Sullivan County, Tennessee Court Records
Sullivan County court records are the official records that document proceedings in the county courts. These records track all paperwork, hearings, court orders, and final decisions in civil, criminal, probate, and family law cases. These records help keep the court process open, protect people’s legal rights, and help enforce court decisions.
Trial courts in Sullivan County are mainly responsible for keeping these records. When a complaint, petition, or criminal charge is filed, court clerks create and manage the case files. Every filing, motion, order, and judgment is added to the official record kept by the clerk’s office. The process follows the Tennessee Public Records Act and the Supreme Court Rules on Public Access to Court Records.
Court records are linked to other public records kept by different agencies. For example, vital records from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, arrest records from local law enforcement, and federal case files from the U.S. District Court can all relate to or add to Sullivan County court records.
Are Sullivan County Court Records Public?
Yes. Under Supreme Court Rules Rule 34: Public Access To Court Records, Sullivan County court records are open to the public. Criminal, civil, probate, and family court cases are generally accessible to interested persons. However, the following records are confidential and closed to public inspection:
- Documents excepted under the Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-504) or state law (T.C.A. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A))
- Adoption records
- Juvenile records
- Documents sealed or protected by court order
- Unpublished drafts of judicial orders and opinions
- Copies of motions, briefs, or petitions furnished privately to a judge
- Judicial staff notes, memoranda, and deliberative records not filed as part of the case record.
- Internal case management information
- Judge recusal information not filed as part of the case record.
- Any record whose disclosure would interfere with or undermine the judicial function
What Information is Available in Sullivan County Court Records?
Usually, a Sullivan County court record contains the following information:
- Case number and filing date assigned by the court clerk
- Names of parties involved in the case
- Criminal charges, civil claims, and legal petitions filed with the court
- Motions, pleadings, and documents submitted during proceedings
- Hearing dates and court schedules
- Judicial rulings, orders, and final judgments
- Sentencing and penalty details in criminal cases
Sullivan County Court Records Search
Interested persons may search and obtain Sullivan County court records through three primary access methods.
- Online Access: Sullivan County court records are available through the third-party service referenced on the Chancery Court website. Requestors should visit the court website and select Online Court Records Look-up to begin a search.
- In-Person Access: Court offices located in Blountville, Bristol, and Kingsport operate Monday through Friday (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m). Public access terminals inside clerk offices allow interested persons to search the case management system and request physical files for inspection. A valid Tennessee citizenship photo identification may be required before access. Record inspection remains free of charge.
- Phone and Mail Requests: Court record inquiries may be directed to the appropriate Sullivan County records custodian. Contact numbers appear under the Public Records Request Coordinator (PRRC) section in Section III, A.3 of the county’s Public Records Policy.
For mailed requests, requestors can mail a completedSullivan County Public Records Request Form to the appropriate records custodian listed in the Public Records Request Coordinator (PRRC) section in Section III, A.3 of the county’s Public Records Policy.
Fees for Court Records in Sullivan County
The following fees apply to court records and vital records in Sullivan County:
Court Records
- Standard photocopy: $0.50 per page
- Certified copy: $5.00 per document plus $0.50 per page
- Probate records copy: $1.00 per page.
- Certified probate copy: $2.00 per page plus $2.00 for the certificate
- Archives and records management fee: $3.00 per case
- Online access: Free for basic case information
Vital Records
The Sullivan County Regional Health Department issues birth and death records. The County Clerk handles marriage and divorce records.
