About Tennessee Public Records

Tennessee public records are governed by the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503), which presumes all records of state and local government are open for inspection by Tennessee citizens. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) handles statewide criminal history under T.C.A. § 38-6-120, county Registers of Deeds hold land records under T.C.A. Title 8, Chapter 13, and the Administrative Office of the Courts publishes court information through tncourts.gov.

Tennessee Public Records

Court Records

Criminal Records
Official Free
Search Systems Premium Tennessee statewide combined criminal record database. Includes: felony Circuit and Criminal Court convictions from all 95 counties; Department of Corrections inmate records going back to 1968; the Tennessee sex offender registry; and the Bureau of Investigation methamphetamine offender registry.
🌐 searchsystems.net
Missing Children
Official Free
List of missing children in Tennessee. Provides name, photo, reporting agency, missing date, date of birth, description and case details.
🌐 tn.gov

Criminal Records

Inmates & Offenders
Official Free
Tennessee felony offenders who are or have been under the supervision of the Tennessee Department of Corrections or the Board of Probation and Parole.
🌐 foil.app.tn.gov
Inmates | Escapees
Official Free
Tennessee Department of Corrections offenders who have escaped from custody.
🌐 tn.gov

Property Records

Company Search
Official Free
Tennessee Secretary of Records business registration database of corporations, assumed business names, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and reserved names.
🌐 tncab.tnsos.gov
Jobs
Official Free
Tennessee Department of Personnel for State of Tennessee employment opportunities by job title, job class code, or selected criteria.
🌐 tn.gov
Legislation
Official Free
Search these Tennessee Legislature databases for House Bills by bill number, or click on the "Legislation" tab and browse bills by index or subject.
🌐 wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Moving Violations
Official Free
Tennessee Moving Violation records. Users must be qualified under the Access Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act of 2000 (DPPA), and register for the service.
🌐 apps.tn.gov
Parole and Probation
Official Free
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, "This registry shall consist of at least the name and conviction offense of those persons who have been placed on probation or parole in another state but who are residing in Tennessee."
🌐 pwp.interstatecompact.org
Property
Official Free
Search this statewide Tennessee property database by county, owner name, address, parcel id, subdivision name, classification, and/or sale date to view information including owner, account number, address, assessed value, legal and physical descriptions.
🌐 assessment.cot.tn.gov
Service Provider Registry
Official Free
Search this Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration database of registered service providers by name, service category, FEIN, or key word.
🌐 tn.gov
TennCare Patient Eligibilty
Official Free
Subscribers to TennesseeAnytime may use this TennCare Patient Eligibilty database to verify if a patient is eligible for the program. Access requires registration and a fee.
🌐 tn.gov
Trademarks
Official Free
Search Tennessee Department of State records by mark name for active or pending Trademarks in Tennessee. Provides image, mark name, registration information, description of services, owner, and owner address.
🌐 tncab.tnsos.gov

Vital Records

Licenses

Driver Licenses
Official Free
Authorized tn.gov subscribers may verify Tennessee Driver License information here. Access is governed by the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act of 2000.
🌐 apps.tn.gov

Business

* Tennessee State Home Page
Official Free
The Official Tennessee state page with information for residents, visitors, businesses, and access to State Government services, departments, and agencies.
🌐 tn.gov
Uniform Commercial Code
Official Free
Search the Tennessee Department of State UCC database by debtor name or UCC1 file number. Results include the file number, file date, lapse or termination date, assignments, continuations, names and addresses of the debtor(s) and secured party(s).
🌐 tncab.tnsos.gov

Civic

Child Support Payments
Official Free
Search the Tennessee Department of Human Services for Child Support payment summaries by valid TCSES identification number or member identification number and social security number.
🌐 apps.tn.gov
City Codes
Official Free
Codified ordinances for Tennessee municipalities. Choose a city or town and then view the code in pdf format.
🌐 mtas.tennessee.edu
State Services
Official Free
Tennessee State Services. Also available are links to browse by service or department.
🌐 tn.gov

Other

Campaign Finance
Official Free
Tennessee Online Campaign Finance databases. Search for financial records filed by candidates, Political Action Committees (PAC), or contributors. Search also by party and office or office sought.
🌐 apps.tn.gov
Lobbyists
Official Free
Select the year and then Download these Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files to browse by name or search for Tennessee Lobbyists or Lobbyist Clients.
🌐 ilobbysearch.app.tn.gov
Nonresident Fiduciaries
Official Free
Search this Nonresident Fiduciary database provided by the Tennessee Secretary of State database by last name, company name, or name of trust/estate/person the fiduciary has been appointed.
🌐 tncab.tnsos.gov
Public Libraries
Official Free
Search this Tennessee Public Library Directory for community libraries by library name, county, city, or region. Alternatively, use their interactive map to search by region.
🌐 tnsos.net

Frequently Asked Questions

What public records are available in Tennessee?

Tennessee provides public access to court records, criminal histories, vital records (birth/death/marriage), property records, professional licenses, voter registration, and business filings. Each record type has its own page on SearchSystems.net.

Are Tennessee public records free?

Most online lookups — court calendars, property assessor portals, license verification, voter status — are free. Certified copies and fingerprint-based criminal-history checks typically carry a state fee.

What law governs public records in Tennessee?

Tennessee public records are governed by T.C.A. § 10-7-503 (Tennessee Public Records Act), which presumes records of every public body are open for inspection unless specifically exempted.

How do I request a record not available online?

File a written records request with the state or local agency that maintains the record. Most Tennessee agencies must respond within a fixed statutory window (typically 3–15 business days).