Grainger County Court Records Search

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    Grainger County is a rural county in northeastern Tennessee, with Rutledge serving as the county seat. The county's court system spans five types of courts — Circuit, Chancery, General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal — each maintaining its own records and serving distinct jurisdictional purposes. These records document the full range of legal proceedings conducted in the county and are important resources for attorneys, researchers, journalists, and members of the public who need to verify case outcomes, trace legal history, or gather information for personal or professional purposes.

    Finding court records in Tennessee generally means identifying the correct court and clerk, then using available in-person, mail, or online access options. Clerk offices at the courthouse maintain physical files, while public access terminals allow on-site electronic searches without requiring a formal request. TennesseeCourts.us can help you identify courts, understand jurisdiction, and find links to publicly available case information across the state.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Grainger County?

    How you search for a Grainger County court record depends on the type of case and which court handled it. The Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk & Master maintain the bulk of the county's court records, though each office covers different subject matter. Circuit Court Clerk Sherry Clifton is responsible for records from the Circuit Court, General Sessions Court, and Juvenile Court. The Clerk & Master's office separately handles Chancery Court, Probate Court, and Child Support Court records.

    Here are your practical options for locating a case:

    • Check the court docket online — The Grainger County Circuit Court Clerk's website publishes court dockets that can help you identify whether a case was scheduled and which court division handled it.
    • Use the statewide appellate case search — The Tennessee courts system maintains a Public Case History tool for searching Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals records online.
    • Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in person — Staff can assist with searching Circuit Court, General Sessions, and Juvenile Court records. Bring a party name or case number.
    • Visit the Clerk & Master's office — Chancery, probate, and child support cases are handled here.
    • Submit a written request — Requests can be mailed to the appropriate clerk's office using the addresses below.

    Grainger County Circuit Court Clerk
    Physical Address: 270 Justice Center Dr., Suite 114, Rutledge, TN 37861
    Mailing Address: P.O. Box 157, Rutledge, TN 37861
    Phone: (865) 828-3605 | Fax: (865) 828-3339
    Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday — 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    Grainger County Clerk & Master (Chancery/Probate/Child Support)
    Physical Address: 270 Justice Center Drive, Suite 107, Rutledge, TN 37861
    Mailing Address: P.O. Box 160, Rutledge, TN 37861
    Phone: (865) 828-4436 | Fax: (865) 828-8714
    Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday — 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch)

    Are Court Records Public in Grainger County?

    Court records in Grainger County are generally public documents. Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34, the public has the right to inspect records maintained by Tennessee courts unless a specific exemption applies. T.C.A. § 10-7-503 under the Tennessee Public Records Act also confirms citizens' rights to access public records maintained by government entities. Court records fall within both frameworks — presumptively open, but subject to defined categories of restriction.

    The following categories of Grainger County court records are treated as confidential and are not available for public inspection:

    • Financial information submitted for income verification purposes
    • Images and recordings of juveniles taken by law enforcement
    • Information identifying human trafficking service providers, family safety centers, rape crisis centers, or domestic abuse shelters
    • Unexecuted search warrants
    • Contingency or security plans related to terrorist incidents
    • Records sealed by individual court order

    In addition to these categorical exemptions, certain identifying data must be redacted before records are released, when feasible. This includes Social Security numbers, credit card and financial account numbers, tax identification numbers, burglar alarm codes, and security access codes. This redaction obligation applies regardless of whether the underlying record is otherwise public.

    Records containing none of the above restricted material are available upon request at the appropriate clerk's office, subject to any reasonable requirements intended to preserve the integrity of the record and protect the judicial process.

    Grainger County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal proceedings in Grainger County are heard at two primary levels. Felony prosecutions go through the Grainger County Circuit Court, which exercises general criminal jurisdiction and also hears appeals from lower courts. Misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic offenses are handled by the General Sessions Court, which shares the same clerk and physical address as the Circuit Court. The General Sessions Court also conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases and handles bond matters before a case is bound over to the grand jury.

    Circuit Court Clerk Sherry Clifton maintains criminal records for both courts. Court dockets — useful for identifying hearing dates and case numbers — are publicly available through the Grainger County Circuit Court Clerk's docket page at no cost and without submitting a formal public records request.

    To request criminal court records in person or by mail:

    • Contact or visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 270 Justice Center Dr., Suite 114, Rutledge, TN 37861
    • Provide the full name of the party or the assigned case number
    • Specify the type of records needed (e.g., indictment, plea, sentencing documents, criminal judgment)
    • Pay applicable copy fees at the time of the request

    For law enforcement-level criminal history information — including arrests, bookings, and conviction history — contact the Grainger County Sheriff's Department at 270 Justice Center Drive, Rutledge, TN 37861, Phone: (865) 828-3613 Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503(g), criminal records held by law enforcement are public records. Requests must be submitted in writing and directed to the records department, identifying the subject by name and specifying the type of records sought — such as arrest records, booking records, or incident reports. Costs for criminal record requests typically range from $15 to $35, depending on the number of documents and the method of submission.

