Carter County Court Records

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 (2), court records include case, administrative, and judicial records created, accrued, and maintained by a court. These records contain detailed information about specific cases the court handled as well as the court's administrative processes.

Generally, Carter County court records provide insights into how a local court operates, which allows for judicial accountability and transparency. Additionally, these records highlight pertinent incidents concerning cases handled by a court, such as the initial filings that commenced the case, the final judgment, and everything in between. Common types of Carter County court records include court dockets, case filings, and judgments.

Are Court Records Public in Carter County?

Yes. Although with certain exceptions, Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 and Tennessee's Public Records Act (TPRA) established the public's statutory right to access public records, including court records, maintained by government agencies. As a result, interested persons can query local custodians of court records in Carter County, such as the clerk's office of local courthouses, to request court records.

However, certain court records are treated as confidential and are, thus, unavailable to the general public. In such cases, only specific eligible entities or individuals, such as the subject of the record, are allowed access to the record. For instance, Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 34 (C) outlines different types of court records that are not part of Carter County's public records. These include and are not limited to:

• Unpublished drafts of judicial orders or opinions
• Record exempt from disclosure by court order or rule
• Records whose disclosure would interfere with a court's judicial functions or undermine the court's constitutional power
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Sealed records

Carter County Court Records Search

Record seekers can conduct a general search for court records in Carter County through any of the following:

• The clerk's office of local courts and the online resources they provide
• Third-party websites with court record search features.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives (limited to court minutes).

Carter County Courts

The Carter County judicial system consists of six (6) types of court, including a Circuit, Chancery, Criminal, General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal courts. These courts have varying jurisdictions over civil disputes and criminal cases that arise in Carter County. Interested persons can find the physical addresses and contact information of Carter County courts below

Carter County Circuit Court
Carter County Justice Center
900 East Elk Avenue,
Suite 906,
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1835
Fax: (423) 542-3742

Carter County Chancery Court
801 East Elk Avenue,
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1812
Fax: (423) 547-1504

Carter County Criminal Court
Carter County Justice Center
900 East Elk Avenue,
Suite 906,
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1872
Fax: (423) 542-3742

Carter County General Sessions Court
Carter County Justice Center
900 East Elk Avenue,
Suite 906,
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1825
Fax: (423) 542-3742

Carter County Juvenile Court
Carter County Justice Center
900 East Elk Avenue,
Suite 906,
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1829
Fax: (423) 542-3742

Municipal Courts in Carter County

Elizabethton Municipal Court
136 South Sycamore Street,
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 547-6419

Johnson City Juvenile Court
607 East Myrtle Avenue,
Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 434-6200

Johnson City Municipal Court
601 East Main Street,
Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 434-6160

Watauga City Court
103 4th Avenue,
Watauga, TN 37694
Phone: (423) 928-3490

Carter County Criminal Records

Carter County Criminal records are the official documentation of an individual's criminal history in the county. Generally, most criminal records are subject to the TPRA and are available to the public upon request. Local criminal justice agencies, such as law enforcement agencies and courts, are responsible for creating and preserving these records. The latter maintains criminal court case records, while the former generates and preserves Carter County arrest records, county inmates records, and other relevant types of criminal records. Hence, interested persons can obtain Carter County criminal records through these agencies.

For instance, record seekers can use the Carter County Sheriff's Office request report online form to request arrest records and other reports maintained by the Sheriff's Office. Request can also be made in person at the County Sheriff's Office located at:

900 E. Elk Ave
Elizabethton TN 37643

The Carter County Sheriff's Office also provides an inmate search tool that individuals can use to find information about current inmates held in the county jail. The inmate search tool is accessible for free and searchable by party name or arrest date.

Interested persons can also conduct a search statewide for criminal records through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The TBI is Tennessee's central repository for criminal history information. The TBI offers name-based or fingerprint-based criminal background check services. For name-based checks, requesters can use the TBI's online request form. Alternatively, requesters can complete the TBI's Criminal History Record Check paper form (also available in Spanish) and submit it to the TBI's mailing address, which is detailed at the top left corner of the request form. Note that the TBI charges requesters a $29 fee for each name-based criminal background check request they submit. Meanwhile, fingerprint-based criminal background check requests can be made through third-party contractors listed on the TBI's Background Check page.

Get Carter County Civil Court Records

In Carter County, civil cases fall under the jurisdiction of the County's Circuit, Chancery, or General Sessions Court. The Carter County Circuit and Chancery Court handles most types of civil cases. These include divorce, adoptions, conservatorships, guardianships, land disputes, and workers' compensation lawsuits. On the other hand, the General Sessions Court can handle civil cases when the amount in controversy is less than $25,000. Interested persons can get civil court records preserved by these courts by querying their respective clerk's offices.

