Tennessee Civil Court Records

The Tennessee judicial system consists of four levels: the Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, Trial Courts, Appellate Courts, and the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is the highest in this state. It has five justices who examine subordinate court decisions and administer the Tennessee and United States legal systems.

Two courts comprise the Appellate Courts in this state. The first is the Court of Appeals, which hears civil appeals from state Trial Courts and several state boards and commissions. The Criminal Court of Appeals is the second Appellate Court.

Apart from the Criminal Courts, included in the Tennessee Trial Courts are the Circuit Courts, which have jurisdiction over most civil cases in the state. It also comprises Chancery Courts for equity issues and Probate Courts for wills, estates, and guardianships.

Courts of Limited Jurisdiction are also a part of the Tennessee court system. This court includes General Sessions Courts, Municipal Courts, and Juvenile Courts. These are local courts that hear cases of a minor type.

Do you have the right to access Tennessee Civil Court Records? The Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) allows you to look at and make copies of these documents kept by government bodies. However, you cannot obtain medical data and personal information of former or current public employees.

Tennessee bankruptcy refers to a collection of federal rules and statutes intended to assist persons with more debt than they can pay. This procedure allows debtors who can no longer pay to liquidate their assets or pay in installments.

The Tennessee Federal Courts have complete control over all bankruptcy cases in the state. Debtors may file for this procedure in one of three Federal District Courts, depending on which one is most convenient for their place of home or place of business.

People in this state usually file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you are unsure of the differences between the two, the following explanation will help:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

In this type of bankruptcy filing, a trustee collects and sells the debtor's non-exempt assets and properties. After selling, the trustee will distribute the revenues to pay creditors.

To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a debtor's total income must be less than the state's median income. Also, a debtor must take a mean test to prove that they have no disposable income after subtracting or paying pre-approved expenses.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will affect a person's credit score for ten years.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

A person who files for this kind of bankruptcy and has a steady income can make a plan to pay off all or part of their outstanding debt over three to five years.

In this state, only people with a regular source of revenue can file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will remain on a debtor's credit score for seven years.

In addition to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, you may also find Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Tennessee Civil Court Records.

How To Find Tennessee Bankruptcy Records

To retrieve bankruptcy records in this state, you can visit the Clerk's Office in the division where the debtor resided or had properties at least 180 days before filing for bankruptcy. You can send written or oral requests to this office. Note, however, that the court charges a fee for record copies.

The Clerk's Office of the Tennessee Bankruptcy Courts also has public-access terminals where you can examine public bankruptcy records and copy up to ten pages. The personnel of the Clerk's Office can also assist you with extra searches and copies for a fee.

Alternatively, you can find these records in the Appellate Voice Information System (AVIS) and Voice Case Information System (VCIS) without charge.

On Tennessee Bankruptcy Records, you can expect the following details:

• The debtor's full name and contact information
• Case number
• A list of creditors and how to get in touch with them
• Bankruptcy type
• Case status

The Tennessee Civil Court Records include a property lien, a type of lien where the assets claimed are property instead of money or a business.

The debtor's assets become security for the debts by putting these on a property. Lienholders may confiscate a debtor's assets if they cannot reach a payment agreement.

In this state, the most common types of property liens are:

Judgment Lien

This kind of lien on the property comes from a court order to pay money. It requires the debtor to pay the creditor a certain amount or face a lien action.

With this lien, the creditor has the right to legally own a debtor's assets if they don't pay. In Tennessee, a judgment lien covers the following assets:

• Real estate
• Homes
• Cars
• Furniture
• Land

A Tennessee judgment lien stays on the debtor's property for ten years even if it changes ownership.

Mechanic's Lien

Also called garage keeper's lien, this lien ensures that companies and individuals pay construction and repair workers for all the work they have rendered. With this lien, lienholders may confiscate the property if the owner fails to pay labor.

Under Title 66, Chapter 11 of the 2019 Tennessee Code, you can file for a mechanic's lien if you are a Contractor, subcontractor, supplier, architect, or engineer.

Mortgage Lien

This property lien enables the parties to purchase a home and pay it in installments.

A mortgage lien names the residence as collateral. If the borrower fails to make payments, the lienholder can seize the property.

This lien can remain on a lienee's property until the debt payment or the selling of the property to pay off the loan.

UCC Lien

This type of lien lets creditors file a legal security interest in a debtor's property in Tennessee.

In this state, if you want to file a UCC lien, you can send a UCC-1 form to the right agency.

In addition to UCC, mortgage, mechanic, and judgment liens, the Tennessee Property Lien Records also include a tax lien.

How to Check Tennessee Property Lien Records?

Tennessee county assessors, recorders, and clerks may provide property lien records in the state.

Checking for these records differs from county to county, but you can usually look for property lien records on government websites.

On their websites, government agencies in this state let people search for property lien records for free. For instance, the state Secretary of State offers a free tool where you can search for a temporary motor vehicle lien.

You can also request the Tennessee Department of Revenue to look for a tax or mechanic's lien.

However, in some localities, you would have to go in person to the office or the county courthouse to access these documents.

Tennessee Civil Driving Violation Records are formal files that show an individual's traffic or driving history, including any fines, violations, or license suspensions.

The most common types of civil driving violations in this state are:

• Parking violations
• Speeding
• Making wrong turns
• Not giving the right of way
• Using highways with restricted access
• Using cell phones behind the wheel

Compared to other traffic violations, these usually don't lead to jail time. But people who break the law may have to pay fines, get driver development points added to their record, go to driving school, or do community service.

How To Look Up Tennessee Civil Driving Violation Records?

You can look up these violations by obtaining a driving record, commonly known as a Moving Violation Report (MVR), from the Tennessee Department of Safety (TDS). In this department, you can submit requests online, by mail, or in person at local driver services centers.

