Tennessee public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to records on individuals, such as vital records and criminal records.

State of Tennessee public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on TN public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which individuals may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the laws that control Tennessee public access to all types of records

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for Tennessee is a law that typically guides access to Tennessee court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. Tennessee criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.

I recommend: The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government summarizes the laws in Tennessee that permit the access of public records. Tennessee State University provides the regulations regarding a request for public records in Tennessee.

Study the laws that affect access to free Tennessee public records on individuals

Public records laws control access to Tennessee bankruptcy records, criminal history and Tennessee birth certificates for individuals. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.

I recommend: My Tennessee Genealogy provides extensive information on the laws in Washington County for accessing genealogical information, such as birth certificates. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has a FAQ on the rules for running background checks on individuals in Tennessee.

Review the Tennessee public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.

I recommend: The Tennessee State Library and Archives provides an overview of the laws that control the access of government records in Tennessee. Knox County describes the government records that are accessible to the public under Tennessee law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Tennessee public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access state of Tennessee public records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by the federal, state and local governments, who in turn determine their availability. Although state of Tennessee public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching public records in TN, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in your state, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure that the free Tennessee public records you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching public records. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search TN public records for information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Tennessee county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices, and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online resources.

Consider checking Tennessee court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run a Tennessee background check on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation can help you obtain criminal records. Additionally, public access to TN court records is available at Public Records Information.

Track down anyone with a Tennessee public records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find records of marriage, divorce, birth and death at the Tennessee Department of Health. Public People Finder can help you track someone down using a variety of information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as Tennessee arrest records, are collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on outstanding debts and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Tennessee public records applications and uses are becoming more common due to their increasing accessibility through the Internet. Increased access to public records has led to the growth of the information broker industry, which uses public records to build profiles on millions of people and provides information to anyone who pays a fee. Individuals who know where to look also may be able to search public records for free. Access to public records is controlled at the federal level by the Freedom of Information Act and Tennessee has its own version of this legislation.

There are a variety of professionals who may have an interest in free Tennessee public records. These include the following three general categories:

1. Genealogical research on state of TN public records. Researchers use older vital records to locate ancestors or other people of historical interest. These records may be available from genealogical societies, public libraries and government agencies.
2. Background checks. Employers are making more frequent use of criminal records to investigate the personal history of job applicants.
3. News reports. Reporters and other people with an interest in government activity may wish to access public records on meetings and voting records.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use TN court records to research the founders of a business

Tennessee vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates, frequently are helpful for getting information about the early owners of a company and researching the history of a business. Vital records in Tennessee become publicly available after a specified period of time and are of genealogical, rather than personal, interest.

I recommend: The Tennessee Department of Health offers vital records in Tennessee, including birth certificates since 1914. Tennessee State Library and Archives has older vital records for genealogical research.

Search state of Tennessee public records to perform background checks

Law enforcement officials, private detectives and prospective employers may use Tennessee arrest records to investigate an individual's background. Access to Tennessee criminal records tends to be more restricted than access to other types of public records, and may require the subject's permission.

I recommend: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation provides two methods for obtaining background checks in Tennessee. Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup offers a search of individuals with a felony record in Tennessee.

Obtain Tennessee public access to records for the purpose of reporting on government activity

Reporters frequently use government records in Tennessee, such as voting records and meeting minutes. Access to these types of public records is controlled by Tennessee's Sunshine laws. There are organizations of journalists and ordinary citizens that work to keep government records in Tennessee available to the public.

I recommend: The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government provides a variety of resources for obtaining public records in Tennessee, including a summary of the Tennessee Public Records Act. The Tennessee Department of State allows access to the financial records of registered charities.

Finding public records can be an overwhelming task without a good understanding of how and where records are kept. Make sure you know a few key terms that will help you expedite your records search before you begin.

Review which records are public and which you can easily find via online databases such as vital statistics and other Tennessee public record information. Knowing terms you'll be seeing can help you find the information you need a lot faster.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Assessment

Real estate assessment records are kept for all properties in the state of Tennessee and are available on a public search engine. The information includes property descriptions, property owner information, tax assessment information and other property characteristics.

I recommend: State of Tennessee Real Estate Assessment Data is available online on the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury's website.

Records Management Division

The Records Management Division is a sector of the Tennessee government that files all types of public records. It is also the general public record information headquarters for answers to access questions.

I recommend: Review what the Records Management Division does at the Tennessee Department of General Services website.

Vital records

The term vital records refers marriage, divorce, birth, death and other records that Tennessee makes available to the public.

I recommend: A description of vital records is available on the Tennessee Department of Health's website.

Sex offender registry

The sex offender registry is a database of all offenders convicted of a sex crime in the state. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation keeps the registry up to date so the public can find out if offenders live in their areas.

I recommend: Visit the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation website to find out more about the sex offender registry.

Tax list

A tax list is an historical state document that lists all land and slave owners. The list is available to the public as a means of researching family geneology and community information.

I recommend: The Tennessee State Library and Archives explains the tax list and gives helpful information about how to search and use the information.

Unclaimed property

Unclaimed property is property the Tennessee government has acquired as a temporary custodian because the original owner could not be found. Property can include money owed from banks, insurance companies or other organizations or real property left in unclaimed deposit boxes and more. The original ownesr have the right to claim the property as their own.

I recommend: Visit the Tennessee website to find out more about unclaimed property or to link to the state's unclaimed property search engine.