Sumner County Court Records Lookup

Sumner County Courts, TN *

Residents of Sumner County, Tennessee, on the border with Kentucky and north of Nashville, need information on where to go and how to access records when dealing with the county court system. Residents use the courts to file paperwork for land disputes, divorces, or probate cases. They also need court records as landlords to check eviction history for prospective tenants or as employers to check criminal history for prospective employees. Researchers use Sumner County court records for historical or genealogical purposes. Understanding how the county court system works can save residents time, money, and stress.

How to Access Sumner County Court Records

Online Access

Many states offer at least partial online access to records. Tennessee is the exception. The state has begun rolling out an online records system, but only the highest-population counties have access. Sumner County has a small population, and it offers no online access.

Alternative Online Options

Although Sumner County does not offer court records online, residents may be able to use another option. CourtCaseFinder is an aggregated platform that pulls court records from across the state and the nation. This alternative option can find divorces, probate records, and foreclosure records quickly, even with missing or incomplete information.

In-Person Requests

Sometimes residents need to access court records in person at the Sumner County Courthouse. They may need to view archived court records to look at a previous case or for historical research. They may also need to view documents from an existing case that are not available online. People may need certified copies of court records for another court or government agency. Court clerks are always available to assist the public with records requests, questions about court procedures, or court forms.

Archived Records

Archived court records are records no longer needed by the courts because a judge has decided them or they have been dismissed. People who are looking for archived records should first check with the appropriate court clerk. The Sumner County Courthouse keeps many court records in storage, but because the county is nearly 250 years old, the Tennessee Archives in Nashville also holds archived court records.

Overview of the Sumner County Court System

Tennessee's unified court system has multiple levels, both statewide and countywide. At the top of the court system in the state is the court of last resort for all appeals, the Tennessee Supreme Court. Tennessee's Supreme Court is unusual in that it hears cases in three locations based on the state's Grand Divisions: Knoxville (Eastern), Nashville (Middle), and Jackson (Western). All of the Supreme Court justices rotate between courtrooms to hear cases. The next tier in the court system is the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals is split into two courts: one that hears civil appeals and one that hears criminal appeals. Each of the Grand Divisions has both criminal and civil appeals courts: Eastern, Middle, and Western.

The Circuit Court is the highest trial court in Sumner County. It is part of the 18th Judicial District that serves only Sumner County. The Circuit Court has separate circuit and criminal divisions, and it hears major criminal and civil trials. The Chancery Court hears civil cases that ask for changes in law or procedure. The General Sessions Court hears misdemeanor cases and civil cases under $25,000 in damages. The county's Juvenile Court hears juvenile delinquency and dependency cases. The Circuit Court Clerk holds all county court records, except for the Chancery Court, which has a separate Court Clerk and Master. The county has five Municipal/City Courts, located in Gallatin, Hendersonville, Millersville, Portland, and White House.

Types of Courts in Sumner County, Tennessee

Circuit Court

The Circuit Court hears all of the major court cases in the county in its two divisions: Civil and Criminal. Circuit Courts in Tennessee are the state's major trial courts and also hear appeals from Chancery Court, Juvenile Court, and General Sessions Court.

Jurisdiction:

• All felony cases
• Jury trials in misdemeanor cases
• Family law cases, such as divorce
• Adoptions
• All civil lawsuits over $25,000, including personal injury, contract disputes, and foreclosures
• Land cases, such as eminent domain and land condemnation

Primary Location: Sumner County Courthouse, Gallatin

Chancery Court

Chancery Courts in Tennessee hear cases that involve equity, a change in policy, or a rule change. The Chancery Court in Sumner County hears equity cases as well as family law cases and probate cases.

Jurisdiction:

• Contract disputes between businesses
• Divorces, adoptions, child custody, and child support (along with juvenile court)
• Title to land disputes
• Conservatorships and guardianships of incapacitated or mentally ill adults
• Wills, trusts, and estates

Primary Location: Sumner County Courthouse, Gallatin

General Sessions Court

General Sessions Courts hear more court cases than any other court in Tennessee, and Sumner County residents interact with it more than any other court. The court hears misdemeanor cases, civil cases with damages under $25,000, small claims cases, eviction cases, and landlord-tenant disputes. These courts do not have jury trials; instead, all trials are heard by a judge.

• All civil cases under $25,000 and small claims cases ($15,000 or less)
• Wildlife ordinance violations
• Evictions
• Landlord-tenant disputes, such as damage deposit refunds
• Traffic and ordinance violations occurring within the county

Primary Location: Sumner County Courthouse, Gallatin

Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court in Sumner County hears many cases involving juveniles: juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency. Like the General Sessions Court, the Juvenile Court cases are heard by a judge only, without a jury.

