McMinn County
McMinn County was established in 1819 by the Tennessee General Assembly. Its land area is about 430.1 square miles, and its estimated population is 53,532. The county seat is the City of Athens.
McMinn County's court structure comprises a Circuit Court, a Criminal Court, a Chancery Court, a General Session Court, a Juvenile Court, and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil cases and receives appeals from the General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts. The Criminal Court handles felonies and misdemeanor appeals from lower courts. The Chancery Court deals with adoptions and domestic relations cases. The General Session Court conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases and handles cases involving misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil cases with claims less than $25,000. Cases involving minors, such as determination of custody, establishment of parentage, and adjudication of children as dependent and neglected, abused, status/unruly, or delinquent, are handled by the Juvenile Court. In some towns and cities, the Municipal or City Courts address traffic infractions and ordinance violations.
McMinn County public court records include documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, and microfilms created or received during legal proceedings. The McMinn County Circuit Court Clerk prepares and files all Circuit, Criminal, General Session, and Juvenile Courts records. The Clerk and Master is the custodian of court records in the Chancery Court. The following court records are available to the public:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Traffic records
- Family law records
- Probate records
The Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) allows interested persons to access court records in McMinn County. These court records are accessible to the public by visiting the clerk's office at the designated location.
1317, South White Street
Athens, TN 37303
Phone: (423) 745-1923 (Circuit/Criminal Court)
Phone: (423) 745-1923 (General Sessions/Juvenile Court)
Phone: (423) 745-1281 (Chancery Court)
Fax: (423) 744-1652
According to Title 8-21-401 of the Tennessee Annotated Code, the fee for obtaining court records is $0.50 per page and a $5 fee for certification. The public may search McMinn County criminal, circuit, and general session court records online through the Online Court Records System. Municipal Court records are available to all individuals at the respective courthouses.
