| Circuit Court Clerk | Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit and General Sessions Courts) |
|---|---|
| Clerk and Master (Chancery Court) | Williamson County Chancery Court Clerk & Master |
| Clerk address | Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064 (Circuit Court Clerk, Suite 203; Clerk & Master, Room 236) |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk (615) 790-5454; Clerk & Master (615) 790-5428 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| 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 |
Williamson County, immediately south of Nashville, makes up the entire 21st Judicial District together with Hickman, Lewis, and Perry counties, and its court structure is simpler than the urban counties to its north. The district has only Chancery and Circuit Courts — there is no separate Criminal Court or elected Criminal Court Clerk. Felony and misdemeanor cases are filed in Circuit Court, probate matters are filed in Chancery Court, and the same judges sit as Chancellors when they hold Chancery Court. That means two offices hold nearly every trial-court record in the county: the Circuit Court Clerk and the Chancery Court Clerk & Master, both in the Williamson County Judicial Center at 135 4th Avenue South in downtown Franklin.
The Circuit Court Clerk's office is also the clerk of General Sessions Court, so the same office keeps Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, General Sessions Civil, and General Sessions Criminal/Traffic files. Each division has its own fax line but shares one main phone number and one public counter. The county moved Circuit Civil to paperless e-filing on July 1, 2022, and General Sessions Civil e-filing has since followed under its own local rules. A separate Juvenile Court Clerk keeps Juvenile Court records, which are confidential by statute.
For most lookups you will not need to visit: Williamson County publishes a free Online Court Records System (williamson.tncrtinfo.com) that indexes Circuit Court, General Sessions Criminal, General Sessions Civil, and Clerk and Master cases by party name or case number. Filed documents and certified copies still come from the clerk that holds the file.
Search Williamson County court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Williamson County Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit and General Sessions Courts)
- Cost
- Free public index online; copies $0.50 per page and $5.00 per certification under the state clerk fee schedule — confirm with the office
- Coverage
- Circuit Civil (lawsuits over $25,000, divorces, name changes, condemnations, appeals from lower courts), Circuit Criminal (grand jury indictments and felony trials), General Sessions Civil (claims up to $25,000, evictions), and General Sessions Criminal/Traffic (warrants and tickets from the Sheriff and State Troopers)
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
One elected clerk keeps all four dockets. Circuit Civil has been paperless since July 1, 2022; attorneys e-file through the Tybera TNCIS system linked from the clerk's page. Division fax lines — Circuit Civil 615-790-5432, Circuit Criminal 615-790-5411, General Sessions Civil 615-790-5483, General Sessions Criminal 615-790-5478.
Clerk and Master (Chancery Court)
Williamson County Chancery Court Clerk & Master
- Cost
- Free public index online via the county records system; copy and certification fees apply
- Coverage
- Chancery Court equity cases, probate and estate administration (the 21st District files probate in Chancery), conservatorships, and domestic relations matters filed in Chancery
- Records
- Civil, Probate, Family
The Clerk & Master's own site is a JavaScript application that does not render for automated checks; the address is linked as "Clerk & Master Home" from the county's official staff directory. Office is Room 236 of the Judicial Center, (615) 790-5428. Clerk and Master cases are also searchable in the county's Online Court Records System.
Other courts
Williamson County Online Court Records System (TNCrtInfo)
- Cost
- Free basic case and party search; optional paid subscription login for expanded access
- Coverage
- Case index for Circuit Court, General Sessions Criminal, General Sessions Civil, and Clerk and Master (Chancery) cases in Williamson County, searchable by court type, case type, party name, or case number
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Run by the county on the TNCrtInfo platform used by many Tennessee clerks. Shows case data and docket entries, not scanned filings; request documents from the clerk that holds the file.
Other courts
Williamson County Juvenile Court Clerk
- Coverage
- Juvenile Court records — delinquency, dependency and neglect, custody, and related matters
- Records
- Family
A separate clerk from the Circuit Court Clerk. Juvenile records are confidential under Tennessee law and are not in the public online records system; access is limited to parties and others authorized by statute or court order.
