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How to Look Up Eviction Records in Tennessee 2026

Court portal, certified copy fees, and expungement laws for Tennessee

General Sessions Court Court handling eviction cases
County-Level Only Online access level
$0.50/page Certified copy fee (typical)
No No statutory expungement right

Where to Search Tennessee Eviction Records

Court: General Sessions Court
Online portal: County-level (search your county court clerk's website)
Certified copy fee: $0.50/page

Tennessee Detainer Warrant (eviction) cases are filed in the General Sessions Court of the county. There is no unified statewide online portal for General Sessions Court records. Some counties provide online access: Davidson County (Nashville) at dockets.nashville.gov; Shelby County (Memphis) at generalssessions.com. Source: TCA § 29-18-101 et seq.

Step-by-Step: How to Search Tennessee Eviction Records

  1. Identify the county court. Find the General Sessions Court website for the county where the property is located.
  2. Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
  3. Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
  4. Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
  5. Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is — most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5–7 years.
  6. Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the General Sessions Court clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.50/page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up eviction records in Tennessee?

Tennessee Detainer Warrant (eviction) cases are filed in the General Sessions Court of the county. There is no unified statewide online portal for General Sessions Court records. Some counties provide online access: Davidson County (Nashville) at dockets.nashville.gov; Shelby County (Memphis) at generalssessions.com. Source: TCA § 29-18-101 et seq.

Are eviction court records public in Tennessee?

Yes — eviction court records in Tennessee are presumptively public under Tennessee's public records law. Eviction actions are civil court filings and are part of the court's public record, accessible by any member of the public.

Can a tenant get an eviction record removed or expunged in Tennessee?

Tennessee does not currently have a general statutory right to expunge or seal eviction court records. The record of an eviction filing remains in the court's public file unless the court orders it impounded in a specific case.

How much does it cost to get a certified copy of an eviction court record in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, certified copy fees for court records are typically $0.50/page. Fees are set by the General Sessions Court and may vary by county or court location. Many courts also charge a flat certification fee on top of the per-page copy fee. Online access to basic case information (party names, filing date, disposition) is typically free through the court's public portal where available.

Related Tennessee Landlord Guides

← Tennessee Eviction Risk Overview Tennessee Just Cause Eviction Tennessee Eviction Notices Tennessee Eviction Timeline Eviction Records — All States

Court portal information sourced from the Tennessee court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Tennessee statutes (see citations above). Last updated April 30, 2026. For informational purposes only — not legal advice.