Wilson County Court Records Search
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Wilson County sits in the heart of Middle Tennessee, with the county seat of Lebanon serving as the hub for its judicial operations. The county’s court system spans two primary buildings—the Wilson County Judicial Center on South College Street and the Wilson County Criminal Justice Center on East High Street—and covers everything from felony criminal proceedings to small estate affidavits. This guide provides a practical walkthrough for anyone seeking to locate, search, or request court records across Wilson County’s various courts and clerk offices.
Residents and interested parties looking for Tennessee court records can work through a number of channels, including clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, and digital lookup tools. TennesseeCourts.us offers statewide case information for appellate-level courts and links to administrative resources across the state. At the county level, Wilson County maintains its own online case search systems and dedicated clerk websites that allow direct access to docket information, filing forms, and record request procedures.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Wilson County?
Wilson County court cases are filed and managed across multiple courts, each with its own clerk. The Circuit Court Clerk, currently Debbie Moss, oversees filings for Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, General Sessions Divisions I, II, and III, and Juvenile Court. The Clerk & Master of the Chancery Court, currently Millie Sloan, manages filings for the Chancery Division and the Probate Division.
Online Search Options
The most direct way to look up a case remotely is through Wilson County’s online court records systems:
- The Wilson County online court records system allows searches by case party name, case number, or case year. Users can filter results by case type and the specific court that handled the matter.
- The Wilson County Circuit Court Clerk’s website provides access to court information, payment portals, and an electronic filing system.
In-Person and Mail Requests
For records held by the Circuit Court Clerk, requesters can submit a document request form through the clerk’s website or visit:
Wilson County Judicial Center
Address: 134 South College Street, Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: (615) 444-2042
Fax: (615) 449-3420
Wilson County Criminal Justice Center
Address: 115 East High Street, Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: (615) 444-1488 (Criminal Court)
Phone: (615) 444-2045 (General Sessions I & II)
Phone: (615) 444-2114 (Juvenile Court)
For records held by the Clerk & Master, requesters must complete a public records request form and submit it in person or by mail to:
Public Records Request Coordinator
Wilson County Clerk & Master’s Office
P.O. Box 1557
Lebanon, TN 37088-1557
Phone: (615) 444-2835 (Chancery)
Phone: (615) 466-5311 (Probate)
Fax: (615) 703-9769
Office hours for all Wilson County court offices are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Copy fees at the Clerk & Master’s office are $0.50 per page for black-and-white copies, with an additional $5.00 certification fee for certified copies. If the total cost of a records request exceeds $10, payment must be made in advance. The office accepts money orders or checks.
Are Court Records Public in Wilson County?
The general rule in Wilson County is that court records are open to public inspection. Tennessee’s legal framework for public records access rests on two key authorities:
The Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503) presumes that governmental records, including court records, are available for inspection by Tennessee citizens. Additionally, Tennessee Supreme Court rules address access to judicial documents specifically.
However, several categories of court records are exempt from public disclosure under Tennessee law. Records that may be restricted or withheld include:
- Juvenile court records — Generally confidential under Tennessee statute
- Adoption and child custody documents containing identifying or sensitive information
- Contact information for domestic violence victims or individuals under threat (T.C.A. § 37-1-151(b)(4)(F))
- Medical records embedded in court filings (T.C.A. § 63-2-101(b))
- Expunged records sealed by court order
- Attorney misconduct investigation files maintained by the Board of Professional Responsibility prior to formal proceedings (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R., Rule 9, § 32)
- Performance evaluations of court officials
- Records classified as exempt under other state or federal statutes
When confidential information appears in an otherwise public record, the court clerk may redact the exempt portions before releasing the document. Requesters seeking restricted records must demonstrate a direct legal right to the information—such as being the record subject, an immediate family member, or a legal representative.
Wilson County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Wilson County are adjudicated primarily through the Circuit Criminal Court and General Sessions Court Divisions I and II. The Circuit Criminal Court, located at the Criminal Justice Center, handles all felony criminal cases and criminal jury trials. General Sessions Divisions I and II manage misdemeanor matters, preliminary hearings, and traffic citations.
