Tennessee Court Records

United States   Tennessee    Court Records

If your ancestors were ever in court as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors, they may be in court records. They may have participated in cases of probate, naturalization, divorce, debt, adoption, guardianship, licenses, appointment to public office, taxes, civil and criminal lawsuits, property disputes, crimes, or any other matters brought before a court.

Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence. They often provide occupations, descriptions, and other family history information.

Tennessee courts having records of genealogical value are as follows:

1796–1809:  Courts of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions were county courts with jurisdiction in minor matters: taxes, budget, probate, and minor civil and criminal cases.

1796–1809 : Superior Courts of Law and Equity covered specific regions of the state and handled larger civil and equity cases. They were the predecessors of the Circuit and Supreme Courts.

1809–1834:  Court of Pleas had jurisdiction over minor matters.

1809–present:  Circuit Courts are courts of law. They decide whether the parties involved in a case are guilty or innocent. They handle cases such as divorce, theft, murder, assault, gambling, and bastardy. After 1847 some Circuit Courts divided into: Criminal Courts for State cases, and Civil Courts for cases between individuals.

1809–present : Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts. Until 1834 they limited their scope to law cases. After that date they receive appeals of all cases.

1822–1834:  Chancery Division of Supreme Court handled larger equity cases.

1834–present:  County Courts handle business matters only, no disputes. They deal with probate, proving wills, apprentice bonds, tax adjustments, providing for paupers and “idiots,” and road crew appointments.

1834–present : Chancery Courts handle any equity case, including estate, land, and claims against public officials. These courts handled slave ownership disputes.

Original court records are kept either in the county courthouse or in the State Archives. Some court records have been transcribed and published.

Tennessee Supreme Court Records
Many surviving Superior Court case files are at the Tennessee State Library and Archives and are accessible through a card file in the Manuscript Reading Room. Extracts of cases between 1791 and 1820 are in:


 * Sherrill, Charles A. Tennesseans in Court: 2,500 Early Settlers found in Supreme Court Reports, 1791–1820. Mt. Juliet, Tennessee: Charles A. Sherrill, 1999. (Family History Library book 976.8 P2s;) Extracts contain names, places, the nature of the case being tried, and personal information included in the case. The volumes described by this book are at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Digitized Supreme Court Records When accessing these records online, view the book as a PDF file in Google Books. This will allow you to use the search feature to look for indivdual names or localities found within each court case.


