Lawrence County Court Records Search

Lawrence County is in southern Middle Tennessee, with Lawrenceburg as the county seat. Five courts divide the county's caseload: the Circuit Court, General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court, Chancery Court, and Probate Court. Two clerk offices handle nearly all the resulting paperwork. The Lawrence County Circuit Court Clerk keeps records for the Circuit, General Sessions, and Juvenile Courts. The Lawrence County Clerk and Master is responsible for everything filed in Chancery and Probate Court. Four municipal courts—in Lawrenceburg, Ethridge, Loretto, and St. Joseph—manage city-level ordinance violations on their own.

If you need to find Tennessee court case information, you can search through clerk offices in person, use online portals, or send requests by mail. TennesseeCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information across the state's trial courts. For Lawrence County specifically, the Lawrence County court records page links directly to search tools, lists contact details for each court, and explains how to request copies of case documents.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Lawrence County?

Start with the Lawrence County Online Court Records System. This free tool covers both civil and criminal dockets and allows searches by name, year, or case number. Here's how it works:

Open the search page and choose either "Criminal" or "Civil."
Type in a party's name, a case number, or narrow your search by year.
Double-click a result to pull up the full case details, including docket entries and current status.

When a record isn't posted online—or you need a certified copy—reach out to the right clerk's office. Which one you call depends on the case type:

Lawrence County Circuit Court Clerk — Tommy Lee Kidd
Address: 240 W. Gaines St., NBU #12, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (931) 762-4398
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Records covered: Circuit Court, General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court

Lawrence County Clerk and Master
Address: 240 West Gaines Street, NBU #13, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (931) 766-4182
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Records covered: Chancery Court, Probate Court

City-level matters—traffic tickets and local ordinance violations—are handled by the individual municipal courts:

Court	Address	Phone	Fax
Lawrenceburg City Court	25 Public Square, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464	(931) 762-2276	(931) 762-8753
Ethridge City Court	215 Depot Street, P.O. Box 173, Ethridge, TN 38456	(931) 829-2150	(931) 829-2000
Loretto City Court	415 North Military Street, P.O. Box 176, Loretto, TN 38469	(931) 853-6797	(931) 853-6798
St. Joseph City Court	409 North Main Street, P.O. Box 37, St. Joseph, TN 38481	(931) 845-4141	(931) 845-4131

You can also mail a written request to the appropriate clerk's office. Include the case number if you have it, the full names of the parties involved, the specific document you're after, and a phone number where staff can call you back. It's a good idea to call ahead and confirm copy fees before sending payment.

Are Court Records Public in Lawrence County?

Tennessee law strongly favors public access to government records. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, any Tennessee citizen has the right to inspect and copy public records—court filings included—unless a specific exemption kicks in. The Tennessee Public Records Act backs this up, making the vast majority of trial court filings in Lawrence County available on request.

However, some categories are off-limits by statute or court order:

Sealed or expunged records — Once a judge orders a record sealed or expunged under Tennessee law, it's entirely removed from public access.
Juvenile records — Cases involving minors are confidential and generally cannot be viewed by the public.
Medical records — Health information that appears in court filings is protected from open inspection.
Sensitive personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar data are routinely redacted before documents are released.
Attorney-client privileged materials — Privileged communications stay exempt from public records requirements, even when filed with a court.

If you believe a records request was wrongfully denied, you can contact the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel or file a petition in the appropriate court.

Lawrence County Criminal Court Records

How a criminal case is handled in Lawrence County depends on how serious the charge is. Misdemeanors—offenses carrying a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days—go through the General Sessions Court, along with bond reviews, preliminary hearings on felony charges, and Tennessee Highway Patrol traffic citations. Judge Mike Harris, elected in August 2022 to an eight-year term, presides over General Sessions.

Felony cases—where a conviction could mean more than a year behind bars—are tried in Circuit Court. Lawrence County falls within the 22nd Judicial District alongside Wayne, Giles, and Maury counties. Circuit judges rotate through the four counties annually. The current judges serving the district are David Allen, Caleb Bayless, J. Russell Parkes, Chris Sockwell, Jessie Parrish, and Julie Heffington.

Criminal dockets for both Circuit and General Sessions cases are searchable through the Lawrence County Online Court Records System. Choose "Criminal," type in a name or case number, and browse the results for free.

If you need certified copies of criminal case documents, call the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at (931) 762-4398 or visit during business hours—showing up in person is usually the fastest route to getting certified paperwork.

Arrest records and jail information. These are kept by the Sheriff's Office, not the court clerk:

Lawrence County Sheriff's Office
Address: 240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (931) 762-3626
Jail Phone: (931) 762-3646
Fax: (931) 766-1566

Statewide criminal background checks. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) runs criminal history searches open to the general public. A Tennessee-only name-based check costs $29.00, requires no fingerprints, and delivers results electronically—you'll need a valid email address. For a nationwide FBI-based check, fingerprints are required and the fee is $50.00. Employers, nonprofits, and other organizations can access combined Tennessee and FBI records through the TBI's fingerprint-based applicant process, with fees ranging from $23.90 to $37.15 depending on the purpose.

