Searching Rutherford County Court Records
Where do I search Rutherford County court records online?
The official Rutherford County Online Court Records System is at rutherford.tncrtinfo.com. Go straight to the case search form and search by party name, case reference, case year, or case number. Court-office filters let you narrow results to Circuit Court, General Sessions, or the Clerk and Master. The Circuit Court Clerk announced that subscription logins ended and this free search launched on July 1, 2025. For a broader look at how the portal works, see the court records page.
Is the online court-records portal the official court record?
No. The portal's Terms of Use say the information is provided as a public service and for general informational purposes only. It is not the official court record of the Clerk and should not be relied on for legal action. Use the portal to locate a case, then contact the correct clerk for certified copies or records you need for court, employment, immigration, or licensing. The portal is a finding tool, not an authoritative source. See the court dockets page for more on what docket data does and does not include.
Which clerk handles criminal and civil court records?
The Circuit Court Clerk handles Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, General Sessions Civil, General Sessions Criminal, and Juvenile clerk functions. Melissa Harrell is the elected Circuit Court Clerk, with the office at 116 W. Lytle St., Room 102, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Phone numbers vary by division: Circuit Civil (615) 898-7820, Circuit Criminal (615) 898-7812, General Sessions Civil (615) 217-0069, General Sessions Criminal (615) 898-7831, and Juvenile Clerk (615) 898-7972. Full office details are on the Circuit Court Clerk page.
What court handles General Sessions civil cases?
General Sessions Civil Court handles noncriminal legal matters including landlord-tenant disputes and small-claims cases. Judge Toby Gilley is listed on the county's official page. The office accepts cash, money orders, cashier checks, and credit cards; an ATM is in front of the building. Checks and money orders are made payable to General Sessions Court. Check the official General Sessions fee schedule for current filing costs before you file.
What federal court covers Rutherford County?
Rutherford County is in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The main location is the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, 719 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203. Federal bankruptcy cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 701 Broadway, Room 170, Nashville, TN 37203. Appeals from the district court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Which office handles Rutherford County marriage licenses?
Marriage licenses are issued by the Rutherford County Clerk. Both applicants must appear together in person, be at least 18, provide accepted ID, and give their Social Security numbers. The standard fee is $107.50. A completed and notarized Certificate of Completion from a counselor or minister reduces that fee to $45.00. The County Clerk does not perform civil ceremonies at its Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Eagleville, or Blackman offices. For more details, see marriage and divorce records or the County Clerk page.
How long is a Rutherford County marriage license valid?
The license is valid for 30 days, counting from the day it is issued. If the marriage does not take place within those 30 days, the documents must be returned. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license within three days, though the applicants may return it instead. Only after the signed documents are back will the clerk issue a marriage certificate, and that certificate must be picked up in person. The clerk says it will not be mailed.
How do I get a certified copy of a Rutherford County marriage record?
In-person certified copies cost $5.00. You need the date of marriage and the bride and groom names. Copies are available at the Murfreesboro office (319 N. Maple St. Suite 121), the Blackman office (3906 Blaze Dr. Suite A), and the Smyrna office (205 I St.). By mail, the fee is $7.00. Send the request with the marriage date, applicant names, and payment to one of those three offices.
Who handles probate in Rutherford County?
Rutherford County uses a local probate structure. By private act, the General Sessions Judges serve as Probate Judge. If the judge admits an estate to probate, the attorney then files needed documents with the County Clerk. The County Clerk handles conservatorships, guardianships, and the filing of probated estates and wills. Probate files are reviewed through the County Clerk's office, not the Circuit Clerk. The probate records page has full detail on the process.
What qualifies as a small estate in Rutherford County?
A small estate is available when the estate value is $50,000 or less and no real estate is involved. There is a 45-day waiting period after the date of death. Required items include a certified death certificate, heir affidavits for any heirs not joining the filing, and a list of debts. The small estate affidavit fee is $229.50. Estates that include real property cannot use the Small Estates Act and must go through full probate instead.
Are probate records public?
Yes, as a general rule. The County Clerk's Estate and Wills page states that all probate matters in Tennessee are public record and available for review at the County Clerk's office in the county of filing. That does not guarantee every exhibit is copied without redaction. For a specific estate file, contact the County Clerk and ask about inspection, copy fees, certified copies, and whether the file is on-site, archived, or subject to any restrictions.
Clerks and Chancery Copies
Can clerks help me choose forms or give legal advice?
No. Chancery Court's About page and FAQ both warn that clerks cannot give legal advice. They cannot tell you what forms to file, how to fill them out, or how to proceed with your case. The office will accept documents you prepare along with the proper fee, but acceptance does not mean the form is correct. The court recommends hiring an attorney or using free legal resources. The same rule applies at the Circuit Court Clerk and County Clerk offices.
How much do Chancery Court copies cost?
Regular photocopies from Chancery Court are $0.50 per page. A certified copy with the court seal is $5.00 plus the per-page copy charge. Requests can be made in person or by mail. All outstanding costs must be paid before copies are released. Mail requests should include the case number, case style, a return mailing address, and a daytime phone number. Address mail to Chancery Court, 116 W. Lytle St., Suite 5101, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. More on Chancery records is at the Chancery Court page.
The Tennessee Courts Self-Help Center provides plain-language guides for people who handle their own cases in Tennessee state courts.
The self-help center covers a range of civil case types and includes links to court forms and publications that apply statewide.
Rutherford County Jail and Inmates
Where is the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center?
