Look Up Shelby County Court Records

How to Search Shelby County Court Records

No one portal holds every Shelby County court record. Circuit civil and domestic files run through Circuit Court and, when it is up, the CourtConnect system. Chancery records come through the Clerk and Master. Criminal Court case information runs through the Criminal Justice System (CJS) portal, which needs a sign-in. General Sessions publishes civil calendars and links criminal court dates to CJS. Probate, Juvenile, and marriage records each have their own office.

Before you search, decide which court holds your case and gather your best identifier. The Shelby County Circuit Court page lists jurisdiction, address, and clerk contact, which is a good start for most civil and divorce matters. On May 26, 2026, the Circuit CourtConnect search returned a "system is not available" message, so be ready to call the clerk if the online tool is down.

The Circuit Court page also shows the clerk's office hours and the room number you need for in-person help.

1. Pick the court: Circuit for most civil and divorce, Chancery for equity, Criminal for felonies, General Sessions for misdemeanors and traffic, Probate for estates.
2. Open that court's official portal. Expect a CJS sign-in for criminal cases.
3. Search by case number, indictment number, booking number, or party name.
4. Read the court, division, parties, filing date, status, and docket entries.
5. Request a certified copy from the clerk if you need one for legal use.

Shelby County Court Records Search Fields

The Criminal Justice System portal is where most criminal case lookups happen. The official Criminal Court page says you must register and sign in to search case information, and that a case number has eight characters, a dash, then eight more. The fields below show what the portal asks for so you can prepare before you log in.

For civil matters, General Sessions publishes civil calendars and case-inquiry links, while the Circuit Court Clerk handles records the CourtConnect tool does not show.

Types of Shelby County Court Records

Each court produces its own record types. Circuit Court civil files include auto accident, breach of contract, condemnation, divorce, medical malpractice, minor settlement, name change, restoration of citizenship, worker's compensation, and wrongful death. Chancery Court handles declaratory judgments, delinquent tax sales, mandamus, public nuisances, replevins, usury, and some divorces. The Chancery Court page lists its full jurisdiction and notes it does not hear certain injury or property claims outside breach of contract.

The Chancery Court page is the place to confirm whether your equity or tax matter belongs there rather than in Circuit Court.

• Circuit civil and family records - complaint, summons, motions, orders, judgment, and appeal notices.
• Chancery equity records - tax sales, declaratory judgments, mandamus, replevin, and divorces.
• Criminal records - affidavit of complaint, warrant, bond, indictment, plea, and sentencing orders.
• Probate records - wills, estates, guardianship, conservatorship, and name changes.
• Juvenile records - restricted under state law and held by the Juvenile Court Clerk.

General Sessions adds its own layer. The Criminal Division handles misdemeanors, preliminary hearings, and traffic, while the Civil Division handles smaller money suits and detainers. Cases that start in General Sessions can be bound over to Criminal Court, so a single matter may leave a trail in more than one record system. When that happens, search both the General Sessions and Criminal Court records to see the full case history.

What Shelby County Court Records Show

A case file holds more than a name and a number. It tracks every event from filing to final order. The common fields below appear across Shelby County courts, though labels shift between civil, criminal, and probate matters. Use this as a guide when you read a result and decide whether you need a full certified copy.

Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and confidential minor information are redacted. Sealed and deliberative materials do not appear under Rule 34.

Public Access Framework for Shelby County Court Records

Tennessee law presumes court records are open. The Tennessee Public Records Act, at T.C.A. § 10-7-503, gives citizens a right to inspect public records. Courts follow Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34, which recognizes that right while listing records that stay private. The Tennessee Comptroller's Open Records Counsel FAQ says requests may be made in person, by phone, fax, mail, or email when the office uses those methods.

Who can ask and what it costs depend on the record. A request may seek inspection or copies. Fees attach to copies, certification, and sometimes labor. Online access does not mean a certified copy is free.

Can anyone in Tennessee request a court record? In general, yes. The Public Records Act grants citizens a right of inspection, and court files are presumed open under Rule 34. The office can still charge for copies and certification, and it can withhold sealed, juvenile, or confidential material. If a request is denied, the Tennessee Comptroller's Office of Open Records Counsel is the state resource for guidance and mediation.

Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Shelby County

Some files are off-limits to the public. Juvenile court records are restricted by Tennessee juvenile law. Adoption records are generally sealed. Probate's judicial hospitalization files often hold mental-health detail and stay restricted. Rule 34 also shields sealed and protective-order materials, judge drafts, internal notes, and some case-management data. Expunged records are removed by court order. The Tennessee AOC expungement guide explains who may qualify for free expungement.

To view a sealed record, a person usually must petition the court that holds it and show legal grounds. Misdemeanor expungements run through General Sessions, and the Juvenile Court Clerk publishes a separate expungements contact. Do not rely on a third-party site for sealed or juvenile matters; use the official custodian.

The Tennessee AOC expungement page links the eligibility rules and the statute, which is the safest source before you assume a record can be erased.

Circuit Court vs Chancery Court Records

People often mix up Circuit and Chancery records because both can hold divorces and both sit at 140 Adams Avenue. The split matters when you request a file or a certified copy, since each has its own clerk. Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction with nine divisions and about 5,500 cases a year. Chancery Court is an equity court run with the help of the Clerk and Master, an appointed six-year office. The table compares where common records live.

Chancery also keeps a trial-exhibit policy that has counsel assemble and account for exhibits for scanning into the electronic case file. Original oversize exhibits stay with counsel unless needed for appeal. If your matter could fall in either court, the clerk can tell you which one took the filing.

County Public Records and Court Files

Court files and county administrative records are not the same thing. The Shelby County public records page links the county's records policy and request form for non-court records such as county business documents. Court case files instead go through the court clerks under Rule 34.

The county public records page is the right starting point for administrative requests, while the Shelby County public records page here explains the full request process.

In-Person and Copy Requests

If a record is not online, contact the clerk that holds it. The Circuit Court Clerk's office sits at 140 Adams Avenue, Room 324, and is open weekdays. Bring the case number or party names and be ready to pay copy and certification fees. The Circuit Court fee schedule lists current charges.

The fee schedule took effect January 1, 2026, so confirm the amount before you pay.

The published Circuit Court filing-fee schedule is the official source for copy and certification charges.

Related Shelby County Record Searches

You may also need Shelby County court dockets, arrest records, traffic court records, public records, or the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk office details.