- Birth records: $15.00 per certified copy
- Death records: $15.00 per certified copy
- Marriage records (in-person): $5.00
- Marriage records (by mail): $7.00
- Divorce records: $15.00
Sullivan County Courthouse Locations
The Sullivan County court system comprises Chancery Courts, Circuit Courts, General Sessions Courts, Juvenile Courts, and Municipal Courts. Below are all of the county’s courthouse locations and contact details:
Sullivan County Chancery Court - Blountville
Sullivan County Justice Center
140 Blountville Bypass,
Blountville, TN 37617
Phone: (423) 323-6483
Sullivan County Chancery Court - Bristol
Ralph P. Harr Justice Center
801 Anderson Street,
Room 239, Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 989-4363
Sullivan County Chancery Court - Kingsport
225 West Center Street,
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 224-1726
Sullivan County Circuit Court - Blountville
Sullivan County Justice Center
140 Blountville Bypass,
Blountville, TN 37617
Phone: (423) 279-2752
Sullivan County Circuit Court - Bristol
Ralph P. Harr Justice Center
801 Anderson Street,
Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 652-1030
Sullivan County Circuit Court - Kingsport
Kingsport City Hall
225 West Center Street,
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 224-1724
Sullivan County General Sessions Court - Bristol
Ralph P. Harr Justice Center
801 Anderson Street,
Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 989-4352
Sullivan County General Sessions Court - Kingsport
Kingsport Justice Center
200 Shelby Street,
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 224-1711
Sullivan County Juvenile Court - Bristol
Ralph P. Harr Justice Center
801 Anderson Street,
Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 764-2163
Sullivan County Juvenile Court - Kingsport
Kingsport Justice Center
200 Shelby Street,
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 224-1730
Bluff City City Court
4391 Bluff City Highway,
Bluff City, TN 37618
Phone: (423) 538-7144
Municipal Annex
104 8th Street,
Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 989-5553
City Hall
801 Anderson Street,
Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 989-5500
607 East Myrtle Avenue,
Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 434-6200
601 East Main Street,
Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 434-6160
Kingsport Justice Center
200 Shelby Street,
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 229-9428
Criminal Records Access in Sullivan County
Official state-level criminal history checks in Tennessee are handled by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), not the county courts. For local criminal case records, interested persons can search Sullivan County Circuit through the online portal listed under "Online Court Records Look-up" on the County Chancery Court website, or conduct an in-person search at any Circuit Court Clerk’s office.
Sullivan County Probate Records
Sullivan County probate records document the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate and protecting vulnerable individuals. The Chancery Court, through the Clerk and Master, keeps all the county’s wills, probate filings, estate records, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Common Sullivan County probate records contain the following information:
- Wills and any changes made to these documents
- Papers giving someone authority to handle an estate when there is no will
- Simplified filings for estates with small amounts of property
- Court orders appointing guardians for minor children
- Court orders appointing conservators for adults unable to manage affairs
- Final accountings and asset lists showing how an estate was distributed
Recent filings are searchable online through the online portal listed under "Online Court Records Look-up" on the County Chancery Court website. To view older or more detailed estate records, an in-person visit to the Clerk and Master’s office is required. Some probate records, like medical and psychological reports in conservatorship cases and records about minors, are confidential and not open to the public by law.
County | Court Name | Address | Phone Number | Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sullivan County | Chancery Court, Blountville | 140 Blountville Bypass, Blountville, TN 37617 | (423) 323-6483 | Mon-Fri, 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. |
Sullivan County | Chancery Court, Bristol | 801 Anderson Street, Room 239, Bristol, TN 37621 | (423) 989-4363 | Mon-Fri, 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. |
Sullivan County | Chancery Court, Kingsport | 225 West Center Street, Kingsport, TN 37660 | (423) 224-1726 | Mon-Fri, 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. |
Sullivan County Family Court Records
Sullivan County family court records include documents related to divorce, child custody, child support, and adoption. Different court offices are responsible for different records. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records for divorce, custody, and support proceedings, while the Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court preserves records related to adoption cases and other complex domestic relations filings.
Interested persons can search trial-level family court records through the online portal listed under "Online Court Records Look-up" on the County Chancery Court website. Physical inspection of records is free at any clerk’s office during business hours. Adoption and juvenile records are confidential and restricted by law. The following are eligible to access sealed adoption records:
- The adult adoptee
- Adoptive parents
- Biological parents who have not had parental rights terminated
- Persons who obtain a court order showing good cause
Federal Court Records in Sullivan County
Sullivan County federal cases fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The Greeneville Division handles federal matters for the county. Interested persons can access federal court records through the federal court clerk’s office or through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER provides online access to federal case filings, dockets, and documents. A fee of $0.10 per page applies to documents retrieved through PACER.