Hickman County Court Records Search

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    Hickman County, Tennessee, with its county seat in Centerville, maintains a court system spanning circuit, chancery, general sessions, juvenile, and municipal courts. Records generated by these proceedings document the legal actions taken within the county and may include case filing dates, party names, the presiding judge, case status, docket entries, hearing schedules, orders, and judgments. These documents form the permanent account of judicial activity in Hickman County and underpin the transparency citizens depend on to understand how their courts function.

    People searching for court records in Tennessee have several options, from visiting clerk offices in person to using publicly accessible online tools. For anyone wanting to explore publicly available case information across Tennessee's courts, TennesseeCourts.us is worth consulting alongside official county clerk offices and public-access terminals at the courthouse. The sections below cover each court type in Hickman County, explaining where records are held, how to request them, and what restrictions apply.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Hickman County?

    The central records office for most Hickman County court filings is the Circuit Court Clerk, which handles circuit, criminal, and general sessions records from the county courthouse. A separate Clerk and Master manages the Chancery Court. Knowing which court handled a matter before reaching out will make the search considerably more efficient.

    Hickman County Circuit Court Clerk

    Address: 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, Centerville, TN 37033
    Phone: (931) 729-2211
    Fax: (931) 729-6141
    Email: dana.nicholson@tncourts.gov
    Clerk: Dana Nicholson

    Hickman County Chancery Court — Clerk and Master

    Address: 104 College Avenue, Suite 202, Centerville, TN 37033
    Phone: (931) 729-2522
    Email: loren.roberts@hickmancountytn.gov
    Clerk and Master: Loren Roberts

    Hickman County General Sessions Court

    Address: 104 College Avenue, Suite 210, Centerville, TN 37033
    Phone: (931) 729-3074
    Email: judge@hickmancountytn.gov
    Judge: Amy Puckett

    The Circuit Court Judge for Hickman County is William Lane, who also presides over Chancery and Probate Court. His primary office is located at 105 East 4th Avenue, Hohenwald, TN 38462, Phone: (931) 295-3500

    Available search and request methods:

    • In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at Suite 204 or the Chancery Clerk and Master at Suite 202, both at 104 College Avenue. You must complete a request form, and copying fees will be calculated based on the number of pages copied.
    • Online — Hickman County Court Records System: The Hickman County Online Court Records System provides free public access to court case information. Searches require a name or case number. To narrow results to specific case types, select "Circuit" under Court Type and "Civil" or "Criminal" under Case Type.
    • Online — Appellate records: The Tennessee Public Case History portal covers Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals records, searchable by case number, case style, or party name.
    • By mail: Send a written request to the relevant clerk's office, including the case name, case number if available, and payment for applicable fees.

    The Centerville City Court handles city ordinance violations and traffic matters within Centerville. The court is located at 102 East Swan Street, P.O. Box 238, Centerville, TN 37033, Phone: (931) 729-5588, Fax: (931) 729-1513

    Are Court Records Public in Hickman County?

    Court records in Hickman County are generally open to the public. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 establishes the framework for public access to court records across the state, classifying records into case records, administrative records, and judicial records—all of which are presumptively open unless an exemption applies. The Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503 et seq.) reinforces this right, permitting any person to inspect or copy records maintained by public bodies, including courts.

    Records that are restricted or confidential under Rule 34 and T.C.A. § 10-7-504 include:

    • Unpublished drafts of judicial opinions and orders
    • Internal case management information
    • Conference records, notes, and memoranda prepared by a judge or judicial staff
    • Copies of motions, petitions, and briefs furnished to a judge for personal use
    • Information maintained by judges relating to their recusal from specific cases
    • Court records whose disclosure would interfere with judicial functions
    • Juvenile records (confidential under Tennessee statute)
    • Adoption records
    • Birth certificates (confidential for 100 years from date of birth)
    • Death certificates (confidential for 50 years from date of death)
    • Records sealed by court order

    Individuals who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek clarification from the relevant clerk's office or pursue a legal remedy through the courts.

    Hickman County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Hickman County are prosecuted through the Circuit Court for felonies and the General Sessions Court for misdemeanors and preliminary proceedings. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Dana Nicholson, maintains all criminal filings, including indictments, charges, plea records, sentencing orders, and docket entries.

    Hickman County is in the 21st Judicial District for circuit court purposes. The District Attorney General for Hickman County is Hans L. Schwendimann, reachable at (931) 729-6980.

    Steps to access criminal court records:

    • In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 104 College Avenue, Suite 204. Provide the defendant's full name or case number. A request form must be completed before staff conducts a search.
    • Online: Use the Hickman County Online Court Records System to search court records at no cost. A name or case number is required. Select "Circuit" as the court type and "Criminal" as the case type.
    • By mail: Submit a written request with case details to the Circuit Court Clerk, 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, Centerville, TN 37033. Include a check or money order for any applicable copying fees.

    For arrest records and law enforcement information, the Hickman County Sheriff's Department is the right agency to contact. Sheriff Jason Craft can be reached at (931) 729-6143 or by email at sheriffcraft@hickmancountytn.gov. The department is located at 108 College Avenue, Centerville, TN 37033. Provide a name or arrest date to help staff locate records. In-person visits are accepted during regular business hours.

