Sumner County Court Records
TennesseeCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on TennesseeCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Sumner County sits in Middle Tennessee, with its county seat in the city of Gallatin. The county's judicial system spans several courts with different jurisdictions, each generating records that residents may need for legal research, background screening, or personal matters. Two main clerk offices—the Circuit Court Clerk and the Chancery Court Clerk and Master—keep the county's court files. These offices hold case files, dockets, exhibits, motions, orders, transcripts, and other documents created during legal proceedings.
Tennessee residents can search for court case information through several official channels. The Sumner County courts website and the Sumner County Online Court Records System both offer electronic access to case data maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. The Chancery Court Clerk and Master accepts inquiries in person, by mail, by fax, or through the Tybera e-filing platform. For appellate-level records from the Tennessee Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or Court of Criminal Appeals, use the Public Case History tool on the state judiciary website. TennesseeCourts.us can also help you identify additional resources and publicly available case data.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sumner County?
How you search for a Sumner County case depends on which court handled it and whether you have a case number or only a party name.
Online search through the Circuit Court Clerk's website:
- Go to the case search page on the Sumner County Circuit Court Clerk's site.
- Enter either the party's name or the case year and number.
- Review the results, which show party names, party roles, the presiding court, case number, filing date, and case status.
- Click an individual case entry to see additional detail, such as charges, the assigned judge, and offense or filing dates.
The same data is available through TNCrtInfo, the Sumner County Online Court Records System, which lets you narrow searches by court type and case type.
In-person, mail, and phone requests go to the appropriate clerk's office. The Circuit Court Clerk holds records for Circuit Court, Criminal Court, General Sessions Court, and Juvenile Court matters. The Chancery Court Clerk and Master keeps Chancery Court files, including probate, divorce, and other equity cases.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court Clerk | 155 East Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066 (Mailing: P.O. Box 549, Gallatin, TN 37066) | (615) 452-4367 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Main Criminal Office | 113 West Main Street, 3rd Floor, Gallatin, TN 37066 | (615) 452-4367, ext. 5 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| General Sessions Civil | 155 East Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066 | (615) 452-4367, ext. 3 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| General Sessions Criminal | 155 East Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066 | (615) 452-4367, ext. 2 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Chancery Court Clerk and Master | 155 East Main Street, Room 3600, Gallatin, TN 37066 | (615) 452-4282 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Juvenile Court | 657 South Water Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066 | (615) 451-6016, ext. 4 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
For cases heard in one of the county's municipal courts, contact that city court clerk directly. Municipal courts in Sumner County include:
- City of Gallatin Municipal Court – 132 West Main Street, Room 112, Gallatin, TN 37066; Phone: (615) 451-5893
- Hendersonville City Court – 1 Executive Park Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075; Phone: (615) 264-5354
- Portland Municipal Court – 100 South Russell Street, Portland, TN 37148; Phone: (615) 325-6776, ext. 555
- White House Municipal Court – 105D College Street, White House, TN; Phone: (615) 672-4350, ext. 2137
- Millersville City Court – 1246 Louisville Highway, Millersville, TN 37072; Phone: (615) 859-0880
- Westmoreland City Court – 3012 Thompson Lane, Westmoreland, TN 37186; Phone: (615) 644-3382
Historical circuit court minutes for Sumner County may also be available through the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Are Court Records Public in Sumner County?
Tennessee law strongly favors public access to court records. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503) and Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34, most documents in a court's case file are public records that anyone may inspect.
Rule 34 sorts court records into three categories: case records (documents in a specific case file), administrative records (relating to court operations), and judicial records (everything else). The rule also identifies categories that are confidential and off-limits to the public:
- Documents expressly excepted from inspection under T.C.A. § 10-7-504 or other state law
- Documents sealed by court order or subject to a protective order
- Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinions
- Internal conference records, notes, memoranda, and reports prepared by judges, judicial staff, or the Administrative Office of the Courts as part of deliberations
- Internal case management information (except appellate panel composition)
- Information about threats to the personal safety of judges, staff, or their families, as well as security audits
- A judge's individual recusal records, unless intentionally filed as part of the case record
Requests to inspect public court records in Sumner County are subject to reasonable requirements designed to preserve record integrity and support the efficient running of the courts, consistent with T.C.A. § 16-3-401. If someone wants a record sealed, they must show a specific, serious, and substantial interest that outweighs the public's right of access. On the flip side, anyone who believes records have been improperly withheld can challenge the restriction through the court.
