Sullivan County
Established in 1779, Sullivan County is one of the state's oldest counties. It is located in northeastern Tennessee and named after Major-General John Sullivan, a Continental Army Officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. The county spans about 413.5 square miles, with a population of 158,722 residents. Its county seat is Blountville, while Kingsport is the largest city. Sullivan County's judicial system comprises the Circuit, Chancery, Criminal, General Sessions, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts.
Sullivan County Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases. Financial disputes exceeding $25,000, equity, and cases for the recovery of personal property and restoration of citizenship fall under its Civil Division, while the Criminal Division handles felony cases. It also serves as an appellate court for lower courts' decisions. The Chancery Court oversees probate of will, administration of estates, and all aspects of guardianships and conservatorships, while the Criminal Court manages criminal cases, including misdemeanors and felonies. Sullivan County's General Sessions Court has limited jurisdiction over preliminary hearings in all criminal cases, misdemeanor trials when jury has been waived, most violations of municipal ordinances, and general civil claims for less than $25,000, exclusive of attorney fees and costs. The Juvenile Court in Bristol is responsible for issues involving minors, such as child abuse and neglect, delinquency, termination of parental rights, truancy, and curfew violations. On the other hand, the Municipal Courts, including Bristol Municipal Court, have limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases such as misdemeanors, ordinances, and traffic violations.
Sullivan County public court records contain information about court filings, judgments, petitions, motions, writs, warrants, summonses, dockets, and subpoenas generated from legal proceedings within the county. They include:
- Criminal Court Records
- Civil Court Records
- Probate Court Records
- Family Court RecordsÂ
The Circuit Court Clerk maintains public records in Sullivan County, and the public can request access under the Tennessee Public Records Act and Supreme Court Rule 34. This promotes transparency and public trust in the judicial process. However, confidential records, including those involving juveniles, order of protection cases, adoptions, and medical information are restricted to the parties directly.
For those interested in accessing Sullivan County's court records, a public records request form can be submitted to the Sullivan County Circuit Court Clerk. Certain records may also be available through online portals, such as the Tennessee Public Case History Search with possible fees for copying and delivery.
