Tennessee Court Docket Search

Tennessee Court Docket Search

In Tennessee, a Court docket is a log containing a list of all documents and filings that pertain to a case in a law court. It is the timetable or schedule of intended court proceedings, filings, and actions taken on a case. Like every Tennessee court record, a docket is usually maintained by the court clerk and helps the Court keep track of the cases presided over per time. All dockets are assigned docket or case numbers by the clerk filing the case to help distinguish one docket from another. Court dockets generally contain:

• A docket or case number.
• The history of the case.
• The decision date.
• The name of the Court handling the case.
• The queries raised in the case.
• Party names.

Although it is mostly called a docket in most states, it can also be referred to as court minutes.

Are Court Dockets Public Record in Tennessee?

Yes, Court dockets are public records in Tennessee as they are part of court records. The Tennessee Public Records Act permits citizens of the state to inspect and obtain copies of court docket report and records as long as such records are not termed "confidential" by law. However, there are a few exceptions to court records that the public cannot access. These include court records containing:

• Documents clearly stated as exempted per the Tennessee Code Annotated section 10-7-504 and Tennessee Code Annotated section 10-7-503(a)(2)(A)
• Documents insulated from exposure by order or rule of Court
• Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinion

Where to Find a Court Docket in Tennessee

The first step in finding a court docket in Tennessee is to identify the Court presiding over the case. Upon locating the specific Court, interested individuals can submit a court record request form to the clerk of the courthouse either physically or online. The Tennessee Annotated Code allows a copying fee of $0.50 per page of court records and a fee of $5.00 for certification or making copies of an abstract.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is also another place where court minutes and dockets are kept. These records are stored as indexes over a five-year date span. Requestors can access the records for a fee from 8 AM to 4 PM on Tuesday through Saturday. The fee covers the cost of obtaining 20 pages of the requested court record. Additional pages after the initial 20 copies attract a fee of $0.50 per page. All Payments and fees must be made upfront before requests are processed.

The location of the Library is given below:

Tennessee State Library and Archives
Research Department
403, Seventh Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0312

How to Conduct a Tennessee Court Docket Search

To conduct a Tennessee Court docket search, members of the public can contact the state court responsible for handling the case. Most courts provide public access to dockets in physical or electronic forms depending on what is obtainable at the Court. An inquirer can submit a request form in person, via mail, or by using online platforms provided by the Clerk's Office. The inquirer will need to know either the docket number, name of the parties, filing date, or judge involved in the case to ease the search.

The Public Case History or C-Track is a depository of dockets filed with the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Criminal Court of Appeals in Tennessee. It is a case management system maintained by the Appellate Court Clerk. Inquirers in search of appellate court dockets can inspect and obtain copies of orders, motions, judgments, and opinions from August 26, 2013, to date.

Interested individuals can search the Public Case History for records in the following ways:

• Search by Case Number: Inquirers can use the docket or case number assigned in the appeal to search the database. The sequence number can also be extracted from the case number and used to conduct the search.
• Search by Case Type: the case type assigned by the Court to a case can be used to search for the docket.
• Search by Name of Parties: Inquirers can use the name of any of the parties to an appeal to conduct the docket search.
• Search by Name of Organization: The name of an organization that was listed as a party to any appeal can be used to search the database for the record of interest.

Requestors can also inspect dockets in person by visiting the Appellate Court Clerk's Office or mailing the docket number or name of parties to the Clerk's Office.

Using Third Party Sites for a Tennessee Court Docket Search

Certain private aggregate websites also disseminate court dockets, e.g., for cases of public interest. When using third-party sites for a Tennessee court docket search, care should be taken to verify case information or documents obtained against the official dockets maintained by the applicable court clerk's office (where the case was filed). This way, a researcher can guarantee the accuracy and completeness of case information retrieved from third-party sites.

What is the Purpose of a Court Docket in Tennessee

Tennessee courts use court dockets to track the history of a case, including all documents filed from submission to decision. It also has basic case information and serves as a reminder to the judges of pending cases since it contains a schedule of upcoming trial proceedings regarding a case. Litigants can also use court dockets to track the status of a case and how fast or slow the case is moving through the court system. A docket is also useful for distinguishing court filings, such as pleadings, motions, briefs, etc., filed in a case.

What Do Court Dockets Contain Tennessee?

In Tennessee, Court dockets filed by court clerks usually have the following information:

• Names of parties involved in the case (plaintiffs and defendants)
• The names of the attorney or legal representation, if present
• The assigned docket number
• Case type (family, traffic, criminal, or civil)
• The dates and times of all court proceedings, including the type of proceeding
• The scheduled upcoming court proceeding
• The location of the Court handling the matter
• Name of the deciding judge or magistrate
• A brief explanation of the case, including the assertions or indictments brought in a case, the statute(s) violated, and outstanding fines
• Notice stating if a court appearance is necessary for the hearing.
• The case filing date
• Offshoots of court proceedings, including judgments issued by the Court
• The case status, such as if the case is ongoing, dismissed, sealed, or disposed of
• Documents filed in the court case, comprising pleadings, motions, affidavits, orders, and briefs

It is important to note that the contents of a court docket may vary depending on the Court. Therefore some dockets can contain some of the information referred to above, while others may provide additional case details.

What is a Court Docket Number in Tennessee?

A Court docket number in Tennessee is a specific designation technique used by courts to distinguish dockets in a court, and as such, no two dockets have the same numbers. It is usually allotted by the court clerk and makes it effortless to track the status or retrieve a case docket. It carries information regarding the year and type of case filed, the Court it was filed under, and the judicial officer assigned to handle the case in the docket.

Docket numbers are usually composed of alphabets, characters or numerical values, or a combination of one or more. The information revealed by a docket number can vary depending on the procedure utilized by the clerk. For example, the docket number M2012-05656-COA-R3-CV can mean it is a Civil case filed with the Court of appeal in 2012. A docket number is usually expected to contain the following:

• The year the case was filed
• Case type
• A sequence number allocated by the court clerk;
• The Court under which the case was filed represented as letters or numbers

To properly interpret a docket number, an inquirer can query the court clerk responsible for assigning the numbers.

How to Conduct a Court Docket Number Lookup in Tennessee

Interested persons intending to conduct a Court docket number lookup in Tennessee can begin by visiting the courthouse presiding over the case in person. Knowing the right docket number assigned to the case by the presiding Court will facilitate the search process. In situations where the docket number is unknown, the name of a party involved in the case can be used to retrieve the docket number.

Inquirers can also access the online case management systems provided by the Court and use the docket number search feature available on the website for free or at a cost depending on what is obtainable.

Interested persons who may not be able to visit the Court in person or use the online options provided can also send mail requests using the specific mailbox details of the Court, maintaining the records of interest.