Searching Davidson County Court Records
How do I search Davidson County civil court records?
Use the Circuit Court Clerk's CaseSearch for Circuit, Probate, and General Sessions-Civil cases. The free version lets you look up a case by party name and filter by office. For document images and detailed filings, CaseLink is a paid subscription at $25 per month. If a record is old or not online, contact the clerk with the case number, party names, and filing year. The full process is on the court records page.
Why are there different clerk offices in Davidson County?
The county uses a split clerk structure. The Circuit Court Clerk handles Circuit, Probate, General Sessions-Civil, and Traffic Bureau records. The Criminal Court Clerk handles criminal cases and expungement services. The Clerk and Master handles Chancery. The County Clerk handles marriage, vehicle, business, and notary records. Start with the case type, then pick the clerk. See the Circuit Court Clerk page for the breakdown.
Is CaseSearch the same as CaseLink?
No. CaseSearch is the free basic lookup for Circuit, Probate, and General Sessions-Civil cases. CaseLink is a $25 per month subscription that adds detailed filings, document images, case alerts, and online payment. If you only need to confirm a case exists or check its status, try CaseSearch first. If you need the actual documents, expect CaseLink or a direct copy request from the clerk.
Davidson County Criminal Records Questions
How do I search Davidson County criminal records?
Use the Criminal Court Clerk public search and choose Person, Case Number, or Complaint Number. For a person search, the first name needs at least two letters and the last name at least one. Spell the name as it was entered at arrest. Some results may lack a date of birth, so verify before any official use. More is on the arrest records page.
Are expunged charges visible online?
No. The Criminal Court Clerk states that no information is shown for charges expunged under state law. Tennessee law also makes it a criminal offense to publish expunged information. If an old charge still appears after an expunction order, contact the clerk or your attorney. The expungement contacts are listed on the arrest records page.
What are CJIS Data and Legacy Data?
The Criminal Court Clerk splits its public data into two sets. CJIS data covers General Sessions dispositions from January 11, 2000 and State Trial Court dispositions from July 11, 2000. Legacy data covers records posted between 1980 and those dates. For records before 1980, you contact the office directly. The data can change, so refresh a search before you rely on it.
Davidson County Jail and Inmate Questions
How do I find someone in the Davidson County jail?
Use the Sheriff's active inmate search by first and last name. The Advanced Search adds date of birth, OCA, warrant, and CIS number fields for common names. Recent Bookings lists arrests from the last 48 hours. You can also call the Offender Information Center at 615-862-8123 any time, day or night. The full guide is on the inmate records page.
How do I verify a release?
Check the inmate profile for a Release Date and the Recent Bookings release column, then call 615-862-8123 to confirm. For state prisoners, use the Tennessee Department of Correction FOIL search. For federal prisoners, use the Bureau of Prisons locator. VINELink can send free custody notifications. See the released inmates page for all the locators.
Who do I call about bond?
The Sheriff warns that bond amounts can be changed by the court, so the online figure may be out of date. For a current bond, contact the Criminal Court Clerk at 615-862-5670. For general custody status, call the Offender Information Center at 615-862-8123. Bond and warrant detail also appears on the warrant records page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Questions
Where do I get a marriage license?
Marriage licenses are issued only at the County Clerk's main office in the Howard Office Building on President Ronald Reagan Way. Both people must appear, complete the online application first, bring photo ID and Social Security proof, and pay by cash or card. Checks are not accepted, and the office does not perform ceremonies. Details are on the marriage and divorce records page.
Where are divorce records filed?
Divorce and domestic relations cases are handled through Davidson County Circuit Court. Search CaseSearch by party name for basic information, and contact the Circuit Court Clerk for copies or a certified decree. Tennessee Vital Records can issue a divorce certificate for qualifying records, but the full decree is a court record. The marriage and divorce records page explains the difference.
How much does probate filing cost?
The Probate Court fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists $334.50 for petitions to probate a will, for letters of administration, for small estates, and for conservatorship or guardianship. A name change is $159.50, a birth certificate correction is $209.50, and a claim against an estate is $50. The full schedule is on the probate records page.
Access, Buildings, and Public Records
How do I know whether to go to the Historic Courthouse or the Birch Building?
Civil, Probate, and Chancery record work points to 1 Public Square. Criminal Court Clerk business, General Sessions dockets, the Traffic Violation Bureau, and many daily appearances point to the Justice A.A. Birch Building at 408 2nd Avenue North. Marriage licenses are at the Howard Office Building, not either courthouse. The Circuit Court Clerk page lists the offices.
Can I view sealed or adoption records?
Generally no. Chancery states that records sealed by law or court order are not open to public inspection. Attorneys and litigants may view sealed records with proper ID, except adoption cases. Adoption records require a court order. A sealed or order-of-protection search may return no records even when a case exists. See the public records page for the access framework.
How do I request jail records?
The Sheriff's records center at 610 W Due West Ave in Madison is open for general offender jail records on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with no appointment needed. You can also call 615-862-8123. This is not the place for Metro police reports, accident reports, or mugshots. More is on the inmate records page.
Can the clerk give legal advice?
No. Clerk staff cannot answer legal questions and will refer you to a licensed attorney or the Nashville Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. Clerks can provide records, forms, fee schedules, docket information, and procedural help, but they cannot tell you what to file or how to argue a case. The court dockets page covers finding a court date.
Traffic and Warrant Questions
What court handles my traffic ticket?
Traffic cases run through General Sessions and the Traffic Violation Bureau. State Traffic meets Wednesdays and Metro Traffic meets Monday through Thursday, each at 8:30 a.m. in its own courtroom. A serious charge like a DUI routes to the criminal side, not a simple payment. The traffic court records page explains the search and payment paths.
How do I check for a warrant in Davidson County?
There is no single public warrant list for the county. Use the Criminal Court Clerk case search with a warrant or ticket number, or check the Sheriff's inmate profiles, which show warrant numbers for people in custody. Verify any result with the clerk before you act on it. The warrant records page covers the available search paths.