Marshall County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Marshall County?

Public records in Marshall County, Tennessee, are defined under the Tennessee Public Records Act as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files, and other material made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, all state, county, and municipal records are presumed open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute.

Members of the public may access a broad range of record types maintained by various Marshall County offices, including:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court documents maintained by the Marshall County Circuit and General Sessions Courts
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments recorded with the Register of Deeds
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates held by the Tennessee Department of Health and the County Clerk
Business records — business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by the County Clerk
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records maintained by the Trustee and Assessor of Property
Voting and election records — voter registration rolls and election results maintained by the Marshall County Election Commission
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission proceedings and board meeting records available through the County Mayor's office
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports maintained by the County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available through the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and planning documents maintained by the Marshall County Planning Commission

The Marshall County Tennessee official website serves as the primary portal for accessing county government offices and their respective record holdings.

Is Marshall County an Open Records County?

Marshall County fully complies with Tennessee's open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption of public access to government documents. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, every citizen of Tennessee has a right to inspect or obtain copies of any public record maintained by a governmental entity, and custodians of records are required to promptly make records available during normal business hours. The statute further provides that any denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific legal basis for the exemption.

Marshall County has adopted a formal public records policy that governs how requests are processed, designates records custodians within each department, and establishes timelines for response. This policy is consistent with Tennessee's Sunshine Law, codified at Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-44-101, which requires that all meetings of governing bodies be open to the public and that records of those proceedings be made available. The county's policy affirms that no requester is required to state a reason for seeking access to public records, in accordance with state law.

How to Find Public Records in Marshall County in 2026

Locating public records in Marshall County involves identifying the appropriate custodial office and submitting a request through the available channels. Members of the public may take the following steps:

Identify the record type and custodial office — Determine which county department maintains the record sought (e.g., the Register of Deeds for property documents, the County Clerk for vital and business records, or the Circuit Court Clerk for court filings).
Submit a written or in-person request — Requests may be submitted in person at the relevant office during normal business hours, by mail, or, where available, through the county's online portal.
Use the county's official website — The Marshall County government website provides department contact information and, in some cases, direct access to online records databases.
Access property assessment data online — Property owners and researchers may use the Tennessee Property Viewer maintained by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury to search parcel data, ownership information, and assessed values for Marshall County properties at no cost.
Contact the designated records custodian — Each county department has a designated public records custodian responsible for responding to requests. Custodians are required by state law to respond promptly, generally within seven business days.
Request copies or inspection — Requesters may choose to inspect records in person at no charge or request copies, which are subject to applicable fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Marshall County?

Current fees for public records in Marshall County are governed by state statute and the county's adopted fee schedule. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-506, custodians of records may charge reasonable fees for producing copies of public records, provided those fees do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Standard fees currently applicable in Marshall County include:

Paper copies — Typically $0.15 per page for standard black-and-white copies, consistent with state guidelines
Certified copies — Fees vary by record type; certified copies of vital records such as birth and death certificates are subject to fees set by the Tennessee Department of Health
Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies are assessed based on the actual cost of reproduction and any necessary staff time for compilation
Deed and instrument recording fees — The Register of Deeds charges statutory recording fees per instrument as established under Tennessee law
Extensive requests — Where a request requires more than one hour of staff time to fulfill, the custodian may charge for the actual cost of labor in addition to reproduction costs

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers are not broadly established by county ordinance; however, indigent requesters or members of the media may inquire with the relevant custodian regarding any applicable accommodations under state policy.

Does Marshall County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public under Tennessee law, which requires custodians to permit in-person inspection of records during normal business hours at no charge. The following resources currently provide free access to Marshall County records:

In-person inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the relevant county office without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested
Tennessee Property Viewer — The Tennessee Comptroller's property assessment tool provides free online access to Marshall County parcel data, ownership records, and assessed values
Marshall County official website — Meeting agendas, minutes, budget documents, and other government records are published at no cost on the Marshall County government portal
Tennessee Secretary of State — Business entity filings and registered agent information for entities operating in Marshall County are searchable at no charge through the Secretary of State's online database
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts — Certain court case information is accessible through the state's online case management system without charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Marshall County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, is entitled to request public records in Marshall County under Tennessee law. Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503 establishes that every citizen of Tennessee has the right to inspect public records; however, Tennessee courts and the Office of Open Records Counsel have interpreted this provision broadly to include non-residents in most circumstances.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be residents of Marshall County or the State of Tennessee to access most public records
Identification — Custodians may not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access, except for certain sensitive record categories
Statement of purpose — Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request under current Tennessee law
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are restricted to authorized parties only, regardless of residency
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity to verify eligibility
Non-resident rights — Non-residents retain the right to inspect and copy most categories of public records on the same terms as Tennessee residents

What Records Are Confidential in Marshall County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Marshall County offices are exempt from public disclosure under Tennessee law. Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504 exempts the following categories of records from mandatory public inspection:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Tennessee law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are redacted from publicly disclosed records
Medical records — Health information protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is not subject to public disclosure
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only to authorized parties pursuant to court order
Child welfare and protective services records — Records of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as name, title, and compensation of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public buildings and critical infrastructure are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodian is required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder, consistent with the balancing principles recognized under Tennessee open records law.

Marshall County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Marshall County Register of Deeds serves as the principal custodian of property-related public records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments affecting real property in the county.

Marshall County Register of Deeds 1 South Public Square, Suite 106, Lewisburg, TN 37091 (931) 359-0555 Marshall County Tennessee

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk 1 South Public Square, Lewisburg, TN 37091 (931) 359-1072 Marshall County Tennessee

Marshall County Clerk 1 South Public Square, Lewisburg, TN 37091 (931) 359-0495 Marshall County Tennessee

Office hours for the County Clerk are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Marshall County Trustee (Tax Records) 1 South Public Square, Suite 101, Lewisburg, TN 37091 (931) 359-1816 Marshall County Tennessee

Marshall County Sheriff's Office 302 Courthouse Square, Lewisburg, TN 37091 (931) 359-7816 Marshall County Tennessee