Smith County Court Records Search
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Smith County, Tennessee, centered on the county seat of Carthage, operates a multi-court judicial system that produces a wide range of legal records each year. These records — filed across the Circuit, General Sessions, Chancery, Probate, and Juvenile courts — document criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, estate matters, and traffic cases. As defined by Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34, court records encompass all documentary materials generated in proceedings brought before the court, including motions, affidavits, complaints, orders, and judgments. Knowing which court and which clerk's office holds the records you need is the most direct way to gain access.
Searching Court Records in Tennessee:
People seeking court case information in Tennessee can work through several channels — clerk's offices, courthouse public access terminals, written requests, and online tools. TennesseeCourts.us may help you identify court resources, county court locations, and publicly available case information for Smith County and other Tennessee counties. For cases appealed to the state's appellate courts, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts maintains the Public Case History search tool, which covers the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Smith County?
All Smith County trial court case records are maintained at the local level, either by the Circuit Court Clerk or the Clerk and Master, depending on the court that handled the matter. There is no centralized online case search portal for Smith County trial court cases, so requests generally need to go directly to the appropriate clerk's office.
Primary methods for locating records:
- In person: Visit the applicable clerk's office at the Smith County Justice Center during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM). Staff can locate case files by party name, case number, or filing date.
- By mail: Submit a written request to the presiding court's clerk with sufficient identifying information — full party names and an approximate filing year at minimum.
- By phone: Call the clerk's office to confirm record availability and ask about fees before submitting a formal request.
- Online court fee payments: Fines and court costs for both General Sessions and Circuit Court matters can be paid at courtfeepay.com, though this platform is for payment only, not record searches.
- Appellate cases: Use the Public Case History tool on the Tennessee courts website to search cases that have reached the appellate level.
The key contacts and court locations in Smith County are listed in the following section.
Are Court Records Public in Smith County?
The public right to access court records in Smith County is grounded in both Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 and the Tennessee Public Records Act. Under Rule 34, any person has the right to inspect public records maintained by Tennessee courts unless the record is expressly excluded from inspection by statute, court rule, or court order. This presumption of openness applies to trial court records maintained at the Smith County courthouse.
Certain categories of records are withheld or restricted, including:
- Juvenile court records — confidential by statute to protect the identity and interests of minors
- Medical records contained within court filings
- Proprietary business information submitted in civil proceedings
- Criminal investigative records not yet part of a public filing
- Personally identifying information such as tax identification numbers and home addresses, which may be redacted from otherwise public documents
- Order of protection proceedings — access may be restricted to protect domestic violence victims
When a record contains both public and restricted information, the custodian typically redacts the confidential portions and releases the remainder. Parties directly involved in a case generally have broader access rights than the general public when it comes to restricted materials.
Smith County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Smith County are handled across two court levels, each with distinct jurisdiction. The Circuit Court tries felony cases and more serious criminal charges, while the General Sessions Court handles misdemeanor offenses, preliminary hearings in felony matters, and traffic violations. Both courts are served by Circuit Court Clerk Tommy Turner, whose office manages all related case records.
Smith County Circuit Court
Address: 322 Justice Drive, Suite 115, Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-2294
Fax: (615) 735-8240
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Smith County General Sessions Court
Address: 322 Justice Drive, Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-0500
Fax: (615) 735-8261
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
General Sessions Court schedule:
| Court Session | Schedule |
|---|---|
| General Sessions Criminal | Every Thursday (except 5th Thursdays) at 9:00 AM |
| Traffic Court | 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 9:00 AM |
| Juvenile Justice Court | 2nd Tuesdays at 9:00 AM |
| Juvenile Dependency & Neglect | 4th Tuesdays at 9:00 AM |
| Recovery Court | Every Wednesday at 8:30 AM |
Criminal case files typically contain charging documents, warrants, police reports, witness statements, arrest records, plea agreements, verdicts, and sentencing orders. Direct requests for criminal records to the Circuit Court Clerk's office, providing the defendant's full name and approximate year of the proceedings, or the case number if available.
For arrest information not yet part of a court case file, contact the Smith County Sheriff's Office:
Smith County Sheriff's Office
Address: 322 Justice Drive, Suite 200, Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-2626
Email: Sheriff@smithcountytn.gov
Smith County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Smith County — including contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, small claims, and workers' compensation matters — is heard across multiple courts depending on the amount in controversy and the type of claim. The General Sessions Court has civil jurisdiction up to $25,000, making it the venue for most small claims and lower-value disputes. More significant civil matters are heard in the Circuit or Chancery Court.
