Henderson County Court Records Search

Henderson County, Tennessee, centered on the city of Lexington, maintains a tiered court system that produces records covering the full range of legal proceedings—from felony criminal cases and civil disputes to probate estates and family law matters. Court records generated by these proceedings may include petitions, motions, subpoenas, writs, dockets, exhibits, orders, and judgments. These documents form a permanent account of judicial actions, giving the public a window into how the legal system operates at the local level.

Tennessee residents looking to locate court records have several practical options, from visiting clerk offices in person to using online search tools. County clerks are the primary holders of local case records, but the state judiciary also makes certain case information accessible remotely. TennesseeCourts.us may help you locate publicly available case information across Tennessee's court system, and official clerk offices and public-access terminals at the courthouse remain reliable options for finding records in Henderson County.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Henderson County?

The type of case determines which clerk's office holds the records you need. Circuit, General Sessions, and Juvenile Court records are all filed through the Circuit Clerk, while Chancery Court records are held by a separate Clerk and Master. Knowing which court handled a matter before making a request will save you time and avoid misdirected inquiries.

Henderson County Circuit Court, General Sessions & Juvenile Court

Address: 170 Justice Center Drive, Lexington, TN 38351
Phone: (Circuit): (731) 968-2031
Circuit Fax: (731) 967-9441
General Sessions/Juvenile Fax: (731) 967-1347
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Circuit Clerk: Beverly Dunaway
Email: dunaway.beverly@hendersoncountytn.gov

Henderson County Chancery Court (Clerk & Master)

Address: 17 Monroe Street, Suite 2 (2nd Floor), Lexington, TN 38351
Phone: (731) 968-2801
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Clerk and Master: Leigh Milam

Records may be accessed through the following channels:

In person: Visit the appropriate clerk's office at the address listed above. Bring the full name of a party or a known case number to help staff locate the record.
By mail: Send a written request to the relevant clerk's office identifying the case by party name, case number, or other available details. Include your contact information and, where applicable, fees for copying.
Online — Appellate records: The Tennessee judiciary's Public Case History portal allows searches of Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals records by case number, case style, or party name.
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts: The Tennessee courts website provides clerk directories, court forms, and additional resources for locating case information statewide.

Municipal courts in Henderson County handle city ordinance violations and traffic matters within their areas:

Municipal Court	Address	Phone	Hours
City of Lexington Municipal Court	17 Monroe Avenue, 2nd Floor, Lexington, TN 38351	(731) 968-5331	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
City of Scotts Hill Municipal Court	85 State Route 114 South, Scotts Hill, TN 38374	(731) 549-3175	—

Lexington Municipal Court sessions convene Tuesday evenings at 5:00 PM. Court Clerk Crystal Roberts can be reached by phone at (731) 968-5331 or by email at crystal.roberts@lexingtontn.gov.

Are Court Records Public in Henderson County?

Tennessee's Public Records Act (TPRA) establishes the general right of any person to inspect or copy public records held by government bodies, including courts. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 puts this framework into practice for court records specifically, affirming that case records, administrative records, and judicial records are open to the public unless a specific exemption applies.

Records that are generally open for public inspection include:

Circuit court civil and criminal case files
General Sessions dockets and case information
Chancery court civil filings and orders
Property records filed with the Register of Deeds
Marriage license records maintained by the County Clerk

Records that are restricted or confidential under the TPRA, Rule 34, or other Tennessee law include:

Juvenile records (protected by statute and Rule 34)
Adoption records and related filings
Protection order contents and identities of protected parties
Unpublished drafts of judicial opinions and orders
Judges' personal notes, conference memoranda, and deliberative documents
Medical and similar personal files
Sealed records protected by court order
Victim and protected witness identities
Birth certificates (restricted for 100 years under Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-3-205)
Death certificates (restricted for 50 years under TCA § 68-3-205)

If you're denied access to a specific record, ask the clerk for the legal basis of the denial and, if necessary, seek relief through the courts.

Henderson County Criminal Court Records

Criminal prosecutions in Henderson County run through two levels of court. Felony cases and serious criminal matters are tried in the Circuit Court, while lower-level criminal offenses, preliminary hearings, and bond matters go to the General Sessions Court. Both fall under the jurisdiction of Circuit Clerk Beverly Dunaway, whose office maintains criminal filings including indictments, accusations, motion records, plea records, sentencing orders, and docket entries.

Henderson County is part of Tennessee's 26th Judicial District, which also encompasses Chester and Madison Counties. Trial court judges assigned to Henderson County for the 26th District include Judges Donald H. Allen and Kyle Atkins, who rotate among the district's counties and handle both civil and criminal proceedings.

Steps to request criminal court records:

Identify the court level—Circuit Court for felonies and serious matters; General Sessions for misdemeanors and preliminary proceedings.
Contact the Circuit Clerk's Office at (731) 968-2031 or visit in person at 170 Justice Center Drive, Lexington, TN 38351, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Provide identifying information—a party's full name or a case number is typically required. Photo ID may be requested for certain record types.
Pay copying fees if certified or paper copies are needed. Contact the clerk in advance to confirm current rates.
Mail requests should be addressed to the Circuit Clerk at 170 Justice Center Drive, Lexington, TN 38351.

