How do I search Shelby County court records?
Start by matching the case to the right court. Circuit Court handles most civil, divorce, personal injury, name change, and appeal matters. Chancery covers equity, tax sales, mandamus, and some divorces. Criminal Court holds felony cases. General Sessions handles misdemeanors, traffic, and civil suits below circuit jurisdiction. Probate covers estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. County Clerk handles marriage licenses. Once you know the court, open the correct portal or call the clerk. If an online tool is down, the clerk can help by phone or through a written public records request. See the full walkthrough on the Shelby County court records page.
Is there one search that covers all Shelby County courts?
No. The county's structure is split by design. Circuit, Chancery, Criminal, General Sessions, Probate, Juvenile, and the County Clerk each maintain separate records and separate portals. No single official search tool pulls from all of them at once. A site that claims one universal Shelby County search is not the official record and should not be used as such. Match the court to the matter, then go to that clerk. The court records page lists every official portal and explains what each one covers.
Why can't I get into the CJS portal?
The Criminal Justice System portal at cjs.shelbycountytn.gov requires registration and sign-in before you can search case information. The official Criminal Court page states this requirement plainly. The portal may also be blocked in certain network environments. If you cannot log in, call the Criminal Court Clerk at 201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 3034, phone (901) 222-3200. For payments, the Criminal Court page says to enter a case number starting with C, or use your indictment number and booking number together. Case numbers follow an eight-character, dash, eight-character format. More information about criminal case searches is on the arrest records page.
What does Shelby County Circuit Court handle?
Circuit Court is a general-jurisdiction trial court with nine judges and about 5,500 cases filed each year. It hears appeals from Juvenile, Municipal, and General Sessions Courts as well as original civil and family matters: auto accidents, breach of contract, condemnation, divorce with and without minor children, medical malpractice, minor settlements, name changes, personal injury, restoration of citizenship, worker's compensation, and wrongful death. The Circuit Court Clerk is Jamita E. Swearengen, elected in August 2022. For court structure and how cases move through the system, see the Circuit Court page.
What does Chancery Court handle?
Chancery is an equity court. It hears declaratory judgments, delinquent tax sales, divorces, enforcement of arbitration awards, habeas corpus, mandamus, public nuisances, removal of public officers, replevins, usury, and worker's compensation. It does not hear actions for injuries to persons or property damage outside breach of contract. Chancery runs an Uncontested Divorce Hearing Docket with limited slots requested through an online form. Tax sales moved online in April 2024 through SRI/ZeusAuction. The Clerk and Master is W. Aaron Hall. For scheduled hearing dates and Chancery filing guidance, check the court dockets page.
Where do I get a certified copy of a marriage record?
Contact the Shelby County Clerk. You can visit any of three offices or mail a $10 check or money order with the exact marriage date and the full legal names of both parties to: Shelby County Clerk, Attn: Marriage Department, Suite 201, 150 Washington Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103. The Downtown office at 150 Washington Avenue is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Shelby East Complex at 1075 Mullins Station Road is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. For the full license process and requirements, see the marriage and divorce records page.
What does a Shelby County marriage license cost?
The fee depends on premarital preparation. If both parties attended four hours of instruction from a qualified instructor and submit a notarized form signed by that instructor, the license costs $37.50. Without that form, the fee is $97.50. Both parties must appear in person to apply. A blood test has not been required since July 1, 1985. Licenses are valid for 30 days. If unused within 30 days, the license is void and you must buy a new one. The marriage is not recognized by the state until the officiant returns the completed forms to the County Clerk. All requirements are on the marriage and divorce records page.
Are Shelby County jail records available online?
Yes. The Sheriff's Office runs a free public Inmate Lookup Tool. You can search by first and last name with an optional date of birth, or use the unique-identifier tab and enter a Booking Number, Permanent Number, or State ID. A checkbox on both tabs lets you include released inmates in results. The results list shows name, booking number, permanent ID, date of birth, and release date. Click a row to open the full profile. Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr. operates the facility and the lookup tool. The complete search guide is on the inmate records page.
What does an inmate profile show?
A profile from the Shelby County Inmate Lookup Tool shows full name, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair color and length, eye color, complexion, booking number, permanent ID, race, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, and country of birth. It also shows current housing section, location, block, cell, and bed, plus commitment date. Tables on the profile cover any alias names, detainer information with issuing agency and dates, bond case numbers and amounts, and a hearing section. Social Security numbers are not displayed. Mugshots were not present in the inspected sample. Every field is documented on the inmate records page.
How do I find out if someone has been released from the Shelby County Jail?
Use the Inmate Lookup Tool and check the "Include released inmates" box before you search. Results include a Release Date column. If you need ongoing alerts, TN SAVIN (Tennessee Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification Service) provides free, confidential notifications by text, email, phone, or app. The toll-free number is (888) 868-4631, also listed as (888) TNVINE1. You can register through VINELink as well. For state prison releases, the TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup at foil.app.tn.gov covers inmates in state custody. All notification methods are covered on the released inmates page.
How many people are in the Shelby County Jail?