 * [1813-1818] Cooper, William F. Tennessee Reports: Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Highest Courts of Law and Equity in the State of Tennessee. St Louis: Soule, Thomas and Windsor, 1870. Free digital copy. Appendix with early cases.
 * [1816-1819] Bigelow, Melville M.Reports of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals of Tennessee: 3, 4, and 5 Haywood in One Volume, with Notes and References. New York: Hurd and Houghton, 1870. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1833] Yerger, George S. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: Hall and Heiskell, 1834. Free digital copy.
 * [1836-1837] Yerger, George S. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: Hall and Heiskell, 1891. Free digital copy.
 * [1838-1839] Meigs, J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: S. Nye and Co., 1839. Free digital copy.
 * [1838-1839] Cooper, William F. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Highest Courts of Law and Equity in the State of Tennessee.  St Louis: Soule, Thomas and Windsor, 1870. Free digital copy.
 * [1839-1840] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: J. George Harris, 1841. Free digital copy.
 * [1840-1841] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: A.M. &amp; J.B. Rosborough, 1842. Free digital copy.
 * [1842] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee.  Nashville: W. F. Bang, 1843. Free digital copy.
 * [1843] Haynes, Milton A. South-western Law Journal and Reporter.  Nashville: Cameron and Hall Publishers, 1844. Free digital copy.
 * [1843-1844] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: W. F. Bang, 1844. Free digital copy.
 * [1844-1845] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville: W.F. Bang, 1845. Free digital copy. Free digital copy.
 * [1846-1847] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: W.F. Bang and Co., 1847. Free digital copy.
 * [1847-1848] Humphreys, West H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: W.F. Bang and Co., 1849. Free digital copy.
 * [1853-1854] Sneed, John L. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: M'Kennie &amp; Brown Publishers, 1855. Free digital copy.
 * [1854-1855] Sneed, John L. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: M'Kennie &amp; Brown Publishers, 1856. Free digital copy.
 * [1855-1856] Sneed, John L. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: M'Kennie &amp; Brown Publishers, 1857. Free digital copy.
 * [1858] Head, John W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: J.O. Griffith and Co., 1860. Free digital copy.
 * [1858-1859] Head, John W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: J.O. Griffith and Co., 1860. Free digital copy.
 * [1859-1860] Head, John W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: J.O. Griffith and Co., 1866. Free digital copy.
 * [1860-1861] Coldwell, Thomas H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: S.C. Mercer, 1867. Free digital copy.
 * [1868] Coldwell, Thomas H.Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: S.C. Mercer, 1869. Free digital copy.
 * [1868-1869] Coldwell, Thomas H. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: S.C. Mercer, 1870. Free digital copy.
 * [1870, Eastern Division] Heiskell, Joseph B. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Jones, Purvis &amp;Co., 1870. Free digital copy.
 * [1871-1872] Heiskell, Joseph B. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Jones, Purvis &amp;Co., 1871. Free digital copy.
 * [1870-1871, Middle Division] Heiskell, Joseph B. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Jones, Purvis &amp;Co., 1871. Free digital copy.
 * [1871, Eastern Division] Heiskell, Joseph B. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Tavel, Eastman,&amp; Howell, 1874.
 * [1872, Eastern Division] Heiskell, Joseph B. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Tavel, Eastman &amp; Howell., 1873. Free digital copy.
 * [1872, Middle Division] Baxter, Jere. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: James Browne, 1878. Free digital copy.
 * [1872-1873, Middle Division] Baxter, Jere.Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: James Browne, 1873. Free digital copy.
 * [1872 Middle and 1874 Western Division] Baxter, Jere Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Tavel, Eastman,&amp; Howell, 1880. Free digital copy.
 * [1873-1874, Middle Division] Baxter, Jere. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: James Browne, 1878. Free digital copy.
 * [1875] Barclay, Wilbur F. A Manual of Tennessee Corporations : containing the Corporation act of 1875...with Notes from the decisions of the Supreme Court. Nashville, Tennessee: University Press, 1892. Free digital copy.
 * [1874-1875, Eastern Division, 1874-1876 MIddle Division, 1876 Western Division] Baxter, Jere. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: James Browne, 1880. Free digital copy.
 * [1874-1875, Middle Division] Baxter, Jere. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Tavel, Eastman &amp; Howell, 1879. Free digital copy.
 * [1875-1876, Middle Division] Baxter, Jere. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: James Browne, 1879. Free digital copy.
 * [1875-1877] Baxter, Jere. The Legal Reporter: A Monthly Publication of the Recent and Important Opinions Delivered by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Legal Reporter Printing House, 1878. Free digital copy.
 * [1876-1877] Baxter, Jere. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Tavel, Eastman,&amp; Howell, 1881. Free digital copy.
 * [1879 Eastern and Middle Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Tavel, Eastman,&amp; Howell, 1880. Free digital copy.
 * [1879 Middle Division, 1880 Western Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall &amp; Bruce, 1881. Free digital copy.
 * [1881 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1882 Western Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1882. Free digital copy.
 * [1882 Western and Eastern Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1882. Free digital copy.
