Located in the southwestern part of Tennessee, Shelby County, with a population of over 927,000 and a landmass of 2,030 square kilometers, is the state's largest county in population and geographic area. Founded in 1819, it is named after Governor Isaac Shelby of Kentucky and has its county seat in Memphis.

Courts in Shelby County

Shelby County court system comprises a Circuit Court, Chancery Court, General Session Court, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts. The Shelby County Circuit Court presides over all civil and criminal cases and shares jurisdiction with the lower courts in certain types of lawsuits, such as contract cases, divorce, and all criminal cases. The Chancery Court has exclusive authority over equity lawsuits, such as civil equity cases and real estate boundaries. The General Sessions Court has a Criminal and Civil Division that handles civil disputes and felonies and misdemeanor criminal cases, such as the recovery of personal property and drug trafficking lawsuits.

The Juvenile Court has exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency cases. It also presides over child abuse, unruly minors, and violation of parental responsibilities cases. The Probate Court oversees the administration of a deceased estate and has the authority to hear cases involving conservatorships, guardianship, and wills and estates. The Municipal Courts preside over cases involving municipal violations such as driving without a license and reckless driving.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Shelby County

Shelby County public court records refer to documents maintained by the courts that are open to the general public for viewing and copying. Record seekers can access public court records from the Chancery, Circuit, and General Session Court using the CourtConnect. Probate Court records from October 2013 to the present are also available on the CourtConnect Portal. Probate Court records before October 2013 are accessible using the Probate Case Information PW1 portal. Public court records from the Juvenile Court are available at the Central Records Department. Interested persons may also request public court records in person at the various courthouse locations or mail written requests for the records.

Types of Public Court Records in Shelby County

The following court records are open to the general public in Shelby County:

• Civil Court Records: They include landlord/tenant disputes, property disputes, and small claims
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including drug trafficking, robberies, burglaries, driving under the influence, and disorderly conduct
• Probate Court Records: Court records from the administration of a deceased estate, such as wills, guardianships, and trusts
• Family Court Records: Such as divorce decrees, spousal support, child custody

Confidential Court Records in Shelby County

Confidential court records in Shelby County refer to court papers and documents exempted from public view. Confidential records are sealed by the courts or restricted from the public by state or federal laws. Confidential court records usually contain sensitive or personal information that could jeopardize a person’s privacy or safety if made public. Some confidential court records in Shelby County include:

• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets
• Juvenile court records
• Intellectual property
• Employment and human resources records

In addition, personal identifying information such as tax identification number, bank account and credit/debit card details, Social Security numbers, addresses, and personal email addresses contained in court records are excluded from public view. Usually, the court redacts this information from public court records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Shelby, TN

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

In 2016, a total of 97 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Shelby County. Of that total, 4% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 4 court cases. Another 95% were dependency cases that accounted for 92 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Shelby County, TN

https://www.tn.gov/

County Seat:	Memphis
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1819
Total Square Miles:	785
2019 Population:	936,961
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Shelby County, TN Courts