White County Court Records Search
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White County, Tennessee, centered on the county seat of Sparta, runs a multi-court judicial system that produces a wide range of records — criminal case files, civil judgments, probate inventories, vital documents, and more. These records are the official account of what happened in court, and people access them for all kinds of practical reasons: confirming a judgment, reviewing case history, supporting a new legal filing, or conducting research. Attorneys, litigants, journalists, genealogists, and ordinary residents all have reason to look into them.
If you're trying to locate court information in Tennessee, TennesseeCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case records, clerk office contacts, and online resources across the state's courts. In White County specifically, records can be accessed in person at clerk offices, by mail, through online portals, or via public access terminals at the courthouse — depending on the court and the type of record you need.
How to Look Up a Court Case in White County?
The right starting point for any White County case search depends on which court handled the matter. The county's two primary clerks divide responsibility as follows:
- Circuit Court Clerk — holds records for the Circuit Court, Criminal Court, and General Sessions Court, including civil cases, criminal matters, traffic citations, warrants, and court minutes.
- Clerk and Master — holds records for the Chancery Court, which handles equity matters, divorce cases, certain probate proceedings, and guardianship filings.
White County Circuit Court Clerk
Address: 111 Depot Street, Suite 1, Sparta, TN 38583
Phone: (931) 836-3205
Fax: (931) 836-3526
Email: sasha.wilson@whitecountytn.gov
Website: White County Circuit Court Clerk
White County Clerk and Master (Chancery Court)
Address: 1 East Bockman Way, Room 303, Sparta, TN 38583
Phone: (931) 836-3787
Fax: (931) 836-2124
Email: gena.brock@tncourts.gov
Both offices allow public inspection of case dockets and court files during regular business hours. Online dockets for circuit and general sessions cases are accessible through the Circuit Court Clerk's website. Fines and fees for circuit court matters can also be paid online through TNCrtInfo.com, which accepts major credit cards — note that a 2.5% processing fee applies. The office accepts in-person payments, money orders, or cashier's checks, but does not take payments by phone.
If you're requesting records by mail, follow these steps:
- Identify the correct court and clerk's office handling the case.
- Prepare a written request including the case number, party names, approximate filing date, and the specific documents you need.
- Include the applicable fee (record search: $6.00 per year searched; copies: $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2–20, $0.25 for each additional page).
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope or request delivery by mail ($10.00 plus postage).
- Send to the appropriate clerk at the address listed above.
Are Court Records Public in White County?
Tennessee law treats court records as public by default. The Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503) grants any Tennessee citizen the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records from government agencies, including court clerks. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 further codifies the public's right to inspect court records while spelling out which categories remain confidential.
Records that are restricted or confidential under Tennessee law include:
- Juvenile court records (protected by T.C.A. § 37-1-153)
- Adoption records and related case files
- Sealed or expunged records
- Protection order case information
- Identifying information in child abuse proceedings
- Patient records and medical files
- Certain crime victim identifying information
- Jury list data
- Trade secrets, confidential financial data, or proprietary information
- Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinions
- Internal court deliberative documents, judicial notes, and conference memoranda
- Documents sealed by specific court order
When a custodian denies access to a record, they must identify which exemption applies. If you believe access was improperly denied, you may seek review under the Public Records Act's enforcement provisions.
White County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal matters in White County go before the White County Criminal Court, a division of the Circuit Court sharing the same address and clerk. Misdemeanor criminal matters, preliminary hearings, and cases in which a defendant waives grand jury rights are processed through the General Sessions Court. Both courts are served by the Circuit Court Clerk at 111 Depot Street, Suite 1, Sparta.
To find and request criminal case records:
- Online dockets for General Sessions and Circuit/Criminal Court cases are accessible through the Circuit Court Clerk's site.
- In-person review is free; the clerk's office issues copies and certified documents for a fee.
- The Circuit Court Clerk collects court fines, issues warrants and summons, and maintains all minutes and filings.
Criminal record copy fees (White County Circuit Clerk):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First page copy | $2.00 |
| Pages 2–20 | $0.50 per page |
| All additional pages | $0.25 per page |
| Certification or authentication | $6.00 |
| Certified copy of judgment | $10.00 each |
| Computer printout of electronic record | $6.00 |
| Record search, per year | $6.00 |
| Expungement petition | $60.00 |
| Certified copy of expungement order | $6.00 each |
Arrest information and incident reports for White County are maintained by the White County Sheriff's Office, located at 111 Depot Street, Suite 4, Sparta, TN 38583, Phone: (931) 836-2700 Crash reports can be ordered through CrashDocs.org, and incident or accident reports can be requested via the Sheriff's online report request system. Statewide criminal history records are maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and are not obtained through the county clerks.
White County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in White County is split between two courts depending on the amount in dispute and the type of relief sought. The Circuit Court handles civil damage claims and law cases, while the Chancery Court handles equitable relief — including injunctions, accountings, and certain contract disputes. The General Sessions Court serves as the small claims venue for lower-value civil matters.
