Tennessee County Court Information

Tennessee County Courts are referred to as “local courts” simply because they are funded by the local governments. Tennessee has numerous courts which are of limited jurisdiction to try criminal matters and minor civil matters. These courts also deal with preliminary actions and motions in major criminal and civil cases.

The most important among these courts of limited jurisdiction is the Court of General Sessions. To replace the antiquated justice of the peace system, the state legislature created the general sessions courts in 1960. In all 95 counties of Tennessee, there are general sessions courts.

Jurisdiction of County Courts

The county courts' jurisdiction can vary from county to county, but these courts are specifically conducting preliminary business in cases which deal with major criminal and civil matters; they also hold trials on minor criminal and civil matters. These courts have the right to issue search and arrest warrants, conduct preliminary hearings before accusing and binding a suspect over for trial, and set bond for a suspect. These general sessions judges are also juvenile court judges in all the counties in Tennessee which do not have a separate Juvenile Court created by the legislature. General Sessions Courts have no jury trials.

These courts have the right to try misdemeanors, although in actual day to day practice the appropriate trial court of general jurisdiction resolves these cases. Empanelment of juries does not occur in any sessions court, so the trials that occur in these courts are always before the bench.

If we take the case of civil jurisdiction, the sessions courts are authorized to try small claims. They have jurisdiction on suits to recover personal property with no dollar limit. This is simply because the sessions courts are not courts of records; appeals which derive from their judgments take the form of trial de novo in the courts of general jurisdiction.

The juvenile courts have concurrent jurisdiction with chancery and probate courts, and circuit courts in certain cases. These courts have exclusive jurisdiction in cases involving minors who are alleged to be delinquent, dependent, unruly and neglected. It is increasingly common for the juvenile courts to waive their jurisdiction in cases that involve minors who are charged with serious criminal activities.

Divisions in County Courts

The type of cases that are heard by the county courts are cases that comprise of contract disputes, civil torts, condemnations, domestic matters, worker’s compensation claims and the administration of estates. There are eleven divisions of these courts with an elected judge to serve each of these divisions. These courts handle cases regarding criminal matters and civil lawsuits. The civil division of these court deal with several types of cases:

-    Civil warrants with jurisdictional limits of $25,000
-    Recovery warrants
-    Environmental codes violations
-    Mental health committals
-    Orders of protection
-    Detainer warrants (these include landlord/tenant disputes).

The General Sessions civil filing fees are as follows:

New Filings
-    Civil warrants  - 102.75
-    Detainer warrant – 102.75
-    Immediate possession – 142.75
-    Sue and Attach – 142.75
-    Warrant to recover – 102.75

For more details you can visit http://www.nashville.gov/.

Probate Division

The probate division deals with matters related to the administration of a deceased person’s estate which includes probating wills. The probate division also enjoys concurrent jurisdiction over the supervision and creation of guardianship and conservatorship. The probate court also handles cases related to minor and adult name changes, legitimations, and legal matters involving trusts and emancipations. You can contact the probate Court Clerk's office in Nashville at the following address:

Probate Court Clerk’s Office
1 Public Square Suite 303
Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: (615) 862-5980

You can also visit http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/  for rules of evidence and procedures of county courts or you can contact:

Administrative Office of the Courts
511 Union Street
Suite 600
Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 741-2687

The Tennessee county courthouse phone numbers and addresses are as follows:

Anderson County
100 N. Main St.
Clinton, TN 37716-3615
(423) 483-0541

Lake County
116 S. Court
Tiptonville, TN 38079
(901) 253-7582

Bedford County
104 N. Side Square
Shelbyville, TN 37160
(615) 684-1921

Lauderdale County
County Courthouse
100 Court Square
Ripley, TN 38063
(901) 635-2561

Benton County
1 E. Court Square, Rm. 101
Camden, TN 38320-0008
(901) 584-6053
 

Specific County Court Information:

Shelby County Court