The Sheriff's Office reports an average daily census of approximately 2,600 inmates across the two adult facilities and yearly bookings averaging 56,000. Male inmates are housed at 201 Poplar Avenue in downtown Memphis. The women's facility is at 6201 Haley Road in east Memphis. The Youth Justice and Education Center at 3420 Old Getwell Road is operated by Shelby County Corrections separately from the adult jail. The jail is accredited by the American Corrections Association and was re-certified by the Tennessee Corrections Institute on December 3, 2025. For full capacity, demographics, and population data, see the jail population page.
How do I search for active warrants in Shelby County?
Use the Sheriff's Office Warrant Information System. The form accepts first name, last name, street number, street name, or warrant number, and requires a numeric captcha to submit. The database is updated hourly but recent changes may not show right away. The site warns that some listed warrants may already be resolved and that SCSO does not guarantee accuracy. Verify any result directly with the office before taking action. The full search field table and tips on reading results are on the warrant records page.
What should I do if my name is in the warrant database?
Do not ignore it. Contact SCSO Fugitive Bureau at (901) 222-5627 to verify the warrant and get surrender instructions. The warrant site confirms that if you find your own name, you may arrange surrender and SCSO can assist with transportation if needed. Because the database is updated hourly, some results may already be cleared, so calling to verify is the correct first step. If the warrant relates to pending criminal charges and you cannot afford a lawyer, contact the Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender. Resolution steps are covered in detail on the warrant records page.
Are juvenile records open to the public?
Generally no. Juvenile court records in Tennessee are restricted by statute, primarily T.C.A. § 37-1-153. They are not treated the same as adult civil or criminal files. The Juvenile Court Clerk at 616 Adams Avenue, phone (901) 222-0600, maintains separate contact lines for records requests, expungements, warrants and summons, and emergent matters. Do not expect the same open-access rules that apply to Circuit or General Sessions adult records. If you have a legitimate legal need for a juvenile record, contact the Juvenile Court Clerk directly. Broader context on sealed and restricted records is on the public records page.
Can criminal charges be expunged in Shelby County?
Some can. The Tennessee AOC expungement guide says a person may qualify for free expungement when charges were dismissed, a grand jury returned a no true bill, the person was arrested and released without charges, the trial ended in not guilty, the case closed with nolle prosequi, or an order of protection was defended and denied after hearing. Conviction expungement is more limited and governed by T.C.A. § 40-32-101. In Shelby County, misdemeanor expungements run through General Sessions. The Criminal Court Clerk's expungements division can be reached at (901) 222-3292. The difference between charges and convictions is explained on the arrest records page.
What does Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 say?
Rule 34 governs public access to Tennessee court records. It says the public has a right to inspect court records but lists categories that are not public. Those include records sealed by court order, protective-order materials, judge drafts and deliberative notes, internal case-management information, and any record that is confidential by another state statute such as juvenile, adoption, and mental-health hospitalization files. The rule also requires trial courts to adopt written public-records policies in line with the Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-503. The full text of Rule 34 is on the Tennessee courts site. How this affects your request is covered on the public records page.
Where is Shelby County Probate Court and what does it handle?
Probate Court is at 140 Adams Avenue, Room 124, Memphis, TN 38103, phone (901) 222-3750, fax (901) 222-3756, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Probate Court Clerk Eddie S. Jones, Jr. manages the office. The court handles conservatorships, corrections to birth certificates, guardianships, judicial hospitalization under the Mental Health Law, name changes, wills, and estates. Printed black-and-white copies cost $0.50 per page and copy orders can be emailed to the court. The office also accepts passport applications by appointment; call (901) 222-3750 and select option 4. Full filing costs and process steps are on the probate records page.
Which federal court covers Shelby County?
Shelby County falls under the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The Memphis courthouse is at the Odell Horton Federal Building, 167 North Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103, phone (901) 495-1200, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. The district covers 22 counties in western Tennessee. Federal case records are accessed through PACER, which requires registration. Federal bankruptcy for Shelby County goes through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The U.S. Attorney's Memphis office is at 167 North Main Street, Suite 800, phone (901) 544-4231. State versus federal jurisdiction is explained on the Circuit Court page.
What are the Circuit Court copy fees?
The 2026 Circuit Court fee schedule lists plain copies at $0.50 per page. Certified copies (Acts of Congress) cost $5.00. Fax filing is $5.00 plus $1.00 per page including the cover sheet. Divorce with minor children costs $431.50 to file; divorce without minor children is $356.50. Category 1 civil filings are $341.50 without surety. These amounts took effect January 1, 2026 and should be confirmed before you go in. Bring the case number and exact party names to speed things up. The full fee schedule and records-request form details are on the Circuit Court Clerk page.
How do I request a Circuit Court record by mail or email?
Use the Circuit Court Public Records Request form. Provide a detailed description of the records, the record type, case number if you have it, names of all parties, and the date range. You can also note whether you want to inspect the record or receive copies and what delivery method you prefer. Mail or email the completed form to the Circuit Court Clerk at 140 Adams Avenue, Room 324, Memphis, TN 38103, phone (901) 222-3800. The form submission email is listed on the official form. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. The request form, field list, and step-by-step instructions are on the Circuit Court Clerk page.
Still Have Questions?
For the right clerk office and its duties, see the Circuit Court Clerk page. For broader access rules and how to file a public records request, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate records.