Bedford County
Bedford County was created in 1807 through a Tennessee law splitting Rutherford County into two separate counties. It was named after Thomas Bedford, a former military officer in the American Revolutionary War. The county has a land area of about 474 square miles with a population of 50,533 residents. Its county seat and largest city is Shelbyville.
There are five trial courts in Bedford County: the Circuit, Criminal, Chancery, General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court is Bedford County's general jurisdiction. It handles felonies, misdemeanors, workers' compensation cases, professional malpractices, and appeals from other trial courts. Bedford County has a General Sessions Court that presides over civil actions over $25,000 and preliminary hearings in all criminal cases.
The county's Chancery Court typically rules on non-criminal cases such as divorces, name changes, paternity disputes, and adoptions. It also acts as the Probate Court with jurisdiction over validations of wills, guardianships, arbitrations, distribution of real or personal property, and appointment of trustees. All legal proceedings involving child dependency, school truancy, unruly behavior, and delinquency are resolved at the Bedford County Juvenile Court. Meanwhile, the Municipal Courts hear traffic offenses and ordinance violations.
Bedford County public court records are official files or books detailing legal proceedings and judgments in various legal cases. These records may include information such as case filings, dockets, judgments, witness testimonies, and evidence presented. Court records are typically public to ensure transparency and uphold accountability in the county's justice system. However, confidential records, such as sealed or sensitive juvenile case files, are not public to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. The Tennessee Courts Rule 34 allows public access to the following public court records in Bedford County:
- Criminal records
- Civil court records
- Property records
- Probate records
- Small claims records
- Family records
- Traffic court records
The Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk keeps and disseminates court documents to eligible requesters. To obtain public case files, interested persons can contact the clerk at:
Bedford County Justice Complex
108 North Creek Drive, Suite 6
Shelbyville, TN 37160
Phone: (931) 684-3223
Anyone can view Bedford County court records online via Tennessee's Public Case History. To use the state's online search, users must provide the parties' names, organization names, or case numbers. Viewing court records online is free, but obtaining paper copies may involve copy fees.