Lawrence County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Lawrence County go to one of two courts based on how much money is at stake. General Sessions Court—which also serves as the county's small claims court—handles disputes up to $25,000. Anything above that threshold moves to Chancery Court, which also takes on workers' compensation appeals, injunctions, construction and commercial litigation, real property disputes, and state tax cases.

The Circuit Court Clerk holds civil filings from General Sessions, while the Clerk and Master maintains the Chancery Court civil files. You can search both through the Lawrence County Online Court Records System.

If you're thinking about filing a small claims action in General Sessions, court-approved forms and filing instructions are available through the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts General Sessions civil forms page.

To get copies of civil case documents, follow these steps:

Figure out whether the case was filed in General Sessions/Circuit Court or Chancery Court.
Call the right office—the Circuit Court Clerk at (931) 762-4398 for General Sessions cases, or the Clerk and Master at (931) 766-4182 for Chancery matters.
Have the case number or the parties' full names ready.
Pay any copy fees when you make the request.

The Chancery Court and Clerk and Master also oversee court-ordered sales of real and personal property and manage the holding and disbursement of judgment funds as directed by the court.

Property records. Deeds, mortgages, releases, powers of attorney, liens, and plats are filed with the Lawrence County Register of Deeds—a separate office from the court clerks. Records there are indexed by grantor and grantee name.

Lawrence County Register of Deeds — Terra Dickey
Address: 200 West Gaines, Suite 102, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (931) 766-4180
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Payment: Cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (3% fee for cards)

The Register of Deeds also offers a free fraud alert service that notifies Lawrence County property owners if suspicious activity shows up on their real estate records.

Lawrence County Family Court Records

Family law in Lawrence County doesn't go through a single court. Where your case lands depends on the issue. Divorces, custody fights between married parents, and domestic disputes exceeding $25,000 are heard in Chancery Court, with records maintained by the Clerk and Master's office. Custody and child support cases involving unmarried parents fall under Juvenile Court, overseen by Juvenile Magistrate Ashley Dunkin, and those records sit with the Circuit Court Clerk.

Divorce records. Certified copies of Lawrence County divorce decrees can be obtained at two levels. The Clerk and Master keeps the original case file. For a state-issued certified divorce certificate—covering divorces finalized from 1945 onward—the Tennessee Department of Health can help. Fill out the Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Divorce or Annulment, include a valid ID and $15.00, and mail everything to:

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

Marriage licenses. The Lawrence County Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses. Both parties must show up in person with a valid driver's license or state-issued photo ID. Here's what you need to know:

Standard fee: $105.00
Discounted fee with qualifying marriage counseling and a signed Certificate of Completion: $45.00
The license is valid for 30 days and must be returned within 3 business days after the ceremony
You'll receive one free certified marriage certificate when the license is returned; additional certified copies cost $5.00 each
No one under 17 may obtain a marriage license (T.C.A. § 36-3-105)
You can start the application online to save time at the counter
The Clerk's office does not perform marriage ceremonies

County Clerk — Russ Brewer
Address: 200 West Gaines, Suite 103, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (931) 766-4176
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (marriage license requests are not accepted after 4:00 p.m.)

Statewide certified marriage certificates dating back to 1945 are also available from Tennessee Vital Records. Fill out the Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Marriage, enclose a valid ID and $15.00, and mail it to the Tennessee Vital Records address listed above.

Birth and death records. Locally, the Lawrence County Health Department is where you go for birth and death certificates. Bring a valid ID and documentation showing your relationship to the person named on the record.

Lawrence County Health Department
Address: 2379 Buffalo Road, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (931) 762-9406
Fax: (931) 766-1592

At the state level, Tennessee Vital Records issues certified birth and death certificates to eligible individuals—including the person named on the record, their descendants, spouse, parents, legal guardians, and authorized representatives with a signed release. Each certified copy costs $15.00. Use the Application for Certificate of Birth or the Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Death and mail them to the Tennessee Vital Records office. They accept cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card.

Lawrence County Probate Court Records

Estate administrations, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes in Lawrence County all go through the Chancery and Probate Court. The Clerk and Master is the official record keeper for every probate proceeding, appointed by the chancellors for a six-year term under Article VI, Section 13 of the Tennessee Constitution.

To request probate records, call the Clerk and Master at (931) 766-4182 or visit the office at 240 West Gaines Street, NBU #13, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both walk-in and phone requests are accepted.

Records that are generally accessible to the public include:

Will probation filings
Petitions for estate administration
Inventories of estate assets
Final settlement orders

Records tied to mental health proceedings or other sensitive matters may be restricted under Tennessee law.

If you're doing genealogical or historical research and need older probate records, the Lawrence County Archives has been building a name-index database that spans county, chancery, and circuit court records. It's a helpful supplement to the official court files available through the Clerk and Master's office.