| Circuit Court Clerk | Knox County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk and Master (Chancery Court) | Knox County Chancery Court Clerk & Master |
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: City County Building, 400 Main St, Suite M30, Knoxville, TN 37902. Chancery Court Clerk & Master: City-County Building, 400 W. Main St, Suite 125, Knoxville, TN 37902. Criminal Court Clerk: City-County Building, 400 Main St, Suite 149, Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (865) 215-2400; Chancery Court Clerk & Master (865) 215-2555; Criminal Court Clerk (865) 215-2375 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm |
| 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 |
Knox County splits its trial-court records among three offices at the City County Building in downtown Knoxville. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps civil lawsuits and also administers the county's Civil Sessions and Juvenile Court dockets. A separate, independently elected Criminal Court Clerk keeps felony records, General Sessions criminal filings, and the docket for Knox's Fourth Circuit Court. The Chancery Court Clerk & Master handles equity cases and probate.
Both the Circuit and Criminal Court Clerks publish online docket searches, and the Criminal Court Clerk also offers a mobile app for looking up cases, which is unusual among Tennessee counties.
Search Knox County court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Knox County Circuit Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free case search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Circuit Court civil cases, Civil Sessions Court, and Juvenile Court dockets
- Records
- Civil
The Civil Sessions Court (Old Courthouse, 300 Main St) docket is administered through this office.
Clerk and Master (Chancery Court)
Knox County Chancery Court Clerk & Master
- Cost
- Free case search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Chancery Court equity cases and probate/estate administration
- Records
- Civil, Probate
Other courts
Knox County Criminal Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free online docket search
- Coverage
- Felony Criminal Court cases, General Sessions criminal filings, and Fourth Circuit Court docket
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Docket search available at the "docket-search" page on this site; a mobile app is also offered.
What is available online
The Circuit Court Clerk's site covers civil, Civil Sessions, and Juvenile dockets; the Criminal Court Clerk's separate docket search covers felony and General Sessions criminal cases, including a mobile app option. Chancery Court's search is independent of both. General Sessions is split between the two systems by case type: civil sessions under the Circuit Court Clerk, criminal sessions under the Criminal Court Clerk.
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
Knox County clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: City County Building, 400 Main St, Suite M30, Knoxville, TN 37902. Chancery Court Clerk & Master: City-County Building, 400 W. Main St, Suite 125, Knoxville, TN 37902. Criminal Court Clerk: City-County Building, 400 Main St, Suite 149, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (865) 215-2400; Chancery Court Clerk & Master (865) 215-2555; Criminal Court Clerk (865) 215-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Circuit Court, Civil Sessions, and Juvenile records. Search or request copies through the Circuit Court Clerk at 400 Main St, Suite M30, Knoxville, TN 37902. Juvenile records are confidential and are not in the public search.
Chancery Court and probate records. Contact the Chancery Court Clerk & Master at 400 W. Main St, Suite 125.
Criminal Court and General Sessions criminal records. Contact the Criminal Court Clerk at 400 Main St, Suite 149, or use the office's online docket search or mobile app first to confirm case status.
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
How do I search a Knox County criminal case?
Use the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's online docket search or mobile app, which covers Criminal Court felonies and General Sessions criminal filings.
Which office has Knox County civil case records?
The Circuit Court Clerk, which also administers Civil Sessions Court and the Juvenile Court docket.
Who keeps Knox County probate records?
The Chancery Court Clerk & Master, a separate elected office from the Circuit and Criminal Court Clerks.
Is there a mobile app for Knox County court records?
Yes. The Criminal Court Clerk's office offers a mobile app in addition to its web-based docket search, which is uncommon among Tennessee county clerks.
Sources
- Knox County Circuit Court Clerk — https://www.knoxcounty.org/circuit/
- Knox County Chancery Court Clerk & Master — https://knoxcounty.org/chancery/clerk_master.php
- Knox County Criminal Court Clerk — https://criminalcourt.knoxcounty.org/
- 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.