Madison County Court Records Search

Madison County is part of Tennessee’s 26th Judicial District, with the city of Jackson serving as the county seat. The county’s trial court system includes Circuit Court, Chancery Court, General Sessions Court (with two divisions), Juvenile Court, and the Jackson City Court. Each of these courts generates and maintains records spanning criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, family law proceedings, probate matters, and more. The offices responsible for maintaining these records are spread across two primary locations in Jackson — the Madison County Courthouse on East Main Street and the Criminal Justice Complex on South Liberty Street.

For anyone trying to locate court case records in Tennessee, multiple avenues exist. County clerk offices, court clerk windows, and public access terminals at courthouse locations all provide opportunities to review files in person. Online tools also play an increasing role — the Madison County Online Court Records System allows electronic searches of Circuit Court and General Sessions Court case data, while the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts publishes statewide resources including forms, court rules, and appellate case information. TennesseeCourts.us may also help users find publicly available court case details and related information at the state level.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Madison County?

Madison County offers several methods for locating court case information, whether you need details on a criminal charge, a civil dispute, or a family law proceeding.

Online Searches

The primary electronic resource is the Madison County Online Court Records System, which covers both Circuit Court and General Sessions Court records. To use it:

Navigate to the search page and select the court type (Circuit or General Sessions).
Enter search criteria such as party name, case number, case type, or year.
Click “Find Now” to retrieve matching results.
Select a specific case from the results to view its details.

Note that this database is updated nightly, so newly filed cases or payments may not appear for up to 24 hours.

For appellate-level records, the Public Case History tool maintained by the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts allows searches of Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals cases. It covers motions, orders, judgments, and opinions issued after August 26, 2013, and can be searched by case number, case style, or party name.

In-Person Searches

Requesters can visit the appropriate clerk’s office and use public terminals or ask staff for assistance. The main offices handling court records are:

Court/Office	Address	Phone	Hours
Circuit Court Clerk	515 S. Liberty St., Suite 200, Jackson, TN 38301	(731) 423-6035	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
General Sessions Clerk	515 S. Liberty St., Suite 300, Jackson, TN 38301	(731) 423-6128 (Criminal/Traffic); (731) 423-6016 (Civil)	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Chancery Court Clerk	100 E. Main St., Suite 200, Jackson, TN 38301	(731) 423-6030	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mail Requests

Written record requests can be sent to the appropriate clerk’s office. Madison County provides a Public Records Request Form and Policy that outlines the procedure for submitting requests and the fees that may apply. Include the full name of the parties involved, the case number if known, and the type of record sought.

Copy Fees

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office charges the following for copies:

$0.15 per page — black and white, letter or legal size
$0.50 per page — color copies, letter or legal size

Contact the specific clerk’s office to confirm current fees before submitting a request.

Are Court Records Public in Madison County?

Tennessee law establishes broad public access rights to government records, including court files. The Tennessee Public Records Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503 et seq.) guarantees citizens the right to inspect and copy public records maintained by government entities during regular business hours. Under this law, Madison County’s court record custodians are required to provide timely and efficient access to eligible requesters.

Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 further defines public access to court records specifically. It establishes three categories of court records — Case Records, Administrative Records, and Judicial Records — and confirms that most court files are open to public inspection unless they fall within a recognized exception.

Records Generally Open to the Public

Most filings in criminal, civil, chancery, and probate cases are accessible, including complaints, motions, orders, judgments, and sentencing records. Traffic citations, small claims judgments, detainer warrants, and orders of protection are also typically available.

Records That Are Restricted or Confidential

Under Rule 34 and the Public Records Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-504), certain records are not open for inspection:

Juvenile court records
Identifying information collected by the Administrative Office of the Courts
Addresses, phone numbers, and locations of suspected domestic violence victims (when restricted by court order)
Information related to alleged abuse or sexual abuse, which must be redacted to protect vulnerable individuals
Documents sealed by court order or subject to protective orders
Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinions
Internal judicial deliberation materials and case management information
Records that could compromise court security or the safety of judges and court staff

It is worth noting that while Tennessee citizens have a constitutional right of access to public records, records custodians retain discretion to deny access to non-citizens of the state. However, in practice, most court case information is routinely provided to any requester for publicly available records.