    For a comprehensive statewide criminal history covering arrests and convictions across all Tennessee jurisdictions, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) administers a public background check service. Any member of the public may obtain a Tennessee-only name-based criminal history for a fee of $29, provided they supply the subject's name, date of birth, race, and sex.

    Municipal courts in Grainger County handle misdemeanor ordinance violations and local traffic matters separately from Circuit and General Sessions Court:

    • Bean Station Town Court — 785 Main Street, Bean Station, TN 37708 | Phone: (865) 993-3177 | Fax: (865) 993-3619
    • Rutledge City Court — Highway 11 West, P.O. Box 465, Rutledge, TN 37861 | Phone: (865) 828-3660 | Fax: (865) 828-4037

    Grainger County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Grainger County are distributed across the Circuit Court and the General Sessions Court depending on the dollar amount of the dispute, and the Chancery Court for equity and domestic matters. The Circuit Court has unlimited monetary jurisdiction over civil suits and hears appeals of civil judgments from the General Sessions Court. The General Sessions Court handles limited-jurisdiction civil matters — including torts, contracts, and landlord-tenant disputes — with a monetary cap of $25,000 under Tennessee law.

    The Circuit Court Clerk maintains civil case records for both courts. Filing fees for civil matters vary by case type and are published on the clerk's filing fees page, with separate schedules for General Sessions filing fees and Circuit Court civil filing fees. Parties appearing before these courts should also review the applicable local rules, which are available for Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, General Sessions, and Chancery proceedings.

    To request civil court records:

    • Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 270 Justice Center Dr., Suite 114, Rutledge, TN 37861 during regular hours
    • Provide the party name or case number to locate the specific file
    • Specify whether you need a standard copy or a certified copy, as fees differ
    • Mail requests can be sent to P.O. Box 157, Rutledge, TN 37861

    Chancery Court civil matters — including equity disputes, land title actions, and contract cases in equity — are maintained by the Clerk & Master at Suite 107 in the same building. Judgment enforcement, delinquent tax collection, and delinquent tax sale records are also held by the Clerk & Master's office.

    Grainger County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Grainger County fall primarily under the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court, with the Clerk & Master maintaining the records. The Clerk & Master's office, led by Vickie B. Greenlee (appointed 1987), handles civil cases filed for Chancery Court, Probate Court, and Child Support Court. Cases processed through this office include divorces, child custody matters, paternity determinations, adoptions, and orders of protection. The General Sessions Court also has jurisdiction over orders of protection under Tennessee law.

    Divorce Records: When a divorce is filed in Grainger County, the case proceeds through the Chancery Court and is recorded with the Clerk & Master. These records are civil case records and are generally accessible to the public after proceedings conclude. To obtain a Grainger County divorce record from the court, contact the Clerk & Master at (865) 828-4436 or visit Suite 107 at 270 Justice Center Drive. For a certified divorce certificate from the state, the Tennessee Department of Health maintains statewide records through its Office of Vital Records. A divorce record request form must be completed and submitted to the health department. The fee for a certified divorce certificate is $15.

    Marriage Records: Marriage licenses in Grainger County are issued through the County Clerk. Certified marriage certificates are available from the Tennessee Department of Health's Vital Records Office by submitting a marriage records request form. The fee is $15 per certified copy. Requests can be submitted in person at a local health department office or by mail. Marriage certificates are confidential and can only be requested by a spouse, parent, or child of the parties, with appropriate supporting documentation.

    Adoption Records: Adoption proceedings are heard in Chancery Court, but the resulting records are sealed and not available for public inspection.

    Birth and Death Records: Birth and death certificates for vital events occurring in Grainger County are maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. Birth records are restricted to the registrant, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives. Death records carry similar access restrictions. Both certificates cost $15 per copy. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or online through the department's designated vendor. Mail requests should be addressed to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243.

    Grainger County Probate Court Records

    Probate proceedings in Grainger County are managed through the Chancery Court and administered by the Clerk & Master's office at 270 Justice Center Drive, Suite 107, Rutledge, TN 37861. The Clerk & Master processes a broad range of probate-related case types, including the administration of decedents' estates, will filings, conservatorships, guardianships, workers' compensation matters, partition suits, and contract disputes that fall within equity jurisdiction.

    The availability of probate records varies by the nature of the document:

    • Wills — Become part of the public record once admitted to probate
    • Estate administration files — Generally accessible to the public, including inventories, accountings, and orders of distribution
    • Guardianship records — May be restricted depending on the circumstances and individuals involved
    • Adoption-related records within probate — Sealed from public access
    • Mental health and conservatorship records — Access may be limited by court order

    To request probate records in person, visit the Clerk & Master's office during business hours. Written requests may be mailed to P.O. Box 160, Rutledge, TN 37861. When submitting a request, include the name of the decedent or the party involved, the approximate year the case was filed, and the type of record needed. Call the Clerk & Master's office at (865) 828-4436 before submitting a formal request to confirm available records and applicable fees.