Keep in mind that criminal court records document what happened in court proceedings—they are not a complete criminal background. Arrest records, booking information, and detention records are held separately by the Henderson County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Brian Duke, located at 170 Justice Center Drive, Lexington, TN 38351, Phone: (731) 968-7777 The department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and handles inquiries about current inmates, jail records, mugshots, and law enforcement matters.

For compiled criminal history records at the state level, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) processes background check requests through its TORIS system for a fee of $29.00 per request.

Henderson County Civil Court Records

Civil litigation in Henderson County is split between the Circuit Court and the Chancery Court. The Circuit Court handles general civil matters such as personal injury claims, breach of contract cases, and jury-eligible disputes. The Chancery Court, presided over by Chancellor James F. Butler with Clerk and Master Leigh Milam, has jurisdiction over equitable matters, trust cases, real property disputes, and certain family law proceedings.

To access civil records at the Circuit Court:

Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at 170 Justice Center Drive during business hours.
Provide party names or a case number.
Fees apply for copies and certified documents; contact the office at (731) 968-2031 to confirm rates.

To access civil records at the Chancery Court:

Visit the Clerk and Master's Office at 17 Monroe Street, Suite 2, Lexington, TN 38351.
Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Phone: (731) 968-2801
Fees apply for document copies and certifications.

The General Sessions Court, operating through the same Circuit Clerk's office, handles small civil claims within Tennessee law's jurisdictional dollar limits. Filing and case service inquiries for General Sessions civil matters can go to the Circuit Clerk at (731) 968-2031 or by fax to (731) 967-1347.

Property-related instruments—deeds, releases, liens, deeds of trust, plats, powers of attorney, and amendments—are maintained by the Henderson County Register of Deeds, located at 17 Monroe Street, Lexington, TN 38351, Phone: (731) 968-2941 This office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. All documents on record are viewable by the public upon request, with the exception of military discharge records, which require proper identification. The office can provide copies or email documents upon request.

Property valuation data is available through the Henderson County Property Assessor, Gary Pope, also located at 17 Monroe Street, Lexington, TN 38351, Phone: (731) 968-6881 The state's Tennessee Property Assessment Data website also allows free public searches by owner name, address, or parcel ID.

Henderson County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Henderson County—including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic relations, and adoption—are handled in the Circuit Court. Related equitable proceedings may fall under the Chancery Court's jurisdiction. Records for these matters are maintained by either the Circuit Clerk or the Chancery Court Clerk and Master, depending on the specific proceeding.

Divorce records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Clerk at 170 Justice Center Drive. Provide the names of both parties and a case number if you have it. While inspection may be available without charge, fees apply to certified or paper copies. The Tennessee Office of Vital Records and the Henderson County Health Department also maintain divorce records—but only for the past 50 years. Certified copies of a divorce or annulment certificate cost $15.00 per copy, and divorce verification requests are also $15.00 per name and year searched. Older divorce records may be found through the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Forms for divorce and annulment records from the state:

Marriage licenses are issued by the Henderson County Clerk, Tasha Carver, at 17 Monroe Street, Lexington, TN 38351, Phone: (731) 968-2856, open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $15.00 from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records or the Henderson County Health Department (90 Rush Street, Lexington, TN 38351, Phone: (731) 968-8148). A marriage certificate application form is available from the state health department. Marriage verification requests cost $15.00 per name and year searched. Historical records predating the health department's 50-year retention window are available through the Tennessee State Library and Archives or the County Clerk's office.

Birth and death records are not court records but may be needed in connection with family law proceedings. Birth certificates are available from the health department for the past 100 years—restricted to eligible requesters under TCA § 68-3-205—at $15.00 per certified copy. Death certificates are available for the past 50 years at the same fee. Applications are available through the Tennessee Department of Health's vital records applications page.

Henderson County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Henderson County—including decedents' estate administration, trust proceedings, guardianships, and conservatorships—fall under the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court. The Clerk and Master's Office, under Leigh Milam, maintains these records.

Chancery Court / Clerk and Master

Address: 17 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Room 2, Lexington, TN 38351
Phone: (731) 968-2801
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

How to obtain probate court records:

In person: Visit the Clerk and Master's Office during business hours. Provide the decedent's full name and approximate date of death or estate filing date to help staff locate the case.
By phone: Call (731) 968-2801 to inquire about specific procedures and to confirm which documents are available and any fees that apply.
By mail: Address a written request to the Clerk and Master at 17 Monroe Street, Suite 2, Lexington, TN 38351. Include case details and payment information for copy fees.
State archives: The Tennessee State Library and Archives holds historical probate and will records on microfilm, with the ability to search a five-year range within a specified county upon request.

Probate records that are part of the official public case file—including inventories, accountings, letters of administration, and wills—are generally accessible to the public. Matters involving minor beneficiaries or sealed proceedings may carry confidentiality restrictions. Fees apply for certified copies and document reproduction; contact the Clerk and Master's Office directly to confirm current rates before submitting a request.