Carter County's Circuit Court Clerk serves as the clerk of the Circuit and General Sessions Court. Hence, court records of civil cases handled by the Circuit or General Session court are available through the Circuit Clerk. Record seekers can visit the Circuit Clerk's Office to inspect or request copies of civil court records. The Circuit Clerk's hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located at;

900 East Elk Avenue
Suite 906
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1835 – Circuit Court Clerk
Phone: (423) 542-1825 – General Sessions Court

Interested persons can also search the Circuit Clerk's case search portal for court dockets of civil cases heard by the Circuit and General Sessions Court. Meanwhile, record seekers can query the Carter County Clerk and Master to obtain court records of civil cases handled by the Chancery Court. Queries can be made in in-person during regular office hours at the Clerk and Master office:

Carter County Courthouse
801 East Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Office Phone: (423) 542-1812
Fax: (423) 547-1504

Carter County Marriage Records

The Tennessee Department of Health Vital Records Office maintains Carter County marriage records. Note that marriage records are considered protected records. As a result, the Vital Records Office only issues certified copies of a Carter County marriage certificate to qualified applicants. These include the individuals named on the certificate (i.e., the bride and groom) and their immediate family members, such as their parent, legal guardian, or child(ren). Certified copies of a marriage certificate may also be available to authorized representatives of any of the aforementioned qualified persons if they can present:

• A copy of their signed government identity card and the ID card of the person they represent.
• A written signed statement of the subject of the record granting the Vital Records permission to release the record to them.

Note that the Vital Records Office charges requesters a $15.00 search fee per marriage certificate request. Furthermore, requesters must present an acceptable form of identification when making requests.

The Vital Records Office generally accepts in-person or mail-in requests for marriage records. In-person requests can be made during office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) at:

Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

On the other hand, mail-in requesters can utilize the marriage certificate application form. The form should be appropriately completed and mailed with the other necessary documents, along with payment of the applicable fee (by check or money order payable to Tennessee Vital Records), to the address listed on the form. Interested persons can check their order by emailing the Customer Service Unit at vrcustomerservice@tdhs.zendesk.com.

Carter County Divorce Records

In Carter County, divorce records are generated, preserved, and accessible through the County Circuit Clerk. Interested persons can contact or visit the Circuit Clerk's office to request divorce records. In-person visits can be made during the Circuit Clerk's hours of operations (Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at:

900 East Elk Avenue
Suite 906
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1835
Fax: (423) 542-3742

Carter County Birth and Death Records

The primary custodian of Carter County birth and death records is the Tennessee Department of Health Vital Records Office. These records, collectively known as Carter County vital records, are not subject to the provisions of the TPRA. Uncertified birth and death certificates are only released to the public 100 years and 50 years after the date of the corresponding events per Tennessee Code § 68-3-205. Meanwhile, certified copies of birth and death certificates are only issued to eligible requesters, such as:

• The registrant
• The registrant's spouse, children, parents, or guardian, or their respective authorized representative
• Individuals who can show that the record is needed for determining or protecting their personal or property rights.

Note that requesters must present an appropriate form of identification when requesting a Carter County birth certificate or death certificate from the Tennessee Vital Records Office. Furthermore, according to the Vital Records Office fee schedule, requests are subject to a $15 per search fee. The Vital Records Office accepts in-person and by-mail requests for Carter County birth records or death records. Requesters can make requests in person by visiting the Vital Records Office during office hours (from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Requesters can complete the appropriate request form, such as PH-1654 (birth certificate) or PH-1663 (death certificate), for by-mail requests; the completed request form and other required items (i.e., the appropriate fees and a photocopy of the requester's ID) may be mailed to the Vital Records Office. Subsequently, requesters can check their request status by emailing the Customer Service Unit at vrcustomerservice@tdhs.zendesk.com.

Carter County Probate Court Records

The Chancery Court handles all probate cases in Carter County. Examples of probate cases include adoptions, conservatorships, guardianships, and the administration of wills and estates. The Carter County Clerk and Master is solely responsible for preserving all Chancery Court records. Hence, record seekers can query the County Clerk and Master's office to request probate court records. Queries can be made by contacting or visiting the County Clerk and Master's office at:

Carter County Courthouse
801 East Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1812
Fax: (423) 547-1504

Carter County Property Records

The Carter County Register of Deeds and the Assessor of Property offices primarily hold Carter County property records. The Register of Deeds is responsible for preserving documents or instruments of properties that are required or allowed by law to be filed or recorded, such as deeds. Meanwhile, as the name implies, the Assessor of Property assesses local properties for taxation purposes.

Interested persons can request property records maintained by the Carter County Register of Deeds by visiting or contacting the Register's office at:

Carter County Courthouse
801 East Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1830
Fax: (423) 542-3903

Record seekers can also use the online resource provided on the Register of Deeds page to find property records under the custody of the Register's Office. Similarly, interested persons can use online resources on the County Assessor of Property webpage to find property assessment records. Alternatively, record seekers can contact or visit the Assessor's office to request property assessment records at:

Carter County Courthouse
801 East Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: (423) 542-1806
Fax: (423) 547-1511

Carter County Court Records Online

Interested persons can access Carter County court records online through third-party websites like tennesseecourtrecords.us. These third-party websites operate independently from government agencies and feature court records from the entire state of Tennessee, not exclusively Carter County court records. Hence, record seekers can use these websites to conduct convenient and detailed searches for Carter County court records in the comfort of their homes. These websites' user interfaces are easy to use and searchable using basic information about the court record, such as party name or case number. However, the primary disadvantage of using these third-party websites is that the completeness and accuracy of the records they provide are not guaranteed.