Juvenile Court Clerk

The Juvenile Court Clerk is the custodian of the court's records and all legal documents filed in Juvenile Court. The clerk's office is responsible for the preparation of the minutes (official record) of the Juvenile Court and processing the paperwork associated with the juvenile cases during their progress through the Juvenile Court System.

Jurisdiction

The Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over the following types of cases:

Custody Cases
Delinquent, Unruly, Dependant and Neglected
Emergency Psychiatric Commitments of Juveniles
Emergency Removals
Guardianship
Judicial by-Pass
Juvenile Court Can Accept Jurisdiction in Contributing Cases
Paternity in Cases Where the Parties Have Not Been Married
Terminations of Parental Rights and Surrenders of Parental Rights
Traffic Citations - County and Tennessee Highway Patrol

Payment Policy

We do not accept personal checks. Individuals may pay with a cashiers check, money order, credit/debit card or cash.

Legal Advice

Deputy Clerks cannot give legal advice. They will file your paperwork, but they cannot advise you on what action to take. You should consult an attorney for legal advice.

Individuals wishing to file documents in the Juvenile Court may employ counsel or be able to prepare their own paperwork and be prepared to draft any order that may ensue from the hearing of their cause.

After Hours Filing Information

For your convenience, an after hours filing box is located at the Justice Center in the jail visitation area. If a filing fee is required, you will be contacted the next business day regarding payment.

FAQs

What's the difference between other Judicial Courts and the Juvenile Court?: The Juvenile court has original, exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving minors, whether delinquency or dependency and neglect.
How is "juvenile" defined in Tennessee?: A juvenile is a minor child or youth under the age of 18.
At what age can a minor be prosecuted as an adult for the commission of a crime?: At age 16 if that age at the time of the offense, or younger than 16 if charged with the most serious offenses, such as first and second degree murder, rape, aggravated rape, rape of a child aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, or especially aggravated offenses such as robbery and kidnapping. Rarely is a youth under 15 prosecuted as an adult although there are some instances involving the most serious offenses.
Are juvenile cases and records confidential?: Yes. Juvenile records are protected and available only to those directly involved in the case.
What are the legal rights of parents in juvenile cases?: Parents and/or legal guardians have the right to be notified and kept informed about all the procedural steps involved in a delinquency case and they often participate in the resolution by helping enforce probation requirements or getting special help such as counseling or substance abuse treatment for their child. In dependency and neglect cases, parents are also entitled to legal representation if they are indigent.
What are restitution payments?: When a juvenile has been found guilty of an offense such as vandalism or theft of property, he or she can be required to pay for the damage or loss. Such payments are to make restitution or to restore to the victim full or partial compensation for the damage or loss.
What can the Juvenile Justice system do to help kids before they have problems?: Through assistance and cooperation with other agencies and community-based organizations Juvenile Court helps identify youths with offenses such as truancy and vandalism. The Court also connects youths who have mental health and substance abuse issues with community and outside resources. The purpose of these efforts is to intervene early in the juvenile's life pattern with the goal of preventing him or her from "graduating" into more serious offenses and getting deeper into the juvenile justice system.
What happens if my child is found guilty of a crime?: A child adjudicated delinquent or found guilty of committing an offense that if committed by an adult would be a crime has several options depending on the nature of the offense and his or her history with the Court. A child might be given an abeyance with special conditions, if the charge is less serious and it is a first time offense, or be placed on supervised probation and required to perform community service, pay a fine, write apology letters, and/or attend Juvenile Court approved program. Depending on the charge, a juvenile might be placed on supervised intensive probation. On more serious offenses, the juvenile could be committed to the Department of Children's Services where he or she might be housed in a secure facility. On the most serious charges, a juvenile can be transferred to the adult system where all further proceedings take place in the Criminal Court.
Will the juvenile go to jail?: A juvenile transferred to the adult system can be sentenced to prison. However, persons who are sentenced for crimes committed while they were juveniles cannot be sentenced to life without parole or to death.
Can Juvenile cases and records be expunged?: Yes. A juvenile who turns 18 can petition the Court for expunction if he or she is one year removed from the most serious offense, has not been convicted of a crime following transfer to the adult system, has not been convicted of a sexual offense or of a violent sexual offense, and has maintained a good record of responsible conduct for at least one year before filling.