Court Locations and Contacts
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Criminal Court | 115 E. High Street, Lebanon, TN 37087 | (615) 444-1488 |
| General Sessions I & II | 115 E. High Street, Lebanon, TN 37087 | (615) 444-2045 |
The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of all criminal cases filed across these courts. Relevant court forms for criminal matters include the Criminal Court Subpoena, Grand Jury Subpoena, and Petition for Certificate of Employability. Local criminal court rules for the 15th Judicial District govern practice and procedure.
Searching Criminal Records Online
Criminal court case information can be accessed through the Wilson County online court records system. Select the appropriate court and case type, then search by the defendant’s name or case number.
To request copies of criminal court documents, use the Circuit Court Clerk’s document request form.
Statewide Criminal History Records
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) maintains criminal history records for the entire state, including Wilson County. Background checks can be conducted through two methods:
- Online: Submit a request through the TBI TORIS portal and pay the $29 processing fee electronically. Results are delivered by email.
- By mail: Complete the TORIS request form in English or Spanish and mail it with a $29 fee to:
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation — TORIS Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216
Phone: (615) 744-4057
Arrest Records and Sheriff’s Office Resources
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office provides access to arrest and jail records. The Sheriff’s Office maintains an online inmate search portal where the public can look up individuals currently or recently housed in the Wilson County Jail. Contact information for the Sheriff’s Office:
Address: 105 East High Street, Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: (615) 444-1412
Records Division: (615) 444-1412 (option 2)
Jail: (615) 444-1412 (option 1)
Detectives: (615) 444-1459 (option 6)
Office Fax: (615) 444-9276
Wilson County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Wilson County are heard across three courts depending on the type of case and the amount in controversy.
Chancery Court — Handles contract disputes, property damage claims, torts, malpractice, wrongful death, tax disputes, worker’s compensation, partition suits, and enforcement of foreign judgments, among others. The Chancery Court also hears domestic relations matters such as divorces, adoptions, and name changes.
Circuit Civil Court — Shares overlapping jurisdiction with the Chancery Court on many types of civil matters and hears appeals from General Sessions.
General Sessions Court (Division I) — Has limited civil jurisdiction over matters including landlord/tenant disputes, small claims, and cases below the statutory monetary threshold.
Filing Fees at the Clerk & Master’s Office (Chancery Court)
The Chancery Court fee schedule (effective January 1, 2026) organizes filing costs by case category:
| Category | Case Types (Examples) | Fee (Without Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Contracts, torts, malpractice, wrongful death, tax disputes | $367.00 |
| Category 2 | Workers’ comp, appeals, condemnation, foreign judgments | $292.00 |
| Category 3 | Adoptions ($168.25), name changes, paternity, TPR | $192.00 |
| Divorce (with minor children) | — | $342.00 |
| Divorce (without minor children) | — | $267.00 |
Sheriff service adds $52.00 per instance. Certified copies are $0.50 per page plus $5.00 for certification.
General Sessions Court Fees
The General Sessions I & II fee schedule includes these common costs:
- Civil Warrant (1 defendant): $250.00
- Detainer Warrant (1 defendant): $250.00
- Subpoena: $62.00 total (clerk $10.00 + officer $52.00)
- Appeal Filing Fee: $287.00
- Certified Copies: $5.00 first page, $0.50 each additional page
- Exemplified Copies: $25.00
Civil forms available from the General Sessions Clerk include the Civil Warrant, Detainer Summons, Writ of Possession, Garnishment form, and Indigency Determination form. The General Sessions court rules for the 15th Judicial District are also posted online.
To search civil court records online, use the Wilson County online court records system, selecting the appropriate court and civil case type.
Wilson County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Wilson County are divided between the Chancery Court and General Sessions Court Division III (Family Court).
The Chancery Court has jurisdiction over divorces (both agreed and contested), child custody, adoptions, legitimations, conservatorships, guardianships, and name changes. Pro se (self-represented) litigants may complete uncontested divorces and name changes without a court hearing in Chancery Court.