The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains records for civil proceedings before both the Circuit Court and General Sessions Court. Records for cases heard in Chancery Court are held by the Clerk and Master (see the Family and Probate sections below).
Civil Court schedule (General Sessions): 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 9:00 AM
Civil case records can include complaints, petitions, answers, declarations, proofs of service, orders, and final judgments. To search or obtain civil records:
- Contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (615) 735-2294 or (615) 735-0500 and provide party names, a case number, or an approximate filing date.
- Visit the clerk's office in person at 322 Justice Drive, Suite 115, Carthage, during regular business hours.
- Submit a written mail request to the same address with sufficient identifying case information.
Copy fees and any certification costs are collected by the clerk at the time of the request. The clerk's office can confirm the current per-page fee schedule.
Smith County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Smith County — including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, legitimation, domestic violence protection orders, guardianship, conservatorship, and name changes — are handled primarily by the Chancery Court, with some domestic and juvenile matters also before the General Sessions Juvenile Court. The Clerk and Master, Jessie Goad, maintains all records for Chancery Court proceedings.
Smith County Chancery Court / Clerk and Master
Address: 322 Justice Drive, Suite 105, Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-2092
Fax: (615) 735-8431
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Chancellor C. K. Smith holds court in Smith County three times per year — during the first full weeks of February, June, and October — for trials of a half day or longer. Motion days are generally held in Wilson County on the first and third Fridays of each month, covering all five counties in the 15th Judicial District (Smith, Jackson, Macon, Trousdale, and Wilson).
Divorce records: Divorce case files are held by both the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master, as both courts have jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage proceedings. Contact the relevant clerk with the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Certified copies of divorce or annulment certificates for proceedings from 1945 onward are also available through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records using the Application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Divorce or Annulment. Parties who are not among the divorced individuals may request a Verification of Divorce or Annulment Facts instead. Both cost $15 per copy.
Marriage records: The Smith County Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses and maintains local marriage records. A marriage license currently costs $97 without premarital counseling or $37 with a completed, notarized counseling form. For certified copies of marriage certificates, the Tennessee Office of Vital Records issues certified copies using the Application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Marriage for $15. Those without direct entitlement may obtain a Verification of Marriage Facts for the same fee. Marriage records over 50 years old are available through the Smith County Clerk's Office or the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Smith County Clerk
Address: 122 Turner High Circle, Suite 101, Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-9833
Fax: (615) 735-8252
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Birth records: Smith County birth certificates are issued by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records or local county health departments. During the first 100 years following a birth event, access is restricted under T.C.A. § 68-3-205 to the registrant, their parents, and other authorized parties. Certified copies cost $15. After 100 years, birth records transfer to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. A Verification of Birth Facts is available to any requester for $15.
Death records: Death certificates are available through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records or the Smith County Health Department. Certified copies with cause-of-death information are restricted to eligible parties under T.C.A. § 68-3-205 for 50 years; a Verification of Death Facts (without cause of death) is available to any person for $15. After 50 years, death records are transferred to the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Smith County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Smith County — covering the opening and closing of estates, appointment of executors and administrators, inventory filings, small estate administration, and matters related to estate administration generally — are heard in the Probate Court, which operates in conjunction with the Chancery Court. All records from these proceedings are maintained by the Clerk and Master.
Clerk and Master (Probate Court Custodian)
Address: 322 Justice Drive, Suite 105, Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-2092
Fax: (615) 735-8431
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Probate records are generally open to the public and can be used for establishing inheritance rights, resolving property title questions, genealogical research, and confirming estate distributions. To obtain probate records:
- In person: Visit the Clerk and Master's office at Suite 105, 322 Justice Drive, Carthage, during regular business hours. Bring the decedent's name and approximate year of death or case filing.
- By phone: Call (615) 735-2092 to inquire about record availability, access procedures, and applicable copy fees before visiting.
- By mail: Send a written request to the Clerk and Master's office at 322 Justice Drive, Suite 105, Carthage, TN 37030, including the case identifying information and a request for a fee schedule.
Because Chancery Court terms in Smith County are held only three times per year, confirm with the Clerk and Master whether filings from a particular session have been fully processed and indexed before making a request for recent records.