 * [1883 Western and Eastern Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1883. Free digital copy.
 * [1883 Western and Eastern Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1883. Free digital copy.
 * [1884] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1885. Free digital copy.
 * [1885] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1886. Free digital copy.
 * [1885 Middle Division, 1886 Western Division] Lea, Benjamin J. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Albert B. Tavel, 1886. Free digital copy.
 * [1887 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1888 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1888. Free digital copy.
 * [1888 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1889 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1889. Free digital copy.
 * [1890] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1891. Free digital copy.
 * [1891-1892 Eastern Division, 1891 Middle Division, 1892 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1892. Free digital copy.
 * [1892 Eastern Division and Middle Division, 1893 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1893. Free digital copy.
 * [1893-1894 Western and Eastern Divisions, 1893 Middle Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1895. Free digital copy.
 * [1894 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1895 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1895. Free digital copy.
 * [1895] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1896. Free digital copy.
 * [1895 Middle Division, 1896 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1897. Free digital copy.
 * [1896 Western Division, 1896 Eastern Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1897. Free digital copy.
 * [1896 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1897 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1898. Free digital copy.
 * [1897 Western and Eastern Divisions] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1898. Free digital copy.
 * [1897 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1898 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1898. Free digital copy.
 * [1898 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1899 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1899. Free digital copy.
 * [1898 Middle Division, 1899 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1900. Free digital copy.
 * [1899] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1900. Free digital copy.
 * [1900 Western and Eastern Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1901. Free digital copy.
 * [1900 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1901 Western Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1901. Free digital copy.
 * [1901 Western and Eastern Division] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1902. Free digital copy.
 * [1901 Eastern and Middle Divisions, 1902 Western Divisions] Pickle, George W. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, Stationers, 1903. Free digital copy.
 * [1902 Eastern and Middle Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Louisville, Kentucky: Fetter Law Book Co., 1903. Free digital copy.
 * [1902 Middle and 1903 Western Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1904. Free digital copy.
 * [1903 Eastern Division] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1904. Free digital copy.
 * [1903-1904 Eastern Division, 1903 Middle Division and 1904 Western Division] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1905. Free digital copy.
 * [1904 All Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1905. Free digital copy.
 * [1904 Middle Division and 1905 Western Division] Cates, Charles T.Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1906. Free digital copy.
 * [1905 All Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1906. Free digital copy.
 * [1905 Middle Division and 1906 Western Division] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1907. Free digital copy.
 * [1906 All Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1906. Free digital copy.
 * [1906 Middle Division and 1907 Western Division] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1906. Free digital copy.
 * [1907 Western and Eastern Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1908. Free digital copy.
 * [1908-1909 Middle Division, 1909 Western and Eastern Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1910. Free digital copy.
 * [1910 Middle and 1911 Western Divisions] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1912. Free digital copy.
 * [1913] Cates, Charles T. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1914. Free digital copy.
 * [1913 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1914 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1914. Free digital copy.
 * [1914 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1915 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee Vol IV. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1915. Free digital copy.
 * [1914 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1915 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee Vol V. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1915. Free digital copy.
 * [1915 All Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee Vol VI. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1916. Free digital copy.
 * [1915 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1916 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee Vol VII. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1916. Free digital copy.
 * 1915 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1916 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee Vol VIII. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1916. Free digital copy.
 * [1917 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1918 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1918. Free digital copy.
 * [1918 Eastern and Middle Divisions and 1919 Western Divisions] Thompson, Frank M. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Columbia Missouri: E.W. Stephens Publisher, 1919. Free digital copy.