Jurisdiction:

• Juvenile criminal cases, including traffic, misdemeanors, and felonies
• Hearings to determine whether a juvenile case can be moved to adult court
• Child support, custody, adoptions, and termination of parental rights (along with Chancery Court)
• Juvenile neglect and abuse cases

Primary Location: Sumner County Courthouse, Gallatin

Municipal Court/City Court

The City Courts in Sumner County only hear criminal cases rather than civil cases. Each incorporated city in the county has a City Court. City Courts are presided over by a judge.

Jurisdiction:

• Traffic violations, such as speeding or failure to yield
• City ordinance violations, such as parking, public intoxication, or waste disposal

Primary Locations: City Halls across Sumner County

How to File a Case in Sumner County

It is crucial to understand how to file a case in Sumner County so that a resident's time isn't wasted. Here are the steps to file a civil case in the county.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Choosing the correct court to file a civil case in doesn't have to be difficult. Residents do not have to file criminal cases, because that is taken care of by government agencies, such as the police department or the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. If the civil case is less than $25,000 in damages, it needs to be filed in General Sessions Court. Civil cases asking for more than $25,000 in damages should be filed in Circuit Court. Chancery Courts are where residents file family law cases and probate cases. Knowing the correct court saves residents time and money.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

It is not difficult to find the forms residents need, because Tennessee has all of the appropriate court forms online on the Tennessee Courts website. Residents can also look for the court forms on a nonprofit website, Justice For All Tennessee. Be sure that all court forms are filled out correctly. If filers are unsure, they can check with the appropriate court clerk.

Step 3: File the Case

Since people cannot file cases online in Sumner County, residents have the option to file in person or by mail. Be sure the case is filed with the appropriate court clerk. In Sumner County, there are only two Clerks of Court. The Circuit Clerk handles all of the court records, except the Chancery Court, which has its own Clerk of Court and Master. Be sure that all of the court paperwork has been completed before filing. Residents who aren't sure of filing procedures or whether they have all of the appropriate court forms should contact the appropriate court clerk.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

All court cases have filing fees assigned to them. Filing fees are determined by the county. After the case has been filed, residents must pay the filing fees. When filing in person, the Sumner County Court Clerks take cash, card, money order, or cashier's check. If filing by mail, which is allowed in the state, be sure to include your cashier's check or money order. Tennessee law does allow its residents to file a waiver of filing fees, but they must be able to prove financial hardship.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Like many states, Tennessee requires that both litigants in a civil lawsuit be notified about the case. Usually the petitioner must notify the defendant. To notify the defendant, the petitioner must serve them with a copy of the paperwork via a process server, a sheriff's deputy, or an adult who is not connected to the case. The petitioner can hand the paperwork to the defendant at the home or to an adult over 18 at the residence, or they can mail it as well. A notification of service must be filed with the court after the defendant has been served.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

Once the case has been filed and the defendant has been served, it is important to continue to monitor the case as a precaution, because there is a chance the case could be delayed, or a judge may ask for additional paperwork. To monitor the case, residents should call, visit, or mail a request for an update to the appropriate court clerk.

Sumner County Courthouse Directory

Legal and Self-Help Resources

It is important that all residents of Sumner County get equal access to the justice system. Here are some self-help and legal resources available in Sumner County for residents.

• The Tennessee Supreme Court has a justice initiative called Justice For All TN. It provides self-help resources for residents in Sumner County and counties throughout the state. Online resources include forms, videos, guides, and court information.
• For residents who cannot afford an attorney but need help with their civil cases, they should contact Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. This nonprofit provides attorneys to help financially needy residents with evictions, foreclosures, debt collections, family law, and probate cases.

FAQs

Other Counties in Tennessee

• Anderson
• Bedford
• Benton
• Bledsoe
• Blount
• Bradley
• Campbell
• Cannon
• Carroll
• Carter
• Cheatham
• Chester
• Claiborne
• Clay
• Cocke
• Coffee
• Crockett
• Cumberland
• Davidson
• Decatur
• Dekalb
• Dickson
• Dyer
• Fayette
• Fentress
• Franklin
• Gibson
• Giles
• Grainger
• Greene
• Grundy
• Hamblen
• Hamilton
• Hancock
• Hardeman
• Hardin
• Hawkins
• Haywood
• Henderson
• Henry
• Hickman
• Houston
• Humphreys
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Johnson
• Knox
• Lake
• Lauderdale
• Lawrence
• Lewis
• Lincoln
• Loudon
• Macon
• Madison
• Marion
• Marshall
• Maury
• Mcminn
• Mcnairy
• Meigs
• Monroe
• Montgomery
• Moore
• Morgan
• Obion
• Overton
• Perry
• Pickett
• Polk
• Putnam
• Rhea
• Roane
• Robertson
• Rutherford
• Scott
• Sequatchie
• Sevier
• Shelby
• Smith
• Stewart
• Sullivan
• Tipton
• Trousdale
• Unicoi
• Union
• Van Buren
• Warren
• Washington
• Wayne
• Weakley
• White
• Williamson
• Wilson