Van Buren County TN CourtHouse Court cases in Van Buren County, Spencer, TN
Van Buren County Circuit Court in Spencer, Tennessee, is a state Circuit Court (trial court of general jurisdiction) serving the county within the 31st Judicial District. It conducts jury and nonjury trials, hears civil cases exceeding General Sessions jurisdiction, and handles domestic relations matters such as divorce, child custody and support, and orders of protection. The court exercises criminal jurisdiction, including felony prosecutions and other criminal matters, and hears appeals by trial de novo from General Sessions and Juvenile Courts. Traffic matters come before the Circuit Court when they involve serious offenses or when traffic citations are appealed from lower courts.
Van Buren County TN CourtHouse Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Circuit Court |
| County: | Van Buren |
| Street Address: | 121 Taft Dr. |
| City: | Spencer |
| Zip Code: | 38585 |
| Phone: | 931-946-2153 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM |
| Website URL: | https://vanburencountytn.com/elected_officials/#circuit |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.tncourts.gov/administration/judicial-resources/forms-documents/court-forms |
| Languages: | English |
| Twitter: | https://twitter.com/TNCourts?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj-baker-98b55a145/ |
| ADA: | Melanie Stinson, Administrative Assistant |
| ADA Phone: | 931-473-5119 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | melanie.stinson@tncourts.gov |
| About / Additional Info: | The office of the Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for attending the Session, Circuit and Juvenile courts and providing the clerical function for the court. The Clerk also handles the collection, receipt and accounting for all litigation taxes, court costs, fines, fees and restitution as ordered by the court. The Clerk is responsible for the management of complaints, petitions, summons, orders and other document relating to lawsuits filed with the court. |
Services and Case Types Handled in Van Buren County TN CourtHouse
Van Buren County Circuit Court is the county's general-jurisdiction trial court serving the public by:
- Case types: felony criminal; major civil disputes; family law (divorce, custody, support); juvenile delinquency and child protection; and, where applicable, appeals from lower courts/administrative bodies.
- Case filings: opening cases; accepting pleadings, motions, forms, and fees; maintaining case records and calendars.
- Protective orders: processing and issuing personal protection/restraining orders and scheduling related hearings.
- Jury services: issuing summons, qualifying jurors, managing voir dire, deferrals, and attendance.
- Court hearings: scheduling arraignments, pretrials, trials, sentencings, motion hearings; posting public dockets; supporting remote or in-person appearances per rules.
- Public access: record searches, certified copies, payment of court-ordered costs, and self-help resources/forms.
The court's functional role is to adjudicate disputes, protect rights and safety, and provide accessible processes for resolving legal matters.