How to Look Up Your Tennessee Court Case (All 95 Counties)

You got served with a lawsuit in Tennessee. Now you need to find the case file—maybe to check the next hearing date, see what the plaintiff filed, or confirm the defendant name matches yours.

Tennessee makes this harder than it should be. There's no statewide portal. Each county runs its own system, and some counties still require you to call or visit the courthouse in person.

This guide walks you through every method to locate your case, what information you'll need, and what to do once you've found it.

Tennessee's court system: where your case lives

Before you start searching, you need to know which court handles your case. Tennessee splits civil matters across four levels, but most debt lawsuits land in one of two places.

General Sessions Court

If you're being sued for less than $25,000,think credit card debt, medical bills, or small personal loans,your case starts here. General Sessions Courts exist in all 95 counties. Some counties cap jurisdiction at $15,000, others at $25,000. Check your summons for the court name.

Circuit Court and Chancery Court

Cases over the General Sessions limit go to Circuit or Chancery Court. Circuit handles most civil disputes. Chancery deals with equity matters (foreclosures, divorces, estates). If you're sued for $30,000 in credit card debt, expect Circuit Court.

Tennessee divides its 95 counties into 31 judicial districts. Each district has both Circuit and Chancery Courts. The same judge often presides over both.

Appellate courts

The Court of Appeals and Tennessee Supreme Court review decisions from trial courts. You won't find active lawsuits here unless someone already lost at the lower level and appealed. Most debt cases never reach this stage.

How to search for your case online (county by county)

Tennessee has no central database. You'll search through individual county systems. Some counties maintain robust online portals. Others offer nothing.

Start with the county clerk's website

Google "[County Name] Tennessee circuit court clerk" or "[County Name] Tennessee general sessions clerk." Most clerk sites include a case search link on the homepage.

You'll typically search by:

• Your name (defendant name as it appears on the summons)
• Case number (listed on your summons or complaint)
• Plaintiff name (the company or person suing you)

Example: Shelby County (Memphis) offers a case search tool through its Circuit Court Clerk's office. You enter your last name and first name, then filter by case type. Davidson County (Nashville) has a similar system.

Counties with online access

These counties provide some level of online case lookup:

• Davidson (Nashville)
• Shelby (Memphis)
• Knox (Knoxville)
• Hamilton (Chattanooga)
• Rutherford (Murfreesboro)
• Williamson (Franklin)
• Sumner (Gallatin)
• Montgomery (Clarksville)

Even within these counties, you may only see basic docket information,filing date, case number, next court date. Full documents often require a visit or written request.

Counties with limited or no online access

Smaller counties may list only contact information on their websites. You'll need to call the clerk's office during business hours (usually 8 a.m. To 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).

When you call, have this ready:

• Your full legal name (as it appears on the summons)
• The approximate date you were served
• The plaintiff's name (if you know it)
• The case number (if you have it)

The clerk can confirm whether a case exists, give you the case number, and tell you the next court date. They cannot give legal advice.

What you'll find once you locate your case

Court records are public in civil cases. That means you can see everything the plaintiff filed and everything you or your attorney filed.

Typical documents include:

• Summons and Complaint: The initial lawsuit. Lists what you allegedly owe and why.
• Answer: Your response (if you filed one).
• Motions: Requests to the court (motion to dismiss, motion for summary judgment).
• Orders: The judge's rulings.
• Judgment: The final decision. If the plaintiff won, this shows the amount you owe plus interest and court costs.

Some counties let you view and download PDFs online. Others require you to visit the courthouse or request copies by mail. Copying fees typically run 50 cents per page.

What to do after you find your case

Once you've located the file, check three things immediately:

1. Has a judgment been entered?

If the docket shows a "default judgment" or "judgment for plaintiff," you lost. The court ruled in the plaintiff's favor because you didn't respond in time. You now owe the full amount plus interest and fees.

You may still have options. Tennessee allows you to file a motion to set aside a default judgment if you can show good cause (you were never properly served, you had a medical emergency). You have limited time,usually 30 days from the judgment date. If the debt is overwhelming and you're facing garnishment, bankruptcy may stop collections.

2. When is the next court date?

If no judgment exists yet, find your hearing date. It's usually listed on the docket as "trial setting" or "motion hearing." Missing this date results in automatic loss.

Tennessee courts don't typically send reminder notices. You're responsible for tracking your calendar. If you need to request a continuance (postponement), file a written motion at least 10 days before the hearing.

3. What has the plaintiff filed?

Read their complaint carefully. Check the dollar amount, the alleged creditor, and the statute of limitations. Tennessee's statute of limitations for credit card debt is six years from the date of last payment. If the debt is older, you have a defense.

If the plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment, they're asking the judge to rule without a trial. You must respond in writing, usually within 30 days. Silence means you lose.

Can't find your case? Try these steps

If you searched everywhere and came up empty, you have three options:

Option 1: Call the clerk's office directly. Give them your name and the date you were served. They'll search internal systems that may not appear online.

Option 2: Visit the courthouse in person. Bring a photo ID and your summons. Clerks can pull files from storage, especially for older cases that predate digital records.

Option 3: Confirm you were sued in the correct county. Plaintiffs usually file where you live or where the debt was incurred. If you moved recently, check both counties.

If you're certain you were served but no case exists, the plaintiff may have dismissed the lawsuit voluntarily. This sometimes happens when they realize the debt is past the statute of limitations or they can't prove you owe it.

How to get copies of court documents

Most Tennessee counties charge for copies. Expect 50 cents to $1 per page. Some clerks require payment upfront; others bill you after mailing the documents.

To request copies:

• Visit the clerk's office with your case number.
• Call and ask about their mail-in request process (you'll usually need to send a check).
• Use an online portal if your county offers one (less common).

If you need certified copies (for an appeal or to prove the judgment was satisfied), the fee is higher,usually $5 to $10 for the certification plus per-page charges.

When to search appellate court records

If your case was appealed, you'll search a different system. The Tennessee Court of Appeals and Supreme Court maintain their own databases.

Go to the Tennessee Appellate Courts website. Use the "Case Information" search tool. You'll need the trial court case number or the appellate case number (starts with "COA" for Court of Appeals or "SC" for Supreme Court).

Appellate records include the trial court judgment, briefs from both sides, and the appellate court's opinion. These are always public and fully accessible online.

What if you're being sued and haven't been served yet?

You suspect a lawsuit is coming but haven't been served. Maybe a debt collector mentioned court. Maybe you found an old summons your roommate forgot to give you.

Search anyway. Sometimes process servers file "proof of service" affidavits falsely claiming they handed you papers. If a case exists and you never received notice, you may be able to challenge the service and reopen your defense.

Run a search every two weeks if you're expecting a lawsuit. Once served, you typically have 30 days to respond. That clock starts when the server delivers the summons, not when you find out about the case.

Privacy concerns and public access

Tennessee court records are public unless sealed by court order. That means anyone can look up your case,your employer, your landlord, a nosy neighbor.

Certain cases are confidential:

• Juvenile cases
• Adoption cases
• Some mental health commitments

Debt lawsuits, evictions, and bankruptcies are not sealed. They appear in background checks and credit reports.

If you're worried about privacy, know that a judgment shows up publicly whether or not you search for it. The best way to protect your record is to respond to the lawsuit and negotiate a settlement or dismissal before judgment.

The bottom line

Tennessee doesn't make case lookup easy, but it's not impossible. Start with your county clerk's website, call if necessary, and visit the courthouse as a last resort. Once you find your case, check for a judgment, note your next court date, and read what the plaintiff filed. If you're already past the deadline to respond, you still have options,but they narrow fast.