Juvenile proceedings and child custody cases carry additional statutory protections. Those records are generally accessible only to the parties, their attorneys, and other individuals authorized by law.
Sumner County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Sumner County move through the Criminal Court (felonies and serious misdemeanors), the General Sessions Court (misdemeanors, preliminary felony hearings, and traffic offenses), and the Juvenile Court (cases involving minors under 18). The Sumner County Circuit Court Clerk maintains records from all three courts.
Searching criminal case records online. The Circuit Court Clerk's online case search and the TNCrtInfo portal both let you look up criminal cases by party name or case number. Results typically show the case number, charges, filing date, assigned judge, and current status. The Criminal Court clerk's office is at 113 West Main Street, 3rd Floor, Gallatin, TN 37066, and can be reached at (615) 452-4367, ext. 5.
Arrest records and warrants. The Sumner County Sheriff's Office offers several public-facing tools for criminal record inquiries:
- Warrants Lookup: The Sheriff's Office has an online warrants search tool where you can check for active arrest warrants by name.
- Warrants Division: For questions about warrant service, call the Civil Warrants Clerks at (615) 442-1826. There are no fees for serving criminal warrants.
- Inmate Information: The Sheriff's Office posts current in-custody inmate information online. The detention information line is (615) 442-1813, and the main office number is (615) 452-2616. The Sheriff's Office is at 117 West Smith Street, Gallatin, TN 37066, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Local police arrest reports. For incidents handled by a city police department, direct your request to that agency. The Gallatin Police Department has a Records Department that processes requests for arrest reports. Call (615) 452-8267 first to confirm that a report has been completed and approved before visiting in person.
Municipal court criminal records—traffic violations and city ordinance infractions—are kept by the clerk of the city court where the case was heard. Judges in Sumner County's municipal courts can impose fines up to $50 and sentences of up to 30 days in jail for municipal ordinance violations.
Sumner County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Sumner County are split among three courts based on subject matter and the dollar amount at stake. The Circuit Court handles cases where the amount in dispute generally exceeds $25,000, including personal injury, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, and name-change proceedings. The General Sessions Court hears civil cases valued at less than $25,000, as well as orders of protection. The Chancery Court decides matters in equity—complex contract disputes, trust litigation, real estate actions, partition suits, specific performance claims, and foreign judgments.
Obtaining civil case records from the Circuit Court and General Sessions Court. The Circuit Court Clerk's office holds records for both courts. Search online through the clerk's case search or TNCrtInfo, visit in person at 155 East Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066, or mail a request to P.O. Box 549, Gallatin, TN 37066. Reach the office at (615) 452-4367 (ext. 3 for General Sessions civil; ext. 4 for Circuit Court civil).
Obtaining civil case records from the Chancery Court. The Clerk and Master's office takes record requests in person, by mail, by fax at (615) 451-6031, or through the Tybera e-filing system. The office is at 155 East Main Street, Room 3600, Gallatin, TN 37066, and can be reached at (615) 452-4282. E-filed documents exceeding 40 pages are subject to an additional fee of $0.50 per page beyond the first 40 pages, effective May 5, 2025.
Chancery Court Clerk and Master
Address: 155 East Main Street, Room 3600, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (615) 452-4282 (Civil/Domestic); (615) 451-6036 (Delinquent Taxes/Probate)
Fax: (615) 451-6031
Email: SumnerClerkandMastersOffice@tncourts.gov
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST
Keep in mind that staff in both clerk offices cannot give legal advice—including guidance on which forms to file, how to complete them, or how to proceed with a case. If you need that kind of help, consult an attorney or look into free legal services resources.