Madison County Criminal Court Records

Criminal matters in Madison County are prosecuted in Circuit Court for felonies and serious misdemeanors, and in General Sessions Court for misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings on felony charges. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is responsible for maintaining all criminal case records that proceed through Circuit Court, including grand jury reports, indictments, plea agreements, trial records, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings.

Searching Criminal Case Records Locally

There are two primary ways to look up Madison County criminal case information:

Online — Use the Madison County Online Court Records System and select “Circuit” or “General Sessions” as the court type, then narrow results by selecting criminal or traffic case types.
In person — Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 515 S. Liberty St., Suite 200, Jackson, TN 38301, or call (731) 423-6035. The General Sessions Criminal/Traffic division can be reached at (731) 423-6128.

Certain Circuit Court forms, including the Order of Expungement of Records, are available on the Madison County website.

Statewide Criminal History Searches

For broader background information beyond what a single county’s case files contain, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) operates as the state’s central repository for criminal history records. The TBI offers Open Records checks — a name-based search that determines whether an individual has a Tennessee criminal history on file.

Fee: $29.00 per request (non-refundable)
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, or Discover
Process: Can be completed online through TORIS or by mail
Fingerprints: Not required for public name-based searches
Delivery: Results are sent electronically; a valid email address is required

Organizations conducting employment or volunteer screening may request fingerprint-based background checks through the TBI’s contractor. Fees for fingerprint-based searches range from $23.90 (state-only checks) to $37.15 (applicant checks), with volunteer checks costing $33.15.

The TBI headquarters is located at 901 R.S. Gass Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37216, and can be reached at (615) 744-4000.

Madison County Sheriff’s Office

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office processes criminal cases issued through its jurisdiction and may provide arrest-related information. The Sheriff’s Office is located at:

Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 317 Denmark Jackson Rd, Denmark, TN 38391
Phone: (731) 423-6000

Madison County Civil Court Records

Civil litigation in Madison County is divided between two courts based on the amount in controversy. The Circuit Court handles civil cases where the amount at issue exceeds $25,000, along with condemnation proceedings, garnishments, executions, foreign judgments, and hospital liens. The General Sessions Court processes civil disputes involving amounts under $25,000, detainer summons (eviction actions), and garnishment requests.

How to Access Civil Court Records

Civil case records can be obtained in several ways:

Online: Search the Madison County Online Court Records System by selecting the relevant court and specifying civil case types.
In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office (515 S. Liberty St., Suite 200) for cases over $25,000, or the General Sessions Clerk’s Office (515 S. Liberty St., Suite 300) for lower-value disputes. The civil division of General Sessions can be reached at (731) 423-6016.
By mail: Send a written request to the relevant clerk’s office using the county’s public records request form.

Available Court Forms

Madison County provides downloadable General Sessions Court forms on its official website, including:

Civil Summons
Detainer Summons
Garnishment Request

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts also publishes statewide court forms, including General Sessions civil court forms approved by the Supreme Court.

What Civil Records Contain

Civil case files maintained by the clerks typically include the initial complaint or petition, the summons, any responsive pleadings, motions and orders, discovery materials filed with the court, trial transcripts (if applicable), judgments, and post-judgment filings such as garnishment orders or satisfaction of judgments.

The General Sessions Clerk is also responsible for filing detainer warrants, processing eviction-related paperwork, and issuing garnishments stemming from civil judgments. Approximately $4,500,000 in fines, costs, and restitution flows through the General Sessions Clerk’s Office annually, reflecting the high volume of cases processed.

