Claiborne County
Claiborne County was established in 1801 and named after William Charles Claiborne, former United States Senator. It is approximately 435 square miles in land area with a population of 32,092 residents. The county's most populous city is Harrogate, while the government seat is Tazewell.
Claiborne County has five trial courts, including Circuit, Chancery, General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts. The Claiborne County Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction over felony-related cases and civil lawsuits above $25,000. As the general jurisdiction court, the Circuit Court in Claiborne County can hear appeals from other subordinate courts. The General Sessions Court has limited jurisdiction over misdemeanors and civil lawsuits involving up to $25,000 in financial settlements. In Claiborne County, the Chancery Court rules on all probate matters, while the Juvenile Court handles legal proceedings involving minors. Judicial hearings involving ordinance violations are heard at the Municipal Courts in Claiborne County.
Claiborne County public court records are created and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. They provide details on legal proceedings, including case filings, dispositions, court orders, motions, pleadings, and other judgments. According to the Tennessee Public Records Act, the Circuit Court Clerk can allow anyone to access the following court records:
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Probate records
- Family law records
- Traffic records
This promotes transparency, accountability, and public trust in the county's judicial processes. Public case files are often required for research and journalistic purposes. Individuals interested in Claiborne County court records can send written requests by mail or in person at:
Claiborne County Circuit Clerk
415 Straight Creek Road, Suite 5
New Tazewell, TN 37825
Phone: (423) 626-3334
Email: circuitcourtclerk@claibornecountytn.gov
In Claiborne County, confidential court records such as juvenile and adoption records are not open to the public. These restricted records contain sensitive information on vulnerable persons. Only the record owners and their legal representatives can obtain confidential court records by visiting the Court Clerk. Interested parties may access some Claiborne County court records online using the Tennessee Public Case History search. While inspecting public court records is free of charge, the Circuit Court Clerk may include delivery and copying fees.