What is available online
Williamson County's Online Court Records System at williamson.tncrtinfo.com lets anyone search Circuit Court, General Sessions Criminal, General Sessions Civil, and Clerk and Master cases without an account; a subscription login unlocks additional detail for frequent users such as attorneys and title companies. The system returns case numbers, party names, filing dates, and docket entries, but not the underlying documents. Circuit Civil filings have been electronic since July 2022, so recent civil files exist as PDFs the clerk can send, while older civil and all pre-e-filing criminal files are paper. Juvenile Court records are not online and are confidential. Court fines and costs can be paid online through the clerk's payment vendor linked from the Circuit Court Clerk page.
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
Williamson County clerk offices
Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064 (Circuit Court Clerk, Suite 203; Clerk & Master, Room 236)
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk (615) 790-5454; Clerk & Master (615) 790-5428
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Online. Start at williamson.tncrtinfo.com. Choose the court (Circuit, General Sessions Criminal, General Sessions Civil, or Clerk and Master) and search by party name or case number. Note the case number — you will need it to request copies.
In person. Go to the Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Circuit Court Clerk (Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, General Sessions Civil, General Sessions Criminal/Traffic) is in Suite 203; the Chancery Court Clerk & Master (Chancery and probate) is in Room 236. Bring the case number or the parties' names and the approximate filing year. Tennessee's general clerk fee schedule sets copies at $0.50 per page and certification at $5.00 per document; confirm the current amounts at the counter.
By mail. Write to the appropriate clerk at the Judicial Center address above. Include the case number or party names and year, the specific documents you want, whether you need certified copies, a daytime phone number, and payment or a request for a fee quote. Call (615) 790-5454 (Circuit) or (615) 790-5428 (Clerk & Master) first to confirm the fee and any self-addressed envelope requirement.
Juvenile records. Contact the Juvenile Court Clerk, a separate office, and expect to show you are a party or otherwise entitled to access; these files are not public.
City tickets. Citations written by Franklin or Brentwood police for city ordinance violations go to those cities' municipal courts, not to the county's General Sessions Court.
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
Does Williamson County have a separate Criminal Court Clerk?
No. The 21st Judicial District has only Chancery and Circuit Courts, so felony and misdemeanor cases are filed in Circuit Court and kept by the Circuit Court Clerk, who is also the General Sessions clerk. Only a handful of larger Tennessee counties have a separately elected Criminal Court Clerk.
Can I search Williamson County court cases online for free?
Yes. The county's Online Court Records System at williamson.tncrtinfo.com offers a free search of Circuit, General Sessions Criminal, General Sessions Civil, and Clerk and Master cases by name or case number. Documents themselves are not online; request them from the clerk.
Where are Williamson County probate records?
With the Chancery Court Clerk & Master in Room 236 of the Judicial Center. In the 21st Judicial District probate matters are filed in Chancery Court rather than a separate probate court.
How much do copies of Williamson County court records cost?
Tennessee's statewide clerk fee schedule (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401) sets $0.50 per page for copies and $5.00 for certification and seal. Call the clerk before mailing payment to confirm the amount for your request.
Sources
- Circuit Court Clerk | Williamson County, TN - Official Site — https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/243/Circuit-Court-Clerk
- Staff Directory — Circuit Court Clerk (Court Records Requests) — https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/Directory.aspx?did=71
- Staff Directory — Clerk & Master — https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/Directory.aspx?did=75
- Court System | Williamson County, TN - Official Site — https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/221/Court-System
- Juvenile Court Clerk | Williamson County, TN — https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/861/Juvenile-Court-Clerk
- Williamson County Online Court Records System — https://williamson.tncrtinfo.com/
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-401 — Clerk fee schedule (via FindLaw) — https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-8-public-officers-and-employees/tn-code-sect-8-21-401.html
- 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.