Montgomery County was founded in 1796 and named after John Montgomery, a soldier in the American War of Independence. Its county seat, the City of Clarksville, is the fifth most populous city in Tennessee. According to the US Census Bureau, about 220,000 persons live in Montgomery County.

Courts in Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil lawsuits. It typically presides over criminal trials for felony offenses. Residents can appeal decisions from other lower courts in the county to the Circuit Court. Legal proceedings involving the restoration of citizenship are exclusive to the Circuit Court.

Montgomery County has a Chancery Court tasked with resolving most civil and probate cases. Examples of civil cases brought before Montggomery’s Chancery Court include divorce cases, contract disputes with no financial limit, and adoption matters. Civil litigations filed by the State against corporations located in the county are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court. The court also handles probate of wills, administration of estates, conservatorships, and guardianships.

The General Sessions Court typically presides over limited civil and criminal cases in Montgomery County. Criminal cases often handled by this court include misdemeanor trials, felony preliminary hearings, and some ordinance violations. On the other hand, the court handles civil cases involving restraining orders, personal property recoveries, and domestic relations. All legal matters related to minors are filed at the Montgomery County Juvenile Court, a division of the General Sessions Court. The only Municipal Court in Montgomery County is located in Clarksville. Most municipal ordinance violations, reckless driving, and juvenile traffic offenses are handled at the Municipal Court.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Montgomery County

The Circuit Court Clerk provides access to public court records filed in Montgomery County’s Circuit, General Sessions, and Juvenile Courts. Court documents available at the Circuit Clerk’s office include court dockets, case filings, transcripts, evidence lists, jury lists, court orders, plea bargains, and court judgments. Requesters can view court dockets online. The Circuit Clerk also provides easy access to other court records online. Individuals interested in obtaining paper copies of public court records can call, email, or visit the Circuit Clerk in person.

Court records filed at the Montgomery County Chancery Court are available at the Clerk and Master’s Office. To obtain these records, interested parties can send emails, call (931) 648-5703, or visit the office in person. Municipal court records are also obtainable from the City Court Clerk’s office.

Types of Public Court Records in Montgomery County

Court clerks in Montgomery County provide public access to the following court documents:

• Civil records
• Criminal court records
• Traffic court records
• Family records
• Probate records

Confidential Court Records in Montgomery County

Confidential court records in Montgomery County are documents exempted from the Tennessee Public Records Act. Examples of these records include:

• Medical records
• TBI’s investigative records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Sealed records
• Personal identifying information such as:
  • Social Security numbers
  • Government-issued driver licenses
  • Passport numbers
  • Employer or taxpayer-identification numbers
  • Financial information

Juvenile Delinquency in Montgomery, TN

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Montgomery County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Tennessee often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2016, a total of 3132 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Montgomery County. Of that total, 43% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1352 court cases. Another 15% were dependency cases that accounted for 476 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Montgomery County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Montgomery County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Montgomery County, TN

https://www.tn.gov/

County Seat:	Clarksville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1796
Total Square Miles:	544
2019 Population:	200,182
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Montgomery County, TN Courts