DeKalb County Court Records

In DeKalb County, Tennessee, court records comprise the official paperwork of the county's trial court proceedings, maintained by the record custodians. These records provide extensive accounts of county litigations, including case filings, hearing information, orders, and judgments. Accurate court records are a vital component of the legal system, ensuring justice, transparency, and the protection of the rights of all parties. Interested parties may also locate DeKalb County arrest records as a subset of the court records in situations where arrest incidents resulted in criminal court cases.

Are Court Records Public in DeKalb County?

Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, DeKalb County court records are generally considered public. This means that Tennessee citizens may access most court records, including those related to civil, criminal, and family cases, unless otherwise stated by state law. Some court records subject to public access restrictions include juvenile records, identity records maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts, addresses, telephone numbers, and the location of suspected victims of domestic violence (upon court order). Records associated with alleged abuse or sexual abuse must also be redacted to protect the vulnerable persons involved.

DeKalb County Court Records Search

The Circuit County Clerk's Office is the custodian of DeKalb County court records, maintaining records of all Circuit Court and General Sessions court cases. Apart from juvenile records, interested parties may access most of these records through the DeKalb County Circuit Clerk's Office.

To obtain copies of public court records, requesters possessing valid ID records may visit the Clerk's Office to submit a record request. Certified copies of court documents cost $5.00 per copy. The locational and contact addresses of the Clerk's Office are as follows:

DeKalb County Circuit Clerk's Office
1 Public Sq, Ste 201, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5711

DeKalb County Courts

The address and contact details of the various courts that make up the DeKalb County trial court system are as follows:

DeKalb County Circuit Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
1 Public Square, Room 303, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5711

DeKalb County Chancery Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
1 Public Square, Room 302, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-4360

DeKalb County Criminal Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
1 Public Square, Room 303, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5711

DeKalb County General Sessions Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
1 Public Square, Room 303, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5711

DeKalb County Juvenile Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
1 Public Square, Room 303, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5711

Alexandria City Court
102 High Street, P.O. Box 277, Alexandria, TN 37012
Phone: (615) 529-2700 ext. 202

Smithville City Court
104 East Main Street, Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-4745

DeKalb County Criminal and Civil Records

Tennessee citizens may obtain DeKalb County criminal and civil court documents by visiting the DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk's Office or contacting them via mail or email. As the record custodian for the Circuit (including the Civil and Criminal Courts) and General Sessions courts, the Clerk maintains several types of criminal and civil court records. Criminal records include DeKalb County arrest records, case filings, and outcomes. In contrast, civil records cover disputes, family law, probate, and other civil matters.

Requesters with identifying details, such as the case number or name of parties involved, may request copies in person or by mail. Uncertified copies of documents cost $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. The contact information of the Clerk's Office is as stated above.

DeKalb County Marriage Records

Requesters may obtain DeKalb County marriage records within the last 50 years from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. For records older than 50 years, they must contact the DeKalb County Clerk's Office (if a marriage license was obtained in the county) or the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Qualified applicants must complete a marriage certificate application to acquire a DeKalb marriage certificate from the Office of Vital Records. Unnotarized applications must be accompanied by a valid government-issued ID that shows the applicant's signature. The completed form, fee ($15.00 for record search and one copy), and approved identification, if applicable, should be mailed to:

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

DeKalb County Divorce Records

Requesters seeking information on DeKalb County divorces may obtain records for the last 50 years from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. They may also access records older than 50 years through the DeKalb County Clerk's Office if the divorce was granted in the county or through the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Eligible applicants may complete an application for verification of divorce/annulment facts or certified copies of divorce certificates and provide a valid ID, payment, and any other required proof of authorization. The application material must be mailed to Tennessee Vital Records at the address stated above.

The Vital Records Office expects applicants to pay $15.00 for a record search, plus the initial copy of a DeKalb County divorce certificate.

DeKalb Birth Records

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records manages DeKalb County birth records that are 100 years or less old. Applicants may obtain records older than 100 years from the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Those applying for a DeKalb County birth certificate must include a copy of their valid ID, the completed birth record application form, any other additional proof of authorization required, and the relevant fee. Applicants should send the application materials and payment ($15.00 for record search and one copy) to the Office of Vital Records at the address above.

DeKalb Death Records

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records maintains DeKalb County death records that are 50 years or less old. Interested parties may obtain records older than 50 years from the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

When applying for verification of death facts or certified copies of DeKalb death certificates, eligible applicants must include a copy of their valid ID, the completed application form, any other additional proof of authorization required, and the relevant fee. The application materials and fee ($15.00 for record search and one copy) should be sent to the Office of Vital Records at the address above.

DeKalb County Probate Court Records

In DeKalb County, the Clerk and Master's Office is the official record keeper of probate matters for the Chancery Court. Some of the probate issues handled by the court concern adoptions, estate administration, guardianship, trusts, and conservatorship, among others.

To request copies of DeKalb County probate records, requesters should contact the Clerk and Master's Office at the following office:

DeKalb County Courthouse
1 Public Square, Room 302
Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-4360
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

DeKalb County Property Records

Individuals seeking property records in DeKalb County may obtain them via the Register of Deed's Office or the County Property Assessor's Office.

The Register of Deeds preserves information concerning property ownership, such as deeds, mortgages (Deeds of Trust), liens, plats, surveys, leases, and assignments.

Interested persons may also access information on property valuation and assessments from the Property Assessor's Office. Some of the property-related records obtainable from this office include assessed values, property classifications, and Parcel Identification Numbers.

For further inquiries about receiving property records from these agencies, requesters may wish to visit them at the following addresses:

Register of Deeds
732 S. Congress Blvd. -
Room 101
Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-4153
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

County Property Assessor
732 S. Congress Blvd. -
Room 104
Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: (615) 597-5925

DeKalb County Court Records Online

Third-party websites, such as Tennesseecourtrecords.us, may occasionally offer easy and convenient access to DeKalb court records. These online platforms collate information from various sources and provide round-the-clock, worldwide access to interested individuals. As a result, interested parties may view or download records at any time. However, record searchers should be aware that accessing official documents through non-government portals may expose them to inaccurate and outdated information.