    It's worth noting that arrest records, booking records, and other law enforcement documents are distinct from court records—they are created and held by the Sheriff's Department, not the court clerk.

    Hickman County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Hickman County are divided between two courts. The Circuit Court handles general civil litigation such as personal injury claims, contract disputes, and jury-eligible cases. The Chancery Court, under Clerk and Master Loren Roberts, handles equitable matters including property disputes, trusts, and certain family law proceedings. The General Sessions Court also handles limited civil claims within its jurisdictional dollar limits.

    To access civil records:

    • Circuit Court: Contact or visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, Phone: (931) 729-2211 Fees apply for copies; a request form must be completed in person.
    • Chancery Court: Contact or visit the Clerk and Master at 104 College Avenue, Suite 202, Phone: (931) 729-2522 The Chancery Court maintains a fee schedule for civil filings, which you can obtain from the Clerk and Master's office.
    • Online: The Hickman County Online Court Records System provides free searches for civil records. Select "Circuit" or "Chancery" as the court type and "Civil" as the case type.
    • By mail: Requests to either clerk's office should include identifying case information and payment for copy fees.

    Divorce records are maintained by both the Chancery and Circuit Court clerks, depending on which court issued the decree. Copies can be obtained in person at either office for a small fee paid in cash. Free case-level information is also available online through the Hickman County Online Court Records System.

    For property-related instruments—deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats—the Hickman County Register of Deeds is the custodian. The Register of Deeds office is at 114 N. Central Avenue, Centerville, TN 37033, Phone: (931) 729-4882 Office hours are Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, and Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Property valuation information is available through the Hickman County Property Assessor's Property Search portal, which allows free searches by owner name, parcel number, property address, mailing address, or subdivision. For further assistance, the Property Assessor's office can be reached at (931) 729-2169.

    Hickman County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Hickman County are divided among the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and Juvenile Court. Divorce proceedings, child custody, child support, and domestic relations matters may be heard in either the Circuit Court or Chancery Court depending on the nature of the case. The General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court handle protective orders and juvenile dependency matters respectively.

    Divorce records fall under Circuit or Chancery Court jurisdiction. Copies can be obtained in person at the relevant clerk's office for a fee. Free online searches for divorce-related case information are available through the Hickman County Online Court Records System using "Circuit" or "Chancery" as the court type and "Civil" as the case type.

    Marriage licenses are issued by the Hickman County Clerk's Office, County Clerk Casey Dorton. The office is located at 114 N Central Avenue, Suite 202, Centerville, TN 37033, Phone: (931) 729-2621 Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Marriage records can be searched online through the Clerk's official website by clicking "Online Web Services" and selecting "MARRIAGE LOOKUP" from the dropdown menu. Searches can be performed by first or last name of either applicant.

    Juvenile records are handled through the Hickman County Juvenile Court, which shares jurisdiction with the General Sessions Court under Judge Amy Puckett (104 College Avenue, Suite 210). Juvenile records are confidential under Tennessee law and are not available for public inspection.

    Birth certificates are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth under Tennessee law. Certified copies are restricted to the subject, their family members, and legal representatives. The fee is $15.00 per copy and $15.00 for each additional copy. Eligible individuals can apply in person or by mail at the Hickman County Health Department:

    Hickman County Health Department

    Address: 111 Murphree Avenue, Centerville, TN 37033
    Phone: (931) 729-3516
    Fax: (931) 729-5029
    Email: Sarah.Russell@tn.gov
    In-Person Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

    Mail requests require a completed Application for Certified Copy of a Tennessee Certificate of Birth, a valid form of ID, and a check or money order for the fee.

    Death certificates are not public records for 50 years from the date of death. Certified copies cost $15.00 per copy and $15.00 for each additional copy, requested through the same Health Department office. Mail requests require a completed Application for Certified Copy of a Tennessee Certificate of Death, valid ID, and payment.

    Hickman County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Hickman County—including estate administration, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships—are heard in the Circuit Court under Circuit Court Judge William Lane, who also presides over Chancery Court. The Circuit Court Clerk, Dana Nicholson, maintains the associated case records.

    How to obtain probate court records:

    • Online: Search the Hickman County Online Court Records System at no charge using a name or case number. Select "Circuit" as the court type and "Civil" as the case type to narrow probate-related searches.
    • In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, Centerville, TN 37033, during business hours. Staff will require a completed request form. Fees apply for copies.
    • By mail: Submit a written request with case details and payment for copy fees to the Circuit Court Clerk at 104 College Avenue, Suite 204, Centerville, TN 37033.

    Probate records that are part of the public case file—including inventories, accountings, orders of appointment, and final distributions—are generally accessible to the public. Matters involving minors or cases sealed by court order carry confidentiality restrictions. Fees for copies are paid in cash to the court clerk.

    For historical genealogical research tied to probate matters, the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville maintains historical county records on microfilm, including will books and estate records for earlier periods. That office can be useful for records that predate the Circuit Clerk's electronic systems.