| Circuit Court Clerk | Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk and Master (Chancery Court) | Hamilton County Chancery Court Clerk & Master |
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Criminal Court Clerk: 102 Courts Building, 600 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (423) 209-6700; Criminal Court Clerk (423) 209-7500 |
| Hours | 8:00am–4:00pm |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Hamilton County keeps its trial-court records in three separate offices at the Hamilton County Courthouse in downtown Chattanooga. The Circuit Court Clerk handles civil lawsuits and also serves Sessions Civil Court, and publishes a free online search called TNCaseFinder. The Chancery Court Clerk & Master keeps equity, domestic relations, trust, and estate matters. A separate Criminal Court Clerk keeps felony records, with its own office for the Criminal Division of General Sessions Court.
General Sessions in Hamilton County is split between civil and criminal divisions that are not run by the Circuit Court Clerk directly, which is different from how many smaller Tennessee counties organize the same court.
Search Hamilton County court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free online search (TNCaseFinder); fees for copies
- Coverage
- Circuit Court civil cases and Sessions Civil Court records
- Records
- Civil
Online search tool, TNCaseFinder: https://www.hamiltontn.gov/CircuitCourt_TNCaseFinder.aspx — covers Circuit Court and General Sessions Civil records.
Clerk and Master (Chancery Court)
Hamilton County Chancery Court Clerk & Master
- Cost
- Free docket access; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Chancery Court equity cases, domestic relations, trusts, and estate administration
- Records
- Civil, Family, Probate
Other courts
Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk
- Cost
- Fees for copies; check office for online search availability
- Coverage
- Felony Criminal Court cases and General Sessions Criminal Division filings
- Records
- Criminal
General Sessions Criminal Division has a separate office (Room 108, 600 Market St) from the Circuit Court Clerk.
What is available online
TNCaseFinder, the Circuit Court Clerk's free search, covers Circuit Court civil cases and General Sessions Civil filings, with no registration required. Chancery Court dockets are searchable separately through the Chancery Court Clerk & Master's page. Criminal Court and General Sessions Criminal filings are kept by the Criminal Court Clerk's office; confirm current online availability directly with that office, as its public search options are less prominently documented than the civil-side tools.
Which clerk has your record
In Tennessee, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Tennessee page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts | Civil lawsuits; Divorce and other domestic relations matters; Appeals from General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts | Circuit Court Clerk of the county |
| Chancery Courts | Contract and equity disputes; Probate and estate administration (in most counties); Name changes | Clerk and Master |
| Criminal Courts | Felony prosecutions; Some misdemeanor appeals from General Sessions | Criminal Court Clerk where a separate office exists; otherwise the Circuit Court Clerk |
| General Sessions Courts | Civil claims up to the county's statutory limit; Preliminary hearings in felony cases; Misdemeanor trials where a jury is waived | Varies by county — a dedicated General Sessions clerk, the Criminal Court Clerk, or the Circuit Court Clerk |
| Juvenile Courts | Delinquency; Dependency and neglect; Custody and parentage | Juvenile Court Clerk (often the same office as General Sessions or Circuit Court in that county) |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued by city police | City court clerk for that municipality |
Request records in person or by mail
Hamilton County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Criminal Court Clerk: 102 Courts Building, 600 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (423) 209-6700; Criminal Court Clerk (423) 209-7500
Hours: 8:00am–4:00pm
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Circuit Court and General Sessions Civil records. Search TNCaseFinder online, or request copies from the Circuit Court Clerk at 625 Georgia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402.
Chancery Court records. Contact the Chancery Court Clerk & Master, also at the Hamilton County Courthouse, for equity, domestic relations, and estate matters.
Criminal Court and General Sessions Criminal records. Contact the Criminal Court Clerk at 102 Courts Building, 600 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402. General Sessions Criminal has a separate room (Room 108) at the same address.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Clerk fees are set by Tenn. Code Ann. Title 8, Chapter 21, Part 4 (the general schedule, including a per-page copy fee and a certification fee) and Part 5 for appellate clerk fees. Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-409 sets a separate, often higher, fee schedule for clerks in Tennessee's charter-government counties, which is why offices in Shelby and Davidson can charge different amounts than smaller counties. Confirm the current per-page and certification fee with the specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Tennessee court records are presumed open under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 (Public Access to Court Records), which sets the general presumption of access and lists the categories courts must treat as confidential.
The Tennessee guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
What is TNCaseFinder?
TNCaseFinder is Hamilton County's free, no-registration online search for Circuit Court civil cases and General Sessions Civil filings, run by the Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Which office has Hamilton County felony criminal records?
The Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk, a separate office from the Circuit Court Clerk, located at 600 Market St.
Who keeps Hamilton County probate and estate records?
The Chancery Court Clerk & Master, which also handles equity and domestic relations matters filed in Chancery Court.
Is Hamilton County General Sessions Court split into divisions?
Yes. Civil General Sessions matters are covered by the Circuit Court Clerk's TNCaseFinder tool, while the Criminal Division of General Sessions is handled separately by the Criminal Court Clerk's office.
Sources
- Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk — https://www.hamiltontn.gov/CircuitCourt_FAQ.aspx
- Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk — TNCaseFinder — https://www.hamiltontn.gov/CircuitCourt_TNCaseFinder.aspx
- Hamilton County Chancery Court Dockets — https://www.hamiltontn.gov/ChanceryCourt_Dockets.aspx
- Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk — https://www.hamiltontn.gov/CriminalCourtClerk.aspx
- Tennessee Courts — Circuit, Criminal, and Chancery Courts — https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts
- Tennessee Courts — General Sessions Courts — https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts
- Tennessee Courts — Court Clerks — https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-clerks
- Tennessee Courts — Find a Court Clerk — https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center/find-court-clerk
- TBI TORIS — Background Checks — https://tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/
- Tennessee Courts — Opinions Search — https://www.tncourts.gov/opinionsview/all
- Tennessee Courts — Public Case History (appellate docket search) — https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/public-case-history
- Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 — Public Access to Court Records — https://www.tncourts.gov/rules/supreme-court/34
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101 — Expunction of records (via Justia) — https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-40/chapter-32/section-40-32-101/
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401 — Clerk fee schedule (via Justia) — https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-8/chapter-21/part-4/section-8-21-401/
See also: all Tennessee counties.