Court records of Knox County, Tennessee, are available through several channels. KnoxCourt.us allows searching for public information on court cases in the county. Additionally, official online court tools, clerk's offices, and public terminals in court buildings provide access to case registers, hearing schedules, and court documents.
Knox Court System & Jurisdictions
Knox County is part of the 6th Judicial District of Tennessee and has a complex court system, each handling specific categories of cases.
- Criminal Court — felonies. Criminal Court Clerk maintains records of criminal cases, General Sessions (criminal division) cases, and Fourth Circuit Court.
- Circuit Court — civil lawsuits for significant amounts, appeals from General Sessions, and some criminal cases. Information on Circuit Court and Chancery Court can be found on the county courts page.
- Chancery Court — cases involving real estate, trusts, guardianships, and other equity law matters.
- General Sessions Court — misdemeanors, preliminary hearings in felony cases, small claims (up to $25,000), and traffic violations. A list of judges and clerk's office contacts is available on the General Sessions judges page.
- Juvenile Court — cases involving minors: offenses, dependency, neglect, adoption. Records are mostly confidential. Details are on the Juvenile Court website.
The prosecutor of the 6th Judicial District — District Attorney General — represents the state in all criminal cases. Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal crimes) are handled separately; their records are accessible through PACER.
Knox Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the hearing date for a criminal, traffic, or ordinance case, use the online docket search on the Criminal Court Clerk's website. The system allows searching by defendant's last name or case number and shows scheduled hearing dates.
For civil cases in Circuit and Chancery Court, hearing schedules are usually published through the respective court's clerk's office. Contact the clerk directly:
- General Sessions Court Clerk (criminal division) — 865-215-2375
- Criminal Court Clerk — 865-215-2492
- Juvenile Court — 865-215-6400
These numbers are listed on the useful links page of the county prosecutor's office. State appellate cases can be tracked through Public Case History on the Tennessee court system's website.
If you need a schedule for today or the upcoming days, the quickest way is to call the appropriate clerk's office or search the online docket system.
How to Get a Copy of a Knox Court Document
The method of obtaining a copy depends on the type of case and the court handling it.
Online
- Go to the criminal case search page and find the desired case.
- For county-wide public records requests, use the Knox County public records portal.
- For criminal history checks, the Criminal Court Clerk offers a background search package for $15.00.
In Person or by Mail
Visit the appropriate court clerk's office. For criminal cases:
Certified copies have the clerk's official seal and are accepted by other institutions as legally valid. Uncertified copies are regular printouts for informational purposes. When requesting by mail, include the full name of the party, case number (if known), and type of document. Include payment — check or money order payable to the appropriate clerk.
Juvenile Court records are generally closed to public access under Tennessee law. Some records may be restricted in other courts as well — for example, cases with orders of protection or sealed cases.
Knox Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies and searches are set by Tennessee state law and administrative orders. Below are the main rates confirmed by official county sources.
| Service | Cost | Source / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Background search | $15.00 | Criminal Court Clerk |
| Document copies (regular) | $0.15 per page (police reports) | Knoxville Police Records |
| Accident report (digital copy) | $10.00 | TN Dept. of Safety — purchasetncrash.gov |
| Certified court document copy | Varies by court; check with clerk | Respective court clerk's office |
Payment is usually accepted in cash, check, or money order. Some clerk's offices accept credit and debit cards — confirm this in advance by phone. Online payments are available through portals where provided (e.g., when ordering a background search).
The county's policy on providing public records is described in the official Public Records Policy document. According to the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503), most government records are open, but an agency may charge a reasonable fee for copying.