Franklin County, Tennessee Court Records
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Franklin County, Tennessee runs a multi-court judicial system based in Winchester, the county seat. Court records from these courts cover criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, probate matters, and equity cases heard in chancery. Each court's clerk maintains the official documentation for that court's proceedings. Whether you need to research a case, verify a judgment, get a certified copy, or run a background check, the first step is knowing which court handled the matter.
Tennessee residents have several ways to access court case information. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts provides online access to certain appellate case records through its Public Case History tool. For trial-level records, your best options are contacting the relevant clerk's office directly, using a public access terminal at the courthouse, or subscribing to the county's online case information system. TennesseeCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available court case information for Tennessee counties.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Franklin County?
Franklin County's Circuit Court handles the broadest range of case types—serious criminal matters, civil disputes, and family law. The Chancery Court focuses on equity matters, probate, and certain civil actions. The General Sessions Court covers minor criminal offenses, preliminary felony hearings, civil disputes within statutory monetary limits, and traffic violations. All three courts sit at the Franklin County Judicial Center in Winchester.
Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk
Address: 440 George Fraley Parkway, Room 157, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: (931) 967-2923
Clerk: Robert Baggett
Franklin County Chancery Court
Address: 440 George Fraley Parkway, Box 4, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: (931) 967-2843
Fax: (931) 968-2425
Clerk & Master: Katelyn Fuller Isbell
Franklin County Clerk
Address: 1 South Jefferson Street, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: (931) 967-2541
Fax: (931) 962-3394
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
County Clerk: Tina Sanders
Online Access
The Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk offers a subscription-based web portal for searching case records in both the Circuit and General Sessions Courts. The system shows case filings, service of process, charges, court dockets, hearing schedules, attorney information, fees, and payment history. The database updates nightly at 8:00 p.m. You'll need a username and password from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office to log in. The subscription fee is $350.00 per year.
In-Person and Mail Requests
- Visit the relevant clerk's office during business hours with the case number, party names, and approximate filing date.
- Submit written requests by mail to the applicable clerk's address, including identifying case details and payment for any required fees.
- Certified copies require written requests and applicable copy fees.
Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?
The Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. 10-7-503, is the foundation for public access to government records in Tennessee. It establishes that most government records—including court records—are open to inspection by any Tennessee citizen. That presumption of openness covers criminal case filings, civil dockets, court orders, and most other documents generated by the county's courts.
Several categories are restricted from public access under state and federal law:
- Juvenile records: Cases involving minors are sealed by default to protect the identities and interests of the children involved.
- Expunged criminal records: Records expunged under T.C.A. 40-32-101 are removed from public view and cannot be accessed without a court order.
- Adoption records: These are sealed and require a court order for access.
- Redacted personal data: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and medical information are redacted from publicly accessible court filings under state and federal privacy statutes.
- Certain mental health and medical records: When incorporated into court files, these are withheld from general public disclosure.
If you believe you're entitled to a restricted record through a legal interest, court order, or statutory right, contact the appropriate clerk's office directly to ask about the formal request process.
Franklin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Franklin County move through two primary courts depending on the severity of the offense. The General Sessions Court, presided over by Judge David L. Stewart, handles misdemeanor trials (when defendants waive their right to a jury trial in a higher court), traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Felony prosecutions, serious misdemeanors, and appeals from General Sessions all proceed to the Circuit Court, where three judges preside: Judge Bradley D. Sherman (Part I), Judge John H. Cameron (Part II), and Judge Justin C. Angel (Part III).
Obtaining Criminal Court Records
The Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of criminal proceedings. You can make requests in person at Room 157 of the Judicial Center or in writing by mail. Paid subscribers can search criminal dockets online through the county's portal at franklin.tncrtinfo.com.
Current criminal docket schedules are published for free on the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk's website and on the General Sessions Criminal Dockets page, listing upcoming hearing dates at no cost.
Arrest Records and Criminal History
Arrest records and incident reports are held by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office:
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Address: 494 George Fraley Parkway, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: (931) 962-0123
Fax: (931) 967-9884
Website: fcsheriff.org
For statewide criminal history background checks, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) allows the general public to request a Tennessee-only name-based criminal history on any individual for a fee of $29.00. No fingerprints are required for this type of search. The TBI maintains conviction records reported by law enforcement agencies across the state and is the authoritative source for official criminal history records in Tennessee.
Franklin County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Franklin County can be filed in either General Sessions Court or Circuit Court, depending on the dollar amount and nature of the claim. General Sessions handles civil cases up to Tennessee's statutory monetary limit (up to $25,000 for most civil actions) and is a common venue for landlord-tenant disputes, debt collection, and other smaller claims. The Circuit Court handles cases exceeding those thresholds, including complex contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property litigation.
The Franklin County Chancery Court, presided over by Chancellor Melissa Thomas Willis of the 12th Judicial District, exercises concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court in equity actions—including divorce proceedings and civil cases that exclude unliquidated damages. The Chancery Court does not typically conduct jury trials, though jury trials may be ordered upon demand. It also handles delinquent property tax collection and conducts delinquent tax sales.
Accessing Civil Records
- Circuit Court: Contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at (931) 967-2923 or visit Room 157 of the Judicial Center. Subscription access to case information is available through the county's online portal.
- Chancery Court: Contact the Chancery Court Clerk & Master at (931) 967-2843 or visit Box 4 at the Judicial Center. Dockets and pre-trial requirements for the 12th Judicial District are published on the Chancery Court's website.
- General Sessions Court: Handled by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Forms for General Sessions civil filings—including the Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency, Application for Writ of Immediate Possession of Personal Property, and Certificate of Service—are available on the General Sessions Forms page.
Property Records
Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other real estate instruments are recorded and maintained by the Franklin County Register of Deeds—not the court clerks. Start there for title searches and property transaction history.
Franklin County Register of Deeds
Address: 1 South Jefferson Street, Room 300, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: (931) 967-2840
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Register: Denise Ingle Marshall
Website: franklin.registerofdeeds.us
An online deed and document search is available through the Register's website, allowing you to search records without visiting in person.
Franklin County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Franklin County—divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence orders of protection, and guardianship—are handled by either the Circuit Court or the Chancery Court. Both courts have concurrent jurisdiction over divorce and custody proceedings. In practice, petitioners may file in either court. The Chancery Court is the more common venue for uncontested divorces and equity-based family matters, while contested divorce and custody cases more often proceed in Circuit Court.
Divorce Records
Divorce records are maintained by the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk or the Chancery Court Clerk & Master, depending on which court heard the case. To get divorce records, contact the appropriate clerk's office with the names of the parties and the approximate year of filing. Fees for certified copies apply. Divorce certificates (as distinct from full case records) are also available through the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Franklin County Clerk. Both parties must appear in person at 1 South Jefferson Street, Winchester, TN 37398. You can reach the County Clerk's Office at (931) 967-2541. Marriage certificates for recent events are available through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records for a fee of $15.00 per certified copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $5.00 each.
Birth and Death Certificates
Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Tennessee are issued by the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records as well as by county health departments statewide. The Franklin County Health Department can issue any birth or death certificate registered with the state—you don't need to go to the county where the event occurred.
Current vital records fees are as follows:
| Record Type | Fee Per Copy |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | $15.00 |
| Death Certificate | $15.00 |
| Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth | $15.00 |
| Amendment (6 months or more after event) | $15.00 |
| Additional copies (same order) | $5.00 each |
Access to birth and death records is limited to qualified applicants—the subject of the record, parents, children, spouses, legal guardians, or those presenting documentation establishing a legal right to the record. You can submit applications in person at a county health department, by mail to the state office, or online through the state's portal.
Juvenile and Adoption Records
Juvenile matters are heard in General Sessions Court, with Judge David L. Stewart also serving as the Juvenile Court judge for Franklin County. Juvenile records are sealed by statute and are not available to the public. Adoption records are similarly sealed and require a court order for access.
Franklin County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Franklin County rests with the Chancery Court, which oversees the administration of decedents' estates, the probate of wills, conservatorships, and guardianships over incapacitated persons. The Clerk & Master of the Chancery Court, Katelyn Fuller Isbell, maintains all probate case filings and provides public access to non-sealed records.
What Probate Records Contain
- Petitions to open an estate
- Inventories and appraisals of estate assets
- Wills submitted for probate
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
- Guardianship and conservatorship filings
- Final accountings and orders closing estates
How to Request Probate Records
- Contact the Franklin County Chancery Court Clerk & Master at (931) 967-2843 or visit 440 George Fraley Parkway, Box 4, Winchester, TN 37398.
- Provide the name of the decedent or protected person, the approximate year the case was opened, and any known case number.
- Ask for the specific documents you need—certified copies, plain copies, or an in-office review.
- Pay any applicable copy fees at the time of the request.
The Chancery Court website publishes docket call dates, daily court schedules, court forms, and pre-trial requirements for the 12th Judicial District, which includes Franklin County. These resources are useful for attorneys and self-represented parties navigating active probate proceedings. Court hours and any access or security requirements at the Franklin County Judicial Center are also posted on the Chancery Court's website.
Older historical probate records dating to the county's founding in 1807 may be available through the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which holds genealogical and historical vital records that can complement early probate proceedings. Researchers working on estate histories or family genealogies may find those collections a useful supplement to the records held by the Chancery Court.