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office and Adult Detention Center are at 940 New Salem Highway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. The general phone is (615) 898-7777. Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh is listed as sheriff. The detention center is a 956-bed facility that houses pretrial male and female inmates and sentenced prisoners in a double-cell environment. The facility provides medical services, legal materials, a library, laundry, outdoor recreation, programs, commissary, phone access, and visitation. See the inmate records page for current search options.
Does Rutherford County publish a recent release list?
No official static release list was found in the official pages reviewed. To check whether someone has been released, call the Sheriff's Office at (615) 898-7777, use the Tennessee FOIL database for state prisoners, use the BOP inmate locator for federal prisoners, or sign up for VINELink custody notifications. The released inmates page explains each of those tools. Do not rely on unofficial jail-roster aggregator sites for current custody status.
How does jail visitation work?
Visitation is by appointment only. Families must pass a background check and cannot have a felony record. Once approved, visits can be scheduled after the inmate's first week in custody. Schedule online through VendEngine/TBE at tbejail.com, or in the visitation lobby if you lack internet access. Visit times run Monday through Sunday at 8:15, 9, 10, 11, noon, 1, 2, and 3. The 8:15 slot is 30 minutes; all others are 45 minutes. Inmates may receive two visits per week.
How do I deposit money for a Rutherford County inmate?
Family and friends can deposit money using cash, debit, or credit cards at the Visitation Lobby kiosk (Tuesday through Sunday, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or at the Warrants Lobby kiosk (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Online deposits are accepted at jailfunds.com. No personal checks or money orders are accepted. For phone account deposits, use ICSolutions online or by phone at 1-888-506-8407, or use the kiosk in the Sheriff's Office Warrants lobby.
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands offers free civil legal help to qualifying residents, including matters arising from jail stays, evictions, or family court proceedings.
Legal Aid can be reached through their website; income eligibility requirements apply, and they do not handle all case types.
Warrants and Criminal Records
Does the Sheriff's Office provide background checks?
The Sheriff's Warrants and Records Division does not provide employment background checks. For residents who have lived only in Tennessee, the county directs them to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation background-check resource. The Warrants Division does conduct local checks for certain purposes, including booking, criminal warrants, citations, ex partes, and orders of protection, and provides court dispositions for records found in the county. See the arrest records page for more on how criminal history searches work.
How do I find out if there is a Rutherford County warrant?
No official public active-warrant search portal was found in the static official pages reviewed. The Sheriff's Warrants and Records Division can be reached at (615) 898-7777. For warrants tied to a pending case, also contact the clerk for that court. If you think there may be an active warrant against you, speak with an attorney before you appear in person, since some warrants can result in immediate booking. The warrant records page covers all known search options.
Are juvenile records public?
Generally, no. Tennessee juvenile records are subject to strict confidentiality rules under Tenn. Code Ann. section 37-1-153. Access is usually limited to the parties, their attorneys, certain agencies, or persons with a statutory right or a court order. The Tennessee AOC notes that juvenile records practices vary by county. Juvenile records are not treated as ordinary adult criminal records and are not available through the standard public case search portal.
How do I expunge a Rutherford County criminal record?
Expungement is governed by Tennessee Code section 40-32-101 and related statutes. The process starts in the court that handled the charge. Eligibility depends on the disposition and the offense: dismissed charges, acquittals, nolle prosequi dispositions, diversion completions, and some convictions each follow different rules. After a court grants expungement, the order goes to the arresting agency, the county jail, TDOC, and TBI. Contact the clerk or an attorney for your specific case; clerks cannot give legal advice on whether you qualify.
Where do I check Tennessee state prison status?
Use Tennessee FOIL at foil.app.tn.gov. The search accepts last name, first name, race, TDOC ID, or State ID Number, with an option to include aliases. A captcha is required. FOIL warns that TDOC and the Board of Parole do not warrant the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information shown.
Where do I check federal inmate status?
Use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. It covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to present. You can search by BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, or INS Number, or by first and last name. The BOP notes that First Step Act sentence recalculations may affect release dates shown, and a person listed as released may still be on supervision or in another system.
The Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association sponsors a free legal clinic each Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Spring Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
The bar association also maintains an attorney directory for residents who need paid representation; the directory is a starting point when free options do not fit your situation.
The Tennessee Supreme Court also created Justice for All, a statewide hub of plain-language legal help for self-represented people.
It pairs well with the Thursday clinic when you need to handle a Rutherford County court matter on your own.
Free Legal Help in Rutherford County
What free legal resources are available?
Several options exist for people who cannot afford an attorney. The Chancery FAQ points self-represented litigants to Justice for All, a website created by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Tennessee Courts Self-Help Center has court forms and plain-language guides. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands offers free civil legal help to qualifying residents. The Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association runs a free Thursday clinic at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Spring Street, Murfreesboro. For criminal matters, the District Public Defender for the 16th Judicial District is at 118 North Church Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, phone (615) 898-8020. For domestic violence or orders of protection, the crisis line is (615) 896-7377.
Filing fees may sometimes be waived. Chancery Court's FAQ says litigants who believe they qualify as indigent can submit an Affidavit of Indigency with their filing. If a judge approves it, the initial filing fee is deferred. At the end of the case, costs are assessed against a party, divided, or in rare cases waived by court order. The public records page covers how to request other county documents when no court filing is involved. For a full list of the offices that keep records, the Circuit Court and traffic court records pages also include contact details relevant to those record types.