Acts of Tennessee
Since its territorial days, the Tennessee state legislature has passed acts affecting the lives of individual citizens. The acts may include such things as divorces, legitimizing children, compensation for government service,and road and ferry authorization. TSLA has a online index to names found in the acts for the years 1796-1850. Copies of acts can be ordered from TSLA.

In 1940, the W.P.A. published a Check List of Acts and Codes of the State of Tennessee, 1792-1939. This survey is available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no. 12. The following Tennessee Act books have been digitized and made available for free online, courtesy Google Books and Internet Archive:


 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1836. Nashville: S. Nye and Co., 1836.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1838. Nashville:  S. Nye and Co., 1838.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1839-1840. Nashville: J. Geo. Harris, 1840.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1841-1842. Murfreesboro: D. Cameron &amp; Co., 1842.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1846. Knoxville: James C. Moses, Register Office, 1846.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1847-1848. Jackson: Printed by Gates and Parker, 1848.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1850. Nashville: McKennie and Watterson, 1850.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1851-1852. Nashville: Bang &amp; McKennie, 1852.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1853-1854. Nashville: McKennie &amp; Brown, 1854.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1855-1856. Nashville: G.C. Torbett and Company, 1856.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1857-1858. Nashville: G.C. Torbett and Company, 1858.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1858. Nashville: G.C. Torbett and Company, 1858.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1859-1860. Nashville: Eastman &amp; Co., 1860.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1861. Nashville: J.G. Griffith and Co, 1861.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1861. Nashville: Eastman &amp; Co., 1861.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1861-1862. Nashville: Griffith, Camp &amp; Co., 1862.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1865. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1865.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1865-1866. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1866.
 * Acts and Resolutions of the State of Tennessee, July 1866. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1866.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1866-1867. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1866.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1867-1868. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1868.
 * Acts and Resolutions of the State of Tennessee, Extra Session, 1868. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1868.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1868-1869. Nashville: S.C. Mercer, 1869.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1869-1870. Nashville: Jones, Purvis &amp; Co., 1870.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1870-1871. Nashville: Jones, Purvis &amp; Co., 1871.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1871. Nashville: Jones, Purvis &amp; Co., 1871.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1873. Nashville: Jones, Purvis &amp; Co., 1873.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1875. Nashville: Tavel, Eastman &amp; Howell, 1875.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1877. Nashville: Tavel, Eastman &amp; Howell, 1877.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1879. Nashville: Tavel, Eastman &amp; Howell, 1880.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1881. Nashville: Tavel &amp; Howell, 1881.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1882. Nashville: Albert B. Tavel, 1882.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1885. Nashville: Albert B. Tavel, 1885.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, Extraordinary Session, 1885. Nashville: Marshall &amp; Bruce, 1885.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1887. Nashville: Marshall &amp; Bruce, 1887.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1889. Nashville: Marshall &amp; Bruce, 1889.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1891. Nashville: Albert B. Tavel, 1891.
 * Acts and Resolutions of the State of Tennessee, 1897. Nashville: Franc. M. Paul, 1897.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1898. Nashville: Marshall &amp; Bruce Co., 1898.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1901. Nashville: Brandon Printing Company, 1901.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1905. Nashville: Brandon Printing Company, 1905.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1909. Nashville: McQuiddy Printing Company, 1909.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1911. Nashville: McQuiddy Printing Company, 1911.
 * Acts of the State of Tennessee, 1913. Nashville: McQuiddy Printing Company, 1913. [Mislabeled 1911 at Internet Archive.]


 * Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Chicago: Callaghan and Co., 1882. Free digital copy.

Other Resources

 * Caldwell, Joshua William. Sketches of the Bench and Bar of Tennessee. Knoxville, Tennessee: Ogden Brother and Co., 1898. Free digital copy.  History of early Tennessee courts and the men who served there.


 * Hicks, Wesley Jones. The Tennessee Manual of Chancery Pleading and Practice. Nashville, Tennessee: Marshall and Bruce, 1883. Free digital copy.  Equity pleading and proceeding in late-1800 Tennessee courts.


 * Rose, Christine. Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures. San Jose, California: CR Publications, 2004. This book guides researchers through the records and processes of courthouses in the United States.


 * The Sourcebook of County Court Records: A Concise, Straightforward, and Informative Reference Manual to the Main and Secondary Repositories of American County Court House Records. Denver, Colorado: BRB Publications, 1992. (Family History Library book 973 P2sou.) Pages 436–48 describe Tennessee. Each chapter begins with a summary of the state court system, state vital records, and the state criminal record repository.


 * Tennessee Libraries and Archives. Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee. Consult this table to learn the year and the disaster which might have affected records filed at several Tennessee county offices.

The following research guide, prepared by a Certified Genealogist, includes a useful guide for Tennessee court records:


 * Bamman, Gale Williams. "Research in Tennessee," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 81, No. 2 (Jun. 1993): 109-111. FHL US/CAN Book 973 B2ng v. 81 (1993).

See the United States Court Records article for more detailed information on court records. Refer to Tennessee Guardianship, Tennessee Probate Records, and Tennessee Naturalization and Citizenship for information about specific court records. See the Tennessee Archives and Libraries article for facilities with regional collections which might include court records.

Court records are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

TENNESSEE - COURT RECORDS

TENNESSEE, [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS