Marshall County Court Records Search
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Marshall County, Tennessee operates a layered court system that generates a broad range of official records across criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. These records — defined under T.C.A. § 10-7-503 as any documents, maps, films, electronic data, or other materials created during official proceedings — serve as the authoritative account of legal activity within the county. Researchers, attorneys, litigants, and members of the public all have legal grounds to request most of these records, subject to specific statutory and judicial exceptions.
Tennessee court records can be located through clerk offices at the Marshall County Courthouse, direct contact with individual courts, and select online tools. TennesseeCourts.us offers an orientation to the statewide court structure, while official county and court websites provide the most reliable pathways to case-level information. Records searches may be conducted in person at the courthouse, by contacting the relevant clerk’s office directly, or through public access terminals and online portals where available.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Marshall County?
Most court records in Marshall County are held by two primary clerk offices operating out of the Marshall County Courthouse in Lewisburg: the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master (Chancery Court). The courthouse address is used by both, though each office is assigned a different suite.
Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk — Mike Wiles
Address: 302 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-0536
Fax: (931) 359-2993
Email: mike.wiles@tncourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Marshall County Clerk & Master — Cecilia West Spivy
Address: 201 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-2181
Fax: (931) 359-0524
Email: cecilia.west.spivy@tncourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
In-Person Searches
Visitors conducting in-person searches should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and as much case-identifying information as possible, including the full name of the parties involved, the filing date, and the case number if known. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office, which oversees records for the Circuit Court, General Sessions Court, and Juvenile Court, consists of five full-time deputy clerks who can assist with searches. Juvenile Court records are the sole exception to public access and are not available through routine requests.
Online Court Cost Payments
Court fines and costs for Marshall County Sessions Court cases can be paid online through courtfeepay.com. A convenience fee of 2.5% plus $1.00 applies to all online transactions.
Additional Record Locations
- The Marshall County Register of Deeds maintains real property instruments including deeds, mortgages, and federal tax liens
- The Marshall County Health Department at 1031 War Eagle Drive, Lewisburg handles vital records including birth and death certificates
- The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at 209 1st Avenue North, Lewisburg, handles law enforcement records and arrest documentation
Are Court Records Public in Marshall County?
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503) and Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34, court records maintained by Tennessee courts are presumptively open for public inspection during business hours. The Circuit Court Clerk has confirmed that, with the exception of Juvenile Court, all records of the Marshall County court system are public and accessible through diligent search or private investigation.
Rule 34 defines court records as encompassing Case Records, Administrative Records, and Judicial Records. Case Records — files created or maintained as part of an official case file — form the bulk of what the public typically seeks and are generally accessible. However, both state statute and Rule 34 establish categories of records that are confidential and withheld from public inspection.
Records restricted from public access include:
- Juvenile court records and proceedings
- Adoption records
- Medical and mental health records
- Records relating to domestic violence victims and sexual assault/abuse victims
- Expunged criminal records
- Sealed court records and records subject to a protective order
- Records of pending criminal investigations
- Grand jury proceedings and associated materials
- Surveillance and wiretap records
- Sensitive personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver’s license numbers — even when contained within otherwise public filings
- Trade secrets and other court-ordered confidential materials
- Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinions
- Internal judicial deliberative records and notes
Requests to inspect records are subject to reasonable restrictions intended to preserve the integrity of the file and the efficient operation of the courts, consistent with T.C.A. § 16-3-401. The Circuit Court Clerk’s public records policy sets out the specific procedures and requirements applicable to the court’s offices.
Marshall County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Marshall County are distributed across two court levels depending on the severity of the offense.
Part 1 of the Circuit Court handles all felony cases and also hears misdemeanor appeals from the General Sessions and Juvenile Courts. The General Sessions Court handles preliminary criminal matters, writs, garnishments, and lower-level disputes. The Circuit Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over law cases exceeding $25,000.
Marshall County Circuit Court
Address: 302 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-0536
The Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk is the custodian of criminal case records for both the Circuit and General Sessions Courts. The Clerk’s Office prepares, records, and maintains court orders, subpoenas, pleadings, and docket information, and provides case-related documents to attorneys, litigants, media, and the general public.
Searching Criminal Records
To search for criminal case records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in person during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) at 302 Marshall County Courthouse. Providing the full name of the defendant, approximate filing date, or case number will speed up the search. Staff will direct researchers to the appropriate file or docket.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff’s Department
Arrest records are maintained by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at 209 1st Avenue North, Lewisburg, TN 37091, reachable at (931) 359-6122. The department operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Sheriff’s Department has a published public records policy that governs how arrest records and law enforcement documents are released in compliance with the Tennessee Public Records Act. Requesters should contact the department in advance to confirm availability and applicable procedures.
Records of pending criminal investigations, surveillance materials, and certain law enforcement files are exempt from disclosure under Tennessee law and will not be released through routine open records requests.
Marshall County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Marshall County are divided between two court systems based on the nature and amount of the claim.
Circuit Court — Civil Jurisdiction
The Circuit Court handles civil cases exceeding $25,000 and serves as the appellate court for General Sessions civil decisions. The Circuit Court Clerk at 302 Marshall County Courthouse is the records custodian for these cases.