Sumner County Family Court Records
Sumner County does not have a dedicated family court. Instead, domestic relations and family law cases are split between the Circuit Court and the Chancery Court.
The Circuit Court handles divorces that don't involve complex property division, child custody and visitation disputes, child support matters, and adoption petitions. The Circuit Court section of the clerk's website offers forms including divorce packets and name-change applications.
The Chancery Court presides over divorces involving significant property or asset distribution, complex trust or business disputes tied to family matters, paternity actions, and legitimation proceedings. The Chancery Court also handles conservatorships and guardianships that overlap with family-related issues.
To get family court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk for cases heard in Circuit Court, or the Chancery Court Clerk and Master for Chancery matters. Both offices handle in-person, mail, phone, and electronic requests as described earlier. Certain family case records—particularly those involving juvenile proceedings and child custody matters—are not publicly accessible and may only be released to the parties, their attorneys, and others specifically authorized by law.
Marriage records. Marriage licenses in Sumner County are issued by the Sumner County Clerk—a separate office from the court clerks. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $5 and can be ordered through the County Clerk's online portal or in person:
Sumner County Clerk
Address: 355 North Belvedere Drive, Room 111, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (615) 452-4063
Fax: (615) 452-9371
Email: Clerk@SumnerCountyTn.gov
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Certified copies of marriage certificates can also be obtained through the Tennessee Department of Health's Office of Vital Records at $15 per copy. You'll need to complete the Application for Certified Copy of Tennessee Certificate of Marriage, provide a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID, and have the application notarized.
Divorce records. Dissolution of marriage records are held by whichever clerk's office administered the case—either the Circuit Court Clerk or the Chancery Court Clerk and Master. Divorce certificates can also be ordered from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records at $15 per certified copy, using the Application for Certified Copy of TN Certificate of Divorce or Annulment. The same ID and notarization requirements apply. Submit requests in person, by mail, or online through the state's approved vendor. For in-person or mail orders, the Vital Records office address is:
Tennessee Vital Records
Andrew Johnson Tower (Rosa Parks Boulevard side)
710 James Robertson Parkway, 1st Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Birth and death records. While not court records themselves, these documents come up regularly in family law proceedings. Certified copies of Tennessee birth and death certificates cost $15 each and can be obtained from any Sumner County Health Department clinic or from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Complete and submit the applicable form—the birth certificate application or the death certificate application—along with valid identification.
Sumner County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Sumner County—including will validation, appointment of executors and administrators, estate asset distribution, conservatorships for incapacitated adults, and guardianships—are handled by the Chancery Court. The Clerk and Master's office keeps all probate case files and is the right place to start for record requests.
Effective February 1, 2023, all probate hearings in Sumner County Chancery Court must be conducted in person unless the Chancellor grants prior permission for a remote appearance. Probate filings can be submitted to the Clerk and Master's office in person, by mail, by fax, or electronically through the Tybera e-filing system.
Requesting probate records. If you need copies of wills, letters testamentary, inventories, accountings, or other estate documents, contact the Clerk and Master's office:
Sumner County Chancery Court Clerk and Master
Address: 155 East Main Street, Room 3600, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (615) 451-6036 (Delinquent Taxes/Probate line)
Fax: (615) 451-6031
Email: SumnerClerkandMastersOffice@tncourts.gov
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST
The Chancery Court's probate work covers estates of deceased persons, trust administration, guardianship of minors, conservatorship of disabled adults, minor settlements, and legitimation proceedings. Delinquent property tax sale records—also managed by the Clerk and Master's office—may be relevant when researching estates that include real property.
When writing to request probate records, include the decedent's or ward's full name, the case number if you have it, and the approximate date the case was opened. Staff can confirm whether a particular document is available and let you know about any applicable copy fees. As with the other Sumner County court offices, the Clerk and Master's staff cannot give legal advice about how to start or manage a probate proceeding.