

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains the state's central criminal history repository. Members of the public may request a Tennessee adult criminal history check on any individual. The current fee is $29.00 per request, and checks can be completed online through the TBI Backgrounds portal or by mail. You'll need the subject's full name, date of birth, race, and sex. Fingerprint-based checks are also available for higher-accuracy results through IdentoGO-licensed providers.

Fayette County Civil Court Records

Civil case records in Fayette County are split between two courts depending on the dollar amount of the claim and the subject matter.

General Sessions Court Civil Jurisdiction

The General Sessions Court handles civil disputes under the statewide jurisdictional cap of $25,000, as set by Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501. This court also covers small claims matters, landlord-tenant disputes, and forcible entry and detainer actions. The process is more streamlined than in Circuit Court and does not require a jury trial, though parties can appeal an unfavorable decision to the Circuit Court.

Circuit Court Civil Jurisdiction

Larger civil matters — including breach of contract claims above the General Sessions threshold, personal injury actions, and appeals from General Sessions — go to the Circuit Court. Civil filings, orders, and judgments are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at 705 Justice Drive.

Chancery Court Equitable Jurisdiction

The Fayette County Chancery Court, presided over by Chancellors Kasey A. Culbreath and William C. Cole, handles equitable matters including injunctions, trusts, certain contract disputes, real property partition actions, and divorce proceedings. It also serves as the court of first instance for probate matters. The Chancery Court is located at:

Fayette County Chancery Court
Address: 16755 Highway 64, Suite 210, P.O. Box 220, Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: (901) 465-5219 | Fax: (901) 465-5217
Email: Amy.Anderson@tncourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

To request civil records from any of these courts, contact the relevant clerk's office with the case party names and the approximate case number or filing date. The clerk will advise on copying fees before producing documents.

Fayette County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Fayette County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support modifications, and domestic violence orders of protection — are primarily handled by the Chancery Court and, for certain proceedings, the Circuit Court.

Divorce and Separation

Divorce petitions are filed with the Fayette County Chancery Court. The base filing fee is approximately $218.00, plus publication costs that vary based on the length of the required legal notice. Cases involving minor children carry additional requirements, including mandatory parenting plans and potential referrals to child support services.

Child Custody and Support

Custody and support determinations are adjudicated within divorce proceedings or as independent actions in the appropriate court. To modify an existing custody or support order, you must file with the court that entered the original order.

Domestic Violence

Orders of protection in domestic violence cases are handled through the General Sessions Court or Chancery Court. Under Tennessee law, petitioners may request emergency ex parte orders of protection, which are served by the Sheriff's Office.

Adoption and Guardianship

Adoption proceedings are handled by the Chancery Court and carry strict confidentiality protections. Records related to adoptions are sealed under Tennessee law and are not available to the public without a court order. Adoption fingerprinting for applicants carries a separate fee of $43.25 per person.

Vital Records Related to Family Matters

Marriage and divorce certificates, as well as birth and death records, are maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. Each certified copy costs $15.00. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or online. Mail requests go to:

Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243

All mail requests require a completed application form — available for marriage certificates, divorce certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates — along with a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID and a $15.00 money order or check made payable to Tennessee Vital Records. Each application must be notarized before submission.

Juvenile Court

The Fayette County Juvenile Court, presided over by Judge David Douglas, handles delinquency cases, dependency and neglect proceedings, and matters involving the Department of Children's Services. All juvenile court records are confidential under Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-153 and are not accessible to the general public. Accessing sealed juvenile records requires a court order.

Fayette County Juvenile Court
Address: 705 Justice Drive, Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: (901) 466-3900 | Fax: (901) 465-5286
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Municipal Courts

Several incorporated municipalities in Fayette County operate their own city courts, handling local ordinance violations and misdemeanor traffic matters within their jurisdictions:

Gallaway City Court — 333 Old Brownsville Road, P.O. Box 168, Gallaway, TN 38036 — (901) 867-3333
La Grange City Court — 20 Main Street, P.O. Box 621, La Grange, TN 38046 — (901) 878-1246
Moscow Municipal Court — 14075 Highway 57, Moscow, TN 38057 — (901) 877-3585
Oakland Municipal Court — 170 Doss Circle, P.O. Box 521, Oakland, TN 38060 — (901) 465-0070
Piperton Municipal Court — 3575 Highway 196, Piperton, TN 38017 — (901) 853-4834
Rossville Municipal Court — 360 Morrison Road, P.O. Box 27, Rossville, TN 38066 — (901) 853-4681
Somerville City Court — 13085 North Main Street, P.O. Box 909, Somerville, TN 38068 — (901) 465-7301

Each municipal court keeps its own records separately from the county court system. Contact the relevant city clerk for record request procedures.

Fayette County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Fayette County fall under the jurisdiction of the Fayette County Chancery Court, which oversees estate administration, probating of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Clerk & Master Amy Anderson staffs the court.

What Probate Records Are Available

Probate records held by the Chancery Court include:

Last wills and testaments filed for probate
Letters testamentary and letters of administration
Inventories and accountings of estate assets
Guardian and conservatorship appointments and reports
Name change orders
Estate settlement and distribution records

These documents are generally public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act unless a specific statutory exception applies.

How to Request Probate Records

Contact the Chancery Court clerk's office in writing or in person. Provide the decedent's full name and approximate date of death or case number. The court will confirm which documents are available, advise on copying fees, and produce copies upon payment. For guidance on opening a new probate matter, reach out to the Clerk & Master's office directly.

Fayette County Chancery Court (Probate)
Address: 16755 Highway 64, Suite 210, P.O. Box 220, Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: (901) 465-5219 | Fax: (901) 465-5217
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Probate Filing Fees

Probate filing fees are assessed at the time of filing and vary by the nature and complexity of the estate. Full estate administration filings typically run in the range of $350.00 to $450.00, which may include publication costs. Small estate affidavit procedures are available for qualifying estates and carry lower fees. The Tennessee Comptroller's property assessment database can also help identify real property included in an estate, searchable by owner name, parcel ID, or address.