Henderson County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Henderson County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information through HendersonCountyRecords.us, which aggregates data related to public records maintained by county and state agencies. Henderson County, Tennessee maintains a range of official records that may be accessible to the public pursuant to state law. The records available through official channels may include, but are not limited to:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
- Vital records such as marriage licenses and death certificates
- Business licenses and permits
- Tax records and property assessments
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted by law)
- Land use, zoning, and planning documents
Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by Henderson County and the State of Tennessee.
Online Access: The Henderson County Tennessee official website provides access to a Public Record Request Form, county commission agendas, bid opportunities, and other government documents. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury operates the TN Property Viewer, an online tool through which members of the public may search property assessment data by county. No registration is required to use the property viewer. Court records may be accessible through the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts online portal.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Henderson County Clerk's Office or the Circuit Court Clerk's Office during regular business hours to inspect records. The County Clerk's Office is located at 17 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is located at the Henderson County Courthouse, 17 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to describe the record sought with reasonable specificity.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate office. The request should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, custodians are required to respond promptly and no later than seven business days after receipt of a written request.
Phone/Email:
- Henderson County Clerk: (731) 968-2856
- Circuit Court Clerk: (731) 968-2179
The Henderson County official website provides a Public Record Request Form that may be submitted electronically through the county portal.
What Are Public Records in Henderson County?
Public records in Henderson County are defined under Tennessee state law as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files, and other documentary materials made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-301, the term "public record" encompasses a broad range of materials created or maintained by government agencies.
The following record types are currently maintained by Henderson County offices:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Circuit Court & General Sessions Court Clerk |
| Probate and family court records | Circuit Court Clerk |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Register of Deeds |
| Property assessments | County Assessor of Property |
| Marriage licenses | County Clerk |
| Business licenses and permits | County Clerk |
| County commission minutes and ordinances | County Clerk |
| Tax records | Trustee's Office |
| Voting and election records | County Election Commission |
| Land use and zoning records | Planning and Zoning Department |
The Henderson County Clerk is responsible for archiving County Commission documents, official proceedings, ordinances, resolutions, and administering business licenses, among other duties.
Is Henderson County an Open Records County?
Henderson County operates in full compliance with Tennessee's open records laws, which establish a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, § 10-7-503, all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee unless otherwise provided by state law. The Act further provides that the custodian of records shall not require a requestor to provide a reason for the inspection of public records.
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office has issued guidance affirming that government entities must make records available promptly and may not impose unreasonable barriers to access. The Henderson County government currently maintains a Public Record Request Form on its official website to facilitate compliance with these obligations. County commission meeting agendas and minutes are posted publicly in accordance with Tennessee's Open Meetings Act, codified at Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-44-101 et seq., which requires that all meetings of governing bodies be open to the public.
As Circuit Court & General Sessions Court Clerk Beverly Dunaway has stated, "My goal is to serve the people of Henderson County with great professionalism, courtesy, and efficiency," reflecting the county's commitment to transparent and accessible government services.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Henderson County?
The fee structure for public records in Henderson County is governed by state law and the policies of the individual custodial office. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-506, custodians of records may charge reasonable fees for copies of public records, provided those fees do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.
Current standard fees applicable to public records requests in Henderson County are as follows:
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (black and white) | $0.15 per page |
| Certified copies (vital records, court documents) | $5.00–$15.00 per document (varies by office) |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of reproduction media |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
| Search fees | Not permitted under state law for standard requests |
- Inspection of records is provided at no charge to the requestor.
- Certification fees vary by record type and the office issuing the certified copy.
- Payment methods accepted at county offices include cash, check, and money order; some offices may accept credit or debit cards.
- Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or in circumstances where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.
Fees for court records, including copies of filings and certified judgments, are set by the Tennessee Supreme Court's fee schedule and administered through the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
Does Henderson County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to any citizen of Tennessee at the offices of the relevant custodian, pursuant to state law. Members of the public are not charged a fee to view records in person at county offices during regular business hours.
The following resources provide free access to public records data:
- The Henderson County official government portal provides free access to county commission agendas, meeting minutes, bid opportunities, and the Public Record Request Form.
- The TN Property Viewer, maintained by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, provides free online access to property assessment data for all Tennessee counties, including Henderson County. As noted on the portal, "The content contained herein is made available by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury as a public service."
- The Tennessee Secretary of State's business entity search tool provides free access to registered business information.
- The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts provides online access to certain court case information at no charge.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while in-person inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Henderson County?
Any citizen of Tennessee may request to inspect or obtain copies of public records maintained by Henderson County offices. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, requestors are not required to be residents of Henderson County specifically; Tennessee citizenship is the applicable standard for most record types.
Key eligibility provisions include:
- Identification: Requestors are not required by state law to provide identification solely to inspect public records, though individual offices may request identification as a matter of administrative practice.
- Statement of purpose: Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request for most public records.
- Non-residents: Individuals who are not Tennessee citizens may be subject to different access standards for certain record types, as the Tennessee Public Records Act specifically references "citizens of Tennessee."
- Requesting personal records: Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal court filings or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of relationship to the subject of the record.
- Restricted record types: Certain records, such as adoption records, juvenile court records, and sealed court files, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity or purpose.
Members of the public may submit requests through the Henderson County public records request portal or directly to the relevant custodial office.
What Records Are Confidential in Henderson County?
Not all government records maintained by Henderson County are open to public inspection. Tennessee law establishes specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. The following records are currently designated as confidential or restricted under state and federal law:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-1-153.
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released documents.
- Medical records: Protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state law.
- Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under state and federal child protection laws.
- Personnel records: Employee records of government workers are subject to limited disclosure, with certain information such as home addresses and personal financial data withheld.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt from disclosure where release would cause competitive harm.
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504 enumerates specific categories of records that are confidential by operation of law, and custodians are required to apply these exemptions when responding to public records requests. Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodian is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder.
Henderson County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Henderson County does not maintain a separate Recorder's Office; recording and clerk functions are distributed among several county offices. The principal offices responsible for public records are listed below.
Henderson County Clerk
17 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351
(731) 968-2856
Henderson County Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Henderson County Circuit Court & General Sessions Court Clerk
17 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351
(731) 968-2179
Circuit Court & General Sessions Court Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Henderson County Assessor of Property
17 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351
(731) 968-6881
TN Property Viewer – Henderson County
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Henderson County Register of Deeds
17 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351
(731) 968-2542
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.