Cocke County Court Records

The Tenn. R. Sup. Ct. 34 defines Cocke County court records as case, administrative, and judicial documents. These records pertain to legal proceedings heard in the county's courts and provide an official account of these cases. The importance of Cocke County court records stems from their role in ensuring transparency and accountability, preserving the judicial system's integrity, and providing official documentation. This importance stirs the Cocke County Court Clerks to make their records available to anyone in keeping with state law. A court record typically features:

• Case title and number
• Case party and attorney's names
• Filing date and case judge's name
• Case status and status date
• Case references
• Next hearing date
• Hearing date, time, and result
• Balance due amount and last pay date
• TCA code and description
• Violation and disposition dates and disposition type
• Fee code, amount assessed, receipt amount, and amount due

Are Court Records Public in Cocke County?

Yes. Cocke County court records are open to the public in compliance with the statutory right of access provided by the Tenn. R. Sup. Ct. 34 and Tennessee Public Records Act. Therefore, anyone has the right to inspect or copy the records of the Cocke County Circuit and General Sessions Courts during regular business hours. Tennessee Court Rules exempt some court records from public inspection to preserve their integrity. Some examples of such records are:

• Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinions
• Information maintained by individual judges concerning their recusal from particular cases.
• Copies of documents like petitions, motions, and briefs filed with the court clerks and created for a judge's personal use. This excludes documents intentionally filed as part of a case record.
• Electronic or written notes, reports, conference records, or memoranda created by a judge, judicial staff, or the Administrative Office of the Courts on behalf of a court or judge. All internal case management information except those relating to the composition of appellate case panels assigned to consider a particular case.
• Any written or electronic record whose disclosure will frustrate or interfere with the court's judicial function or potentially undermine the inherent constitutional powers granted to the court.

Cocke County Court Records Search

The primary means of conducting a Cocke County court record search is in person at the county courthouse or online using the Online Court Records System. Requesters are typically required to provide search criteria to aid the location of specific records. Inquirers may also perform Cocke County court records searches using third-party sites.

Cocke County Courts

The Cocke County court system comprises the Circuit, General Sessions, and Chancery Courts. The addresses of these courts are as follows:

Cocke County Circuit and General Sessions Courts
111 Court Avenue
Room 201
Newport, TN 37821
Phone: (423) 623-6124 (Circuit), (423) 623 - 8619 (General Sessions)
Fax: (423) 625-3889 (Circuit)

Cocke County Chancery Court
360 East Main Street
Suite 103 Courthouse Annex
Newport, TN 37821
Phone: (423) 623-3321
Fax: (423) 625-3642

Cocke County Criminal and Civil Records

The Circuit and General Sessions Courts both hear criminal and civil cases with general and limited jurisdictions. These courts maintain records of these cases and make them available to residents in person and online. Requesters may visit the Circuit Court Clerk or General Sessions Court Clerk to obtain criminal or civil records. The staff will provide a request form that should be completed to facilitate the search of the desired record. Inquirers may better access criminal and civil records remotely by using the Online Court Records System. This service is free, but users must provide a party name, case number, or case type to search. Click the "Search" menu at the top bar to find the search area. Similarly, Cocke county arrest records and criminal records can be obtained from the county’s law enforcement agencies.

Cocke County Marriage and Divorce Records

Individuals can obtain copies of marriage certificates at the Cocke County Clerk's office in person or by mail. Copies of Cocke County marriage records cost $5.00 each. Record seekers interested in obtaining copies of divorce records should visit the Office of the Clerk & Master in person during business hours. They can also use the Online Court Records System to find divorce records without charges. A search can be conducted by party name, case number, or case type.

Cocke County Birth and Death Records

Cocke County vital records, including birth and death records, are not accessible to the public. Typically, birth records are confidential for 100 years, while death records are confidential for 50 years in Tennessee. Certified copies of birth and death certificates are only issued to the subject of records (Cocke County birth records) and immediate family members. The Cocke County Health Department charges $15 for both birth and death certificates. Additional information regarding both birth and death certificates can be requested via phone at (423) 623-8733.

Cocke County Property Records

The Register of Deeds considers property documents public record in Cocke County. Therefore, these records may be disseminated to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Certified copies of records cost $1.00 plus $1.00 per page.

The Tennessee Property Assessment Data (TPAD) is an alternative option for finding property records online for free. Record seekers can use the database by logging on to the database, selecting "Cocke" in the county dropdown, then searching by property address, owner name, or parcel ID in the search field. They may also choose the Advanced Search to streamline the search results.

Cocke County Court Records Online

Cocke County residents can access public court records on third-party platforms. Sites like tennesseecourtrecords.us, aggregate court records from several jurisdictions and provide them to interested members of the public for a fee. One primary disadvantage of using third-party search engines is that they may not provide up-to-date or comprehensive court records compared to the official court system. Therefore, users must prioritize verifying any information retrieved from such sites and note that these records cannot be used for legal or official purposes.