General Sessions Division III — Family Court operates from the Judicial Center and handles certain family matters under limited jurisdiction.
Wilson County Judicial Center (Chancery & Family Court)
Address: 134 South College Street, Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: (615) 444-2835 (Chancery)
Phone: (615) 444-2042 (General Sessions III)
Wilson County Juvenile Court handles juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, child abuse, and child support matters.
Wilson County Criminal Justice Center (Juvenile Court)
Address: 115 East High Street, Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: (615) 444-2114
Fax: (615) 444-5889
To request family court records from the Chancery Court, submit a completed public records request form with the applicable fee to the Clerk & Master’s Office. For records held by the Circuit Court Clerk (including General Sessions III and Juvenile filings), submit a document request through the Circuit Court Clerk’s website.
Family court records may contain information exempt from public disclosure. Juvenile records are confidential under Tennessee law, and adoption files are similarly restricted. Domestic violence victim contact information is protected under T.C.A. § 37-1-151(b)(4)(F). Divorce records less than 50 years old held by the Tennessee Department of Health are classified as confidential and released only to eligible requesters.
Marriage and Divorce Certificates
Certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates are available through the Tennessee Department of Health. To request these records:
- Complete and notarize the applicable form—marriage certificate application or divorce certificate application
- Include a photocopy of a government-issued ID
- Attach a $15 fee (money order or check payable to Tennessee Vital Records for mail requests)
- Submit in person or mail to:
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
The Tennessee State Library and Archives maintains indexes of marriage and divorce certificates created between July 1, 1945, and December 31, 1973. Divorce case files can also be requested directly from the Wilson County Clerk & Master’s office using the standard records request form.
Wilson County Probate Court Records
The Wilson County Probate Court was created by private act, with probate jurisdiction vested in the Clerk & Master acting as Special Master under the review of the Probate Judge. The Probate Division of the Wilson County Clerk and Master’s office handles all probate filings, including:
- Estates (administration, settlement, and closing)
- Guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Muniment of Title
- Small Estate Affidavits
- Cremation Cases
Probate Court Contact
Wilson County Clerk & Master — Probate Division
Address: 134 South College Street, Room 201, Lebanon, TN 37087
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1557, Lebanon, TN 37088
Phone: (615) 466-5311
Fax: (615) 549-6805
Probate Filing Fees (As of January 1, 2026)
The probate fee schedule includes:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate Cases (published in the Wilson Post) | $392.00 |
| Small Estates | $367.00 |
| Muniment of Title | $367.00 |
| Re-Open Estate | $75.00 |
| Guardianship/Conservatorship (with service) | $419.00 |
| Guardianship/Conservatorship (without service) | $367.00 |
| Legitimation or Name Change | $192.00 |
| Mental Health Case | $142.00 |
| Trust Case | $322.00 |
| Cremation Case | $107.00 |
| Claim Against Estate | $50.00 |
| Petition to Sell Real Estate in an Estate | $200.00 |
| Interim Settlements or Accountings | $75.00 |
| Appeal from Probate to Chancery (Will Contest) | $154.00 |
The $392.00 estate case fee includes the petition to open estate, bond, one letter, notice of creditor, notice to commissioner, inheritance tax return, TennCare release, two affidavits, and order to close.
Probate Forms
The Clerk & Master’s office publishes standard probate forms on its website, including forms for small estate petitions, claims against an estate, and a uniform fax filing cover sheet.
Requesting Probate Records
To obtain copies of probate records, complete the records request form and submit it with the applicable copy fees to:
Public Records Request Coordinator
Wilson County Clerk & Master’s Office
P.O. Box 1557
Lebanon, TN 37088-1557
Phone: (615) 466-5311
Probate case docket information may also be searchable through the Wilson County online court records system. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury maintains a statewide property assessment database that can be helpful when researching real property connected to estate matters. Additionally, filings related to delinquent tax suits—which the Clerk & Master handles as part of chancery duties—may intersect with probate proceedings involving real estate.