Blount County Court Records

Court records in Blount County, Tennessee are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. BlountCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Blount County. You can also search records through the county's online court records portal, visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in person, or submit a formal public records request through the county website.

Blount Court System Overview

Blount County is part of Tennessee's 5th Judicial District, which serves Blount County exclusively. The county's court system includes Circuit Courts (both civil and criminal divisions), Chancery Court, and General Sessions Courts. The Blount County Courts are housed in and around the Blount County Justice Center in Maryville. A Judicial Commissioner is available around the clock to handle warrants, emergency orders, and after-hours matters. The Court ADA Coordinator can be reached at 865-273-5400 for accessibility questions.

Courts Serving Blount

What Types of Cases Blount Courts Hear

Blount County courts handle a wide range of case types across multiple divisions. Here is an overview of the matters you can expect each level of court to address:

• Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, DUI cases
• Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes, debt collection, small claims
• Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, orders of protection, termination of parental rights
• Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
• Juvenile: Delinquency, dependency and neglect, child protective proceedings
• Traffic: Moving violations, license suspensions, driving on a revoked license
• Adoption

District Court Cases in Blount

In Tennessee's court structure, Circuit Court serves the role that "district court" fills in many other states. Blount County's Circuit Criminal Court hears all felony cases after they are bound over from General Sessions Court following a preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment. Circuit Civil Court handles civil lawsuits that exceed the jurisdictional limit of General Sessions, as well as appeals from lower courts. Chancery Court addresses equity matters, including complex contract disputes, injunctions, and certain estate and trust matters. Cases are assigned to judges within each division, and all Circuit Criminal cases are open to the public. A public access computer is available at the courthouse for record searches.

Magistrate Court Cases in Blount

Tennessee's General Sessions Courts function as the equivalent of magistrate courts. In Blount County, General Sessions Criminal Court handles misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felony cases, DUI arraignments, and traffic violations. General Sessions Civil Court hears civil cases where the amount in controversy is $25,000 or less under Tennessee law. Small claims cases — those involving $25,000 or less — are also filed in General Sessions Civil Court, with simplified procedures available for self-represented parties. All General Sessions cases are open to the public, and a public access computer is available at the courthouse for searches. A Judicial Commissioner is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to process warrants and emergency orders outside normal business hours.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Blount

Family Law

Most divorce records in Blount County are maintained by Chancery Court. If Chancery Court does not have a particular record, the clerk will refer you to Circuit Court. Custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights cases are heard across Chancery, Circuit, and the dedicated Child Support Court.

Probate

Chancery Court handles probate matters in Blount County, including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust administration. The Chancery Court Clerk maintains these records at the courthouse.

Juvenile

Juvenile Court in Blount County handles delinquency proceedings, dependency and neglect cases, and child protective matters. Juvenile court records are confidential under Tennessee law and are not available for public inspection. Contact the Juvenile Court Clerk's office for questions about access or sealed records.

How Cases Move Through the Blount Court System

1. Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest, citation, or grand jury indictment. Civil cases start when a complaint or petition is filed with the appropriate clerk. Family and probate matters are initiated by petition.
2. Assignment to Judge: Cases are assigned to a judge within the appropriate division — Circuit Criminal, Circuit Civil, Chancery, General Sessions, or Juvenile.
3. Initial Hearings: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment, where charges are read and pleas entered. Civil cases proceed to a scheduling conference or initial hearing.
4. Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange evidence through discovery. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur. Motions — such as motions to dismiss or suppress evidence — are heard by the assigned judge.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved by plea agreement, bench trial, jury trial, settlement, or default judgment, depending on the case type.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from General Sessions go to Circuit Court; appeals from Circuit or Chancery Court go to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Blount

The courts in Blount County are administered under the 5th Judicial District. The Circuit Court Clerk's office manages case filings, jury coordination, and public records for Circuit and Criminal courts. For court contact information and department directories, see the Blount County staff directory.

Public Access

• Under the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503), most court records are open to the public unless sealed by court order or made confidential by statute.
• All Circuit Criminal cases and all General Sessions cases are open to the public. Public access computers are available at the courthouse.
• Juvenile records, adoption records, and certain sealed proceedings are not available for public inspection.
• You can submit a public records request through the county website for general county records.

Attending Hearings

Court hearings in Blount County are generally open to the public. Visitors should check with the specific court division for scheduling and any remote hearing options that may be available. Contact the court at 865-273-5400 for details.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Blount

• Online Court Records Search: The Blount County online court records search covers public cases filed from August 1, 2019 to the present. For older records, contact the clerk's office or visit the Records Management and Archives office (865-380-4295).
• Circuit Court Clerk: The Circuit Court Clerk's office handles jury information, online payments, court information, and public records requests.
• Types of Records Available: The county maintains a guide to available records and an overview of other record types, including divorce records and their location by court.
• Tennessee Felony Offender Information: Search the Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) for inmates under the supervision of the Tennessee Department of Correction.
• Sheriff's Office: The Blount County Sheriff's Office handles warrants, incident reports, and law enforcement records. Call 865-273-5000 for inquiries.
• Property Records: For deed and lien records, visit the Register of Deeds (865-273-5880). For property assessments, see the Property Assessor or search the Tennessee Property Assessment Data portal. For tax payments, contact the Blount County Trustee or use the property tax lookup tool.
• Tennessee Sex Offender Registry: Search the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's sex offender registry at TBI Sex Offender Registry.
• Court Forms and Self-Help: Tennessee state court forms are available through the Tennessee Courts Self-Help Center. Deputy clerks in Blount County cannot provide legal advice but can direct you to available resources.

For additional help locating Blount County court records, visit BlountCourt.us or contact the appropriate clerk's office listed above.