Davidson County Court Records

What Is Davidson County Court Records

Davidson County court records are official documents created and maintained by the courts in Davidson County, Tennessee. These records document legal proceedings, including criminal cases, civil disputes, traffic violations, and family law matters. They serve as the official history of court actions and decisions, providing transparency in the judicial process.

Court records typically include case filings, motions, orders, judgments, and other documents submitted during legal proceedings. These records are maintained by various court clerks' offices throughout Davidson County, depending on the type of case and court jurisdiction.

Are Court Records Public In Davidson County

Yes, most court records in Davidson County are public information under Tennessee's Public Records Act and the common law right of access to judicial records. This means that citizens generally have the right to access and review these documents.

However, not all court records are publicly accessible. Some records may be sealed or redacted to protect sensitive information, including:

• Juvenile records (in most cases)
• Adoption proceedings
• Mental health commitments
• Cases involving minors
• Records sealed by court order
• Certain domestic violence cases
• Information protected by state or federal law

The Criminal Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 2120, Nashville, TN 37201) and Circuit Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville, TN 37201) maintain these public records and provide access according to state laws and court rules.

How To Find Court Records in Davidson County in 2025

To find court records in Davidson County in 2025, you have several options:

1. Visit the appropriate clerk's office in person:

   • Criminal Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 2120, Nashville, TN 37201)
   • Circuit Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville, TN 37201)
   • General Sessions Court Clerk's Office (408 2nd Avenue North, Suite 2110, Nashville, TN 37201)
   • Juvenile Court Clerk's Office (100 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37213)

2. Use online resources:

   • The Criminal Court Clerk's Public Case Search
   • General Sessions Court Case Information portal
   • Circuit Court Clerk's online records system

3. Submit a written request to the appropriate clerk's office, specifying the records you're seeking.

4. Hire a professional record retrieval service that specializes in obtaining court records.

When requesting records, you'll typically need to provide:

• Case number (if known)
• Names of parties involved
• Approximate date of the case
• Type of case or proceeding

How To Look Up Court Records in Davidson County Online?

Davidson County offers several online resources for accessing court records:

1. Criminal Court Records: Use the Public Case Search system at https://sci.ccc.nashville.gov/ to search for criminal cases by name, case number, or citation number.

2. General Sessions Court Records: Visit https://gscourt.nashville.gov/court-case-information/ to access civil, criminal, and traffic cases in General Sessions Court.

3. Circuit Court Records: Access through https://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/ for civil cases, divorces, and other circuit court matters.

4. Chancery Court Records: Available through the Chancery Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 308, Nashville, TN 37201) website.

5. Probate Court Records: Accessible through the Probate Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 303, Nashville, TN 37201) online portal.

When using these systems, you may need to create an account or agree to terms of use. Some detailed information may require in-person visits or additional fees to access.

Can You Search Davidson County Court Records for Free?

Yes, you can search basic Davidson County court records for free, but there are limitations:

Free options include:

• Basic case information searches on the court websites
• In-person viewing of public records at the clerk's offices
• Public access terminals at courthouse locations

Fee-based services include:

• Obtaining certified copies of documents (typically $5-$20 per document)
• Extensive searches requiring staff assistance
• Copies of audio recordings or transcripts
• Complete case files with all documents

The Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk's Office (1 Public Square, Suite 2120, Nashville, TN 37201) and other clerk offices maintain fee schedules for various services. While basic information is available at no cost, more comprehensive records or certified copies will incur fees.

What's Included in a Davidson County Court Record?

A typical Davidson County court record may include:

1. Case Information

   • Case number and filing date
   • Names of parties involved (plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys)
   • Judge assigned to the case
   • Current case status

2. Legal Documents

   • Complaints, petitions, or indictments
   • Motions and responses
   • Court orders and judgments
   • Witness testimonies and exhibits
   • Settlement agreements

3. Procedural History

   • Hearing dates and outcomes
   • Trial information
   • Continuances and postponements
   • Appeals information

4. Judgments and Outcomes

   • Verdicts and sentences (in criminal cases)
   • Monetary awards (in civil cases)
   • Court-ordered actions
   • Probation terms or other conditions

5. Financial Information

   • Court costs and fees
   • Fine payments
   • Restitution orders
   • Payment histories

The specific contents vary depending on the type of case and court jurisdiction.

How Long Does Davidson County Keep Court Records?

Davidson County follows Tennessee state retention schedules for court records, which vary by case type:

• Criminal Felony Cases: Permanent retention
• Criminal Misdemeanor Cases: 10 years after case closure
• Civil Cases: Generally 10 years after final disposition
• Divorce Records: Permanent retention
• Probate Records: Permanent retention
• Juvenile Records: Typically sealed at age 18, but retention varies
• Traffic Violations: 3-5 years depending on severity

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (511 Union Street, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37219) establishes these retention policies, and the Davidson County Archives (3801 Green Hills Village Drive, Nashville, TN 37215) maintains historical court records.