You can request to get these documents online through Driver Services. However, upon request, you must supply pertinent information regarding the civil traffic violation and pay a cost.

You can also search these data by mailing a request and a payment to TDS. The driver's name, date of birth, and driver's license number must also be on the request.

For in-person requests, go to a driver's center, give them the necessary information, and pay a small fee.

Alternatively, you can inquire with the county court clerk about how to search for specific driving violation records in Tennessee.

Legal judgment records in Tennessee are the documents that detail the court's rulings in a specific case.

Different courts in this state's court system record and handle legal judgment files. The Chancery Court handles disputes about sharing assets and land. On the other hand, the Circuit Court handles civil cases like debt disputes.

The Rules of Civil Procedure provide a manual for the court's activities regarding legal judgment. It also includes information about defenses, pleadings, and filings.

How To Look Up Tennessee Legal Judgment Records?

To access Tennessee Legal Judgment Records, go to the courthouse that heard the case.

The Office of the Court Clerk usually handles such requests. However, if known, you must provide basic information about the legal judgment of interest, such as the parties, the date, and the attending judge.

Aside from going to the courthouse, you can also get these records by mail. For postal requests, you must submit the record request form and indicate your preferred distribution method before mailing it to the appropriate court.

Once you have this document, a typical Tennessee Legal Judgment Record will have the following:

• Names of the people involved in the case
• The sentence
• Oral proceeding
• Case number
• Information about the judge in charge

The Small Claims Records of Tennessee Civil Court Records have all the information from small claims cases at the General Sessions Court.

The Small Claims Courts in this state are the General Sessions Courts. These courts hear civil actions under $25,000.

The following types of cases that these courts handle are the following:

• Eviction disputes
• Personal injury
• Contract violation
• Property damage

You must be 18 years old to file a small claims case in this state. Additionally, you will need to visit the operating court to obtain the proper forms to file a lawsuit.

Each court of jurisdiction may have local norms; thus, it is advisable to check with the Clerk's Office for details.

After filing, Tennessee Small Claims Records will include each party's judgments, subpoenas, witness testimonies, and other information.

How To Look Up Tennessee Small Claims Records?

You can find small claims records in Tennessee at the court that handled your lawsuit.

In this state, the General Sessions Clerks are responsible for the maintenance and distribution of these court records, and they offer a variety of alternatives for obtaining these documents.

While you can visit the General Sessions Clerk's Office in person to make a record request, the court also establishes a website to access case details. However, you should know that there are usually fees for searching for these records and making copies.

A divorce occurs when a married couple ends their marriage through the legal process. In Tennessee, this process is also known as an annulment or dissolution of marriage.

To learn more about the divorce process, you can read this booklet that you can download. It provides information on where to file, what happens after filing, how long a divorces often take, and more.

Similarly, if you want to file for divorce, you can find the necessary court forms on this website.

Divorce court records have three types and serve distinct functions. When seeking to access these papers, it will be quicker if you know their various purposes.

The Tennessee Divorce Court Records are as follows:

Divorce Certificates

This sort of divorce court paper has the fewest details. It contains the names of both parties, as well as the date and location of the divorce.

When one party wants to change the name on their ID or be married again in Tennessee, they request this divorce document.

Only the parties and their respective attorneys can access this divorce document.

Divorce Decree

Divorce decree comprises the information on the divorce certificate and the decisions taken at the time of the finalization of the divorce.

These judgments include information about:

• Insurance agreements
• Alimony
• Property distribution
• Child custody
• Child support

Only the person who filed for divorce, their lawyers, and their ex-spouse have access to this document.

Divorce Records

A divorce record serves as the complete file for dissolution of marriage. Along with all of the court decisions and information about the case, a divorce record includes things like:

• Petitions
• Transcripts
• Agreements
• Orders

Anyone can look at a divorce record, but only people involved can get certified copies of it.

How To Look Up Tennessee Divorce Court Records?

The court clerks in the county where the divorce occurred maintain most divorce court records.

If you want to find divorce court records, you first should go to the Circuit Clerk's Office in the county that handled the matter. However, you should call the office to ensure they have your desired records.

You can also locate these documents by visiting the court's official website. In Tennessee, many courts have online portals where you can look at these divorce court records.

It is also possible to contact the Vital Records Office to get these documents.

The Tennessee Probate Court Records consist of the documents discovered and filed during the state probate proceedings.

Tennessee probate is a legal process that verifies the last will of a person who has died and names an executor. It also ensures the allocation of assets indicated in the document. This process takes between six months and a year, supposing no one opposes the will or other legal complications arise.

If a decedent possesses assets solely in their name at death, they or they must go through probate to transfer ownership in this state.

Here are some types of property that must go through probate in Tennessee:

• Accounts without a beneficiary
• A residence or property owned by the decedent alone or as tenants in common
• Investments, stocks, and bonds that the person who died held on their own
• Physical property

You can find the state rules for probate proceedings in Title 32 of the Tennessee Statutes.

Where can you find Tennessee Probate Court Records? In Tennessee, local Chancery Courts have jurisdiction over the probate proceedings. On the other hand, some of the larger districts have local Probate Courts to handle these concerns. So, visit and request the Clerk's Office at each county courthouse to provide copies of any documents you need under these records.

To look up Tennessee Civil Court Records, you can ask the clerks of the different courthouses for copies of these records. The courthouses maintain public documents of court proceedings, and the clerks are the caretakers of civil court records.

You can also get these records from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which keeps records of court minutes from the state's Chancery, Circuit, and County Courts. On request, you should fill out the civil court record request form and send it to the department with proof of payment.

Furthermore, you can access civil court records remotely through the Public Case History. The Clerk of the Appellate Court manages this case management system, often known as C-Track.