Filing fees at the White County Circuit Clerk's Office (effective January 1, 2022):
| Case Type | Filing Fee | Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Law — damages over $50,000 | $326.00 | $201.00 |
| Law Magistrate — $15,000.01 to $50,000.00 | $326.00 | $201.00 |
| Law Magistrate — $15,000.00 or less | $276.00 | $201.00 |
| Small Claims — $2,500.01 to $10,000.00 | $276.00 | $0 |
| Small Claims — $2,500.00 or less | $109.00 | $0 |
| Chancery — equitable relief | $326.00 | $201.00 |
| Eviction/Ejectment | $109.00 | $129.00 |
| Order of Protection | No fee | No fee |
| Jury demand (non-probate, non-small claims) | $212.50 | — |
Additional fees apply for alias summons ($5.00), garnishment proceedings ($15.00–$50.00 depending on amount), and change of venue ($40.00). The office does not accept personal checks for filing fees. Payments must be made by cash, money order, cashier's check, or major credit card in person — no phone payments.
Civil case records — including pleadings, motions, judgments, and court orders — can be reviewed in person at the Circuit Clerk's office free of charge, or obtained as copies at the rates listed above. The White County court system page provides further information on the county's courts and their jurisdiction.
White County Family Court Records
Family law matters in White County are primarily handled by two courts. Divorce proceedings — both contested and uncontested — may be filed in either the Circuit Court or the Chancery Court depending on the circumstances, and both share jurisdiction over these cases. Juvenile Court, located at 111 Depot Street, Sparta, TN 38583, Phone: (931) 836-2069, handles matters involving children, including dependency, neglect, and delinquency cases.
Divorce filing fees (Circuit Clerk's Office):
| Divorce Type | Filing Fee | Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce with children | $326.00 | $201.00 |
| Divorce without children | $326.00 | $201.00 |
| Joint dissolution (with or without children) | $527.00 | $0 |
Divorce records at the county level are maintained by whichever clerk handled the filing — the Circuit Court Clerk or the Clerk and Master. Identify the correct court before submitting a records request. Provide both parties' names and the approximate filing date. Copies are available at the standard per-page rates listed above.
Marriage records are maintained by the White County Clerk, who licenses marriages in the county. Certified copies of marriage licenses are restricted: records less than 50 years old are not available to the general public and may only be issued to qualified parties such as the named spouses, their children, parents, or other close relatives.
White County Clerk
Address: 1 East Bockman Way, Room 115, Sparta, TN 38583
Phone: (931) 836-3712
Fax: (931) 836-2601
Email: sasha.wilson@whitecountytn.gov
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records also issues certified marriage certificates for $15.00 per copy. Requests can be made in person or by mailing a completed vital records application form, the required fee, and supporting identification to:
Tennessee Vital Records
Andrew Johnson Tower, 1st Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Birth records held by the Office of Vital Records are private until 100 years after the event. Death records and certified divorce certificates are restricted for 50 years from the date of the event, with access limited to qualified applicants such as the decedent's relatives or the parties to the divorce. The fee for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, or divorce records from the state office is $15.00 per copy, with each additional copy also $15.00. The same application and mailing address above apply for all vital records requests.
Juvenile court records are confidential by statute and are not accessible to the general public. Anyone with a legal right to access juvenile records — such as parties, their attorneys, or authorized agencies — must contact the Juvenile Court directly at (931) 836-2069.
White County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in White County are shared between the Circuit Court and the Chancery Court. Depending on whether the estate was opened through the circuit or chancery side, records will be held by the corresponding clerk. Before requesting probate documents, confirm which court handled the proceeding by contacting both offices.
Probate filing fees (Circuit Clerk's Office):
| Proceeding | Filing Fee | Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Administration of decedent's estate | $376.00 | $201.00 |
| Guardianship | $0 | $0 |
| Each account filed (other than final) | $25.00 | — |
| Creditor's claim — $0.01 to $150.00 | $0 | — |
| Creditor's claim — $150.01 to $500.00 | $25.00 | — |
| Creditor's claim — $500.01 to $10,000 | $40.00 | — |
| Creditor's claim — over $10,000 | $60.00 | — |
| Petition/claim seeking equitable relief | $60.00 | — |
| Letters of Office | $2.00 each | — |
Probate case records — including wills offered for probate, inventories, accountings, letters testamentary, and court orders — are available for public inspection at the appropriate clerk's office. Certified copies of orders or letters cost $10.00 each; standard page copies follow the tiered schedule ($2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2–20, $0.25 thereafter).
To request probate records, contact the relevant office:
- For Circuit Court probate matters:
White County Circuit Court Clerk — 111 Depot Street, Suite 1, Sparta, TN 38583 | (931) 836-3205 - For Chancery Court probate matters:
Clerk and Master Gena Brock — 1 East Bockman Way, Room 303, Sparta, TN 38583 | (931) 836-3787 | gena.brock@tncourts.gov
Historical White County chancery and probate records dating as far back as 1811 are also available through genealogical archives. The Tennessee Genealogical Society's White County resource page provides contact details and research guidance for historical record requests. Property records relevant to estate administration — including deeds, mortgages, and liens — are maintained by the White County Register of Deeds, located at 1 East Bockman Way, Room 118, Sparta, TN 38583, Phone: (931) 836-2817, which also accepts the White County Register of Deeds portal for document research.