Madison County Family Court Records

Madison County does not operate a standalone family court. Instead, family law cases are distributed between the Chancery Court and the Circuit Court, with juvenile matters heard by the Juvenile Court division of General Sessions Court, Division II.

Types of Family Law Cases

The following proceedings are handled across these courts:

Divorce and annulment
Child custody and parenting time
Child support establishment, modification, and enforcement
Alimony
Adoptions
Trust accounts for minors
Guardianship of minors
Domestic violence personal protection orders
Paternity actions
Juvenile delinquency
Child protective proceedings (abuse and neglect)

Where to Request Family Court Records

Because jurisdiction over family law matters is shared, the location of a particular record depends on where the case was filed:

Chancery Court Clerk
Address: 100 E. Main St., Suite 200, Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 423-6030
Fax: (731) 988-3091
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Circuit Court Clerk
Address: 515 S. Liberty St., Suite 200, Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 423-6035
Fax: (731) 988-3007
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Juvenile Court
Address: 110 Irby Street, Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 423-6073
Fax: (731) 423-0016
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Written record requests should be submitted using the county’s public records request form. Note that juvenile records are confidential and access is substantially restricted under Tennessee law.

Marriage and Divorce Certificates

Vital records related to marriage and divorce are separate from court case files and can be obtained from different sources depending on the date of the event:

Record Period	Source
1973–present	Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
July 1, 1945–December 1, 1973	Tennessee Library and Archives (for a fee)
1861–1945	Madison County Clerk’s Office

Certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates cost $15.00 each, including additional copies. Requests can be submitted online, in person, or by mail to:

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

Applicants must provide a completed application form (marriage or divorce), the required fee, and a valid form of identification. In-person requests are typically processed the same day. Mail requests take approximately four weeks, and online requests approximately two weeks.

Birth and Death Records

While not court records, birth and death certificates are frequently needed in family and probate proceedings. These can be obtained through the Jackson-Madison Regional Health Department for a fee of $15.00 per copy. Only the registrant, a parent named on the certificate, a spouse, a legal custodian (with court documentation), or a person with notarized authorization from the registrant may obtain these records.

Jackson-Madison Regional Health Department
Address: 804 N. Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305
Phone: (731) 423-3020
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (extended hours on some Tuesdays)

A valid ID is required, and the office accepts cash, debit, and credit cards. Same-day processing is available for requests submitted during business hours.

Madison County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Madison County are heard in General Sessions Court, Division II, with the Probate Clerk’s Office managing all related filings and records. This court handles estate administration, contested wills, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes.

Probate Court Location and Contact

Madison County Probate Clerk’s Office
Address: 110 Irby Street, Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 988-3025
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
(Closed daily from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM)

Types of Probate Records Maintained

The Probate Clerk’s Office maintains records for the following types of proceedings:

Estate administration — Petitions to open estates, letters testamentary or letters of administration, inventories, accountings, and final settlement documents
Wills — Last wills and testaments filed with the court after the testator’s death, along with any will contests
Conservatorships — Petitions for appointment, financial reports, and court orders related to the management of an incapacitated person’s property
Adoptions — Adoption petitions and finalization orders (access is restricted)
Name changes — Petitions and court orders authorizing legal name changes
Guardianships — Appointments of guardians for minor children or incapacitated adults

How to Request Probate Records

Interested parties can obtain probate records by visiting the Probate Clerk’s Office in person during business hours or by sending a written request by mail to 110 Irby Street, Jackson, TN 38301. When making a request, include:

The full name of the decedent or subject of the proceeding
The approximate date of death or filing, if known
The case number, if available
Your contact information and return address

Certain probate records — particularly those involving adoptions and proceedings involving minors — carry confidentiality restrictions and may not be available for public inspection without a court order. Standard probate filings such as estate inventories, accountings, and orders of distribution are generally open to the public.

For questions about specific fees, required forms, or record availability, contact the Probate Clerk’s Office directly at (731) 988-3025. Additional departmental information and contacts are available on the Madison County government website.