General Sessions Court — Small Claims and Civil Disputes
The General Sessions Court handles writs, garnishments, money disputes, and contract cases within its monetary jurisdiction. Small claims matters — typically involving lower-dollar civil disputes — are also processed at this level. The General Sessions Court shares the same clerk and courthouse address as the Circuit Court:
Marshall County General Sessions Court
Address: 302 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-0536
Chancery Court — Equity and Specific Civil Matters
The Marshall County Chancery Court, governed by the Clerk and Master, handles civil equity matters, real estate disputes, contract and debt disputes, partition suits, worker’s compensation cases, specific performance actions, trusts, foreign judgments, name changes, and contempt proceedings. Delinquent tax suits filed on behalf of Marshall County and the cities of Lewisburg, Chapel Hill, and Cornersville are also processed through the Clerk and Master’s office.
Marshall County Chancery Court
Address: 201 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-2181
Property Records
Property-related civil records such as deeds, mortgages, plats, UCC fixture filings, and federal tax liens are maintained by the Marshall County Register of Deeds, located at 1103 Courthouse Annex, 1st Floor, Lewisburg. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone: (931) 359-4933 The Register of Deeds also records military discharge documents (DD-214) and other instruments as prescribed by Tennessee statutes. Real estate assessment data can be accessed through the Tennessee State Assessment portal linked from the Register’s website.
Marshall County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Marshall County are primarily handled by the Chancery Court, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over several categories of domestic proceedings.
Divorce Records
Divorce cases are filed with and maintained by the Marshall County Clerk & Master at 201 Marshall County Courthouse. Divorce records are classified as vital records under Tennessee law and carry access restrictions — they are not fully open to the general public. Access is generally limited to the parties to the case, their legal representatives, and individuals demonstrating a legitimate legal interest.
Marshall County Clerk & Master
Address: 201 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-2181
Fax: (931) 359-0524
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Chancery Court also handles adoption proceedings, paternity and legitimation cases, orders of protection, child support enforcement, and minor settlements. The Clerk and Master may be appointed as a Special Commissioner by the Chancellor to manage property sales arising from domestic or probate cases.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are processed at the county level but are ultimately held by the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records as part of the state’s vital records system. Researchers can request a marriage license through the Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at 302 Marshall County Courthouse by providing the full names of both parties and the date or approximate date of the marriage filing. A valid ID is required at the time of request.
Birth Records
Birth records in Tennessee are restricted for 100 years from the date of issuance. During that period, certified copies are available only to the record subject, parents, spouse, children, and legal representatives. After the 100-year period, birth records become publicly accessible. Requests within the restricted period can be submitted to the Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, where researchers must provide the subject’s full name, date and place of birth, and parents’ full names, as well as documentation establishing their relationship to the subject.
Death Records
Death records less than 25 years old are restricted to the deceased’s immediate family and legal representatives. The Marshall County Health Department at 1031 War Eagle Drive, Lewisburg, TN 37091 — reachable at (931) 359-1551 — is the county-level custodian for death certificates and accepts requests in person or by email. The Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records also processes statewide requests for birth and death certificates, with a standard fee of $15 per certified copy.
Marshall County Probate Court Records
In Marshall County, the Chancery Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over all probate matters. This includes the administration of decedents’ estates, the probating of wills, the appointment of guardians for minors, and the establishment of conservatorships for disabled adults. The Marshall County Clerk and Master serves as the records custodian for all probate proceedings dating back to 1836.
Types of Probate Proceedings Handled
- Administration of estates for deceased residents of Marshall County
- Probating of wills, including solemn form probates (heard directly by the Chancellor)
- Will contests
- Appointment and oversight of executors, administrators, guardians, and conservators
- Conservatorships for adults who are disabled or incapacitated
- Guardianships for minors
- Receipt and docketing of creditor claims against estates
- Review and approval of accounts and final settlements
The Clerk and Master has independent authority to hear and determine most probate matters as the Chancellor deems appropriate, except for solemn form probates and will contests, which require direct judicial involvement. The office also issues letters of administration and letters testamentary, as well as letters of guardianship and conservatorship.
Requesting Probate Records
Probate records — including petitions, inventories, accounts, decrees, and related filings — are open public records unless sealed by court order. To obtain copies, contact the Clerk and Master’s office directly:
Marshall County Clerk & Master
Address: 201 Marshall County Courthouse, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Phone: (931) 359-2181
Fax: (931) 359-0524
Email: cecilia.west.spivy@tncourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Requesters should contact the office in advance to confirm the availability of specific records and to inquire about applicable fees for copies or certified documents. Having the decedent’s full name, the approximate year the estate was opened, and the case number if available will help expedite the search. The Clerk and Master also handles delinquent tax auctions ordered by the court, making this office a useful resource for researchers tracking property matters with a probate connection.
Municipal Courts
For matters arising at the city or town level, three municipal courts operate within Marshall County’s boundaries and maintain their own records:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill City Court | 2202 Unionville Road, Chapel Hill, TN 37034 | (931) 364-7632 |
| Cornersville Town Court | 118 South Main Street, P.O. Box 128, Cornersville, TN 37047 | (931) 293-4482 |
| Lewisburg City Court | 101 Water Street, Lewisburg, TN 37091 | (931) 359-4050 |
Municipal court records cover city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and related local matters. Contact each court directly for procedures on obtaining copies of those records.