Digital records systems have extended the practical retention of many records beyond these minimum requirements, with many records now preserved indefinitely in electronic format.

Types of Courts In Davidson County

Davidson County has a comprehensive court system with several types of courts:

1. Circuit Court: Handles civil matters, including contract disputes, personal injury cases, and domestic relations cases.

2. Chancery Court: Deals with equity matters, including property disputes, business cases, and certain family matters.

3. Criminal Court: Adjudicates felony criminal cases and misdemeanor appeals from lower courts.

4. General Sessions Court: Handles civil cases with limited jurisdiction, misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies.

5. Juvenile Court: Oversees cases involving minors, including delinquency, dependency, and neglect matters.

6. Probate Court: Manages estates, wills, conservatorships, and guardianships.

7. Metropolitan Nashville Environmental Court: Specializes in code enforcement and environmental violations.

Each court has specific jurisdiction and procedures, with the Davidson County Courthouse (1 Public Square, Nashville, TN 37201) housing most of these courts.

What Types of Cases Do Davidson County Courts Hear?

Davidson County courts hear a wide range of cases:

Criminal Court

• Felony prosecutions
• Appeals from General Sessions criminal cases
• Post-conviction relief petitions

Circuit Court

• Civil lawsuits exceeding $25,000
• Divorce and family law matters
• Appeals from administrative decisions
• Personal injury and tort claims

Chancery Court

• Property disputes
• Contract matters
• Business and corporate litigation
• Tax cases

General Sessions Court

• Civil cases up to $25,000
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Misdemeanor criminal cases
• Traffic violations
• Order of protection hearings

Juvenile Court

• Delinquency proceedings
• Dependency and neglect cases
• Child support enforcement
• Truancy matters

Probate Court

• Estate administration
• Will contests
• Conservatorships and guardianships
• Name changes

The Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County Government (1 Public Square, Nashville, TN 37201) oversees this court system that serves the county's diverse legal needs.

How To Find a Court Docket In Davidson County

Court dockets in Davidson County can be accessed through several methods:

1. Online Access:

   • Criminal Court: https://sci.ccc.nashville.gov/
   • General Sessions: https://gscourt.nashville.gov/court-case-information/
   • Circuit Court: https://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/

2. In-Person:

   • Visit the clerk's office for the specific court:
     • Criminal Court Clerk (1 Public Square, Suite 2120, Nashville, TN 37201)
     • Circuit Court Clerk (1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville, TN 37201)
     • General Sessions Clerk (408 2nd Avenue North, Suite 2110, Nashville, TN 37201)

3. By Phone:

   • Call the appropriate clerk's office to inquire about specific cases or docket information.

4. Court Bulletin Boards:

   • Daily dockets are often posted on bulletin boards near courtrooms.

When searching for docket information, you'll typically need:

• Case number
• Party names
• Hearing date (if known)
• Judge assignment (if known)

Dockets are usually updated daily and provide information about scheduled hearings, case status, and recent filings.

Which Courts in Davidson County Are Not Courts of Record?

In Davidson County, the following courts are not courts of record, meaning they don't maintain verbatim transcripts of proceedings:

1. General Sessions Civil Court: While it handles civil matters up to $25,000, it is not a court of record. Appeals from this court are heard de novo (completely new) in Circuit Court.

2. General Sessions Criminal Court: For misdemeanor cases and preliminary hearings, this court doesn't maintain official transcripts. Cases bound over to Criminal Court or appealed are heard anew.

3. Traffic Court: Operating as part of General Sessions, traffic court proceedings aren't recorded verbatim.

4. Environmental Court: When functioning at the General Sessions level, it is not a court of record.

5. Small Claims Court: Operating within General Sessions, these proceedings for minor civil disputes aren't recorded verbatim.

The Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County General Sessions Court (408 2nd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201) handles these matters, and while they maintain case files and judgments, they don't create official transcripts of proceedings.

Courts of record in Davidson County include Circuit Court, Chancery Court, Criminal Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court (for certain proceedings).

Lookup Court Records in Davidson County

Public Case Search - Criminal Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Access public case search for criminal court records in Davidson County, managed by the Criminal Court Clerk's office.

Court Case Information | General Sessions Court of Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County Information on court case records for civil, criminal, and traffic cases in the General Sessions Court of Davidson County.

Circuit Court Clerk - Joseph P. Day, Clerk The official site for the Circuit Court Clerk of Davidson County, providing access to civil and criminal court records.

Davidson County Courts and Public Records Overview of the court system in Davidson County and access to public records, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Court Records - Davidson County TN Court Details on how to access court records in Davidson County, including criminal, marriage, divorce, and property records.

Circuit Court Clerk's Office - Circuit Court Clerk - Nashville Information about the Circuit Court Clerk's office, including services, dockets, and court forms for Davidson County.