Search Overton County Background Check Records

Overton County background check records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk, the General Sessions Court Clerk, and the Overton County Sheriff's Office in Livingston. You can access these records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the state's free online case search tool.

Overton County Circuit Court Clerk

The Overton County Circuit Court Clerk is located at the Overton County Courthouse, 317 E. University Street, Livingston, TN 38570. Phone: 931-823-5630. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Circuit Court Clerk handles felony criminal cases, civil cases, and appeals from the General Sessions Court.

To get copies of Overton County criminal records or civil case records, visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in person or send a written request by mail. Include the full name of the subject, the approximate year, and a case number if you have one. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost more. Mail requests need a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order.

The Circuit Court in Overton County is part of the 13th Judicial District, which includes Overton, Clay, Pickett, and Fentress counties. The circuit judge for this district rotates among the four counties. All court records remain with the Overton County Circuit Court Clerk regardless of when the judge was present. You can search Overton County Circuit Court records for free at tncourts.gov/case-search.

Overton County General Sessions Court

The General Sessions Court is the trial court of limited jurisdiction in Overton County. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, felony preliminary hearings, traffic violations, small claims, and civil cases under $25,000. The General Sessions Court Clerk is at the Overton County Courthouse in Livingston. Phone: 931-823-5630.

General Sessions records are public and are part of the Overton County criminal record for any individual. Misdemeanor convictions, dismissed charges, and guilty pleas from General Sessions Court show up in the TBI's TORIS statewide background check when agencies report them correctly. They also appear in the free Tennessee courts case search.

Overton County General Sessions Court also hears juvenile matters. Juvenile case records are not public. Under Tennessee law, proceedings involving minors are confidential and can only be accessed by authorized parties or by court order. Only adult court records are available through standard public records requests.

Overton County Sheriff's Office

The Overton County Sheriff's Office is at 317 E. University Street, Livingston, TN 38570. Phone: 931-823-1182. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated Overton County and runs the county jail. Arrest records and booking information from the Sheriff's Office are part of the Overton County background check record.

Arrest records show who was booked into the Overton County Jail and the charges at the time of booking. An arrest does not mean a conviction. For a thorough background check, review arrest records alongside court outcome records. Contact the Circuit Court Clerk and General Sessions Court Clerk to get the full picture of whether an arrest led to a charge, conviction, or dismissal.

The Livingston Police Department serves the city of Livingston. For arrests made within Livingston's city limits, contact the Livingston Police Department at 106 E. Main Street, Livingston, TN 38570. Phone: 931-823-1382. For arrests in unincorporated Overton County, contact the Sheriff's Office.

Statewide Background Checks - TBI TORIS

For a complete Tennessee criminal history search, the TBI runs TORIS at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov. A name-based search costs $29. Results cover all 95 Tennessee counties, including Overton County. TORIS pulls from the Tennessee Repository of Criminal History and includes arrests, charges, and dispositions reported by agencies across the state.

TORIS is name-based. If a subject has a common name, results may include multiple people. You can narrow results by date of birth. For the most accurate results, fingerprint-based checks through IdentoGO are better. The nearest IdentoGO locations to Livingston are in Cookeville or Nashville. See the TBI background checks page for all options.

Public Records Access - T.C.A. § 10-7-503

The Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-503, gives Tennessee residents the right to inspect public records during regular business hours. Overton County courts and offices must respond to public records requests. Most court records are open. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed cases, and records protected by law or court order.

To make a public records request in Overton County, contact the right office for the type of record you need. For court records, go to the Circuit Court Clerk or General Sessions Court Clerk in Livingston. For arrest records and incidents, contact the Overton County Sheriff's Office or the Livingston Police Department. Submit requests in writing for best results. Include the subject's full name, a date range, and the type of record you want.

There is no charge to look at records in person during business hours. Copy fees apply when you take copies. The standard rate in Tennessee is $0.50 per page. Overton County offices are small. Calling ahead to check current processing times before making a trip is recommended.

Expungement - T.C.A. § 40-32-101

Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101, Tennessee allows expungement of certain criminal records. In Overton County, a person can petition to destroy records when a charge was dismissed, a grand jury returned no true bill, or the person was let go without charges. These petitions cost nothing to file.

Conviction expungements are also possible for qualifying offenses. The crime cannot involve physical harm, a deadly weapon, or a sex offense that carries registration requirements. The petitioner must have completed all parts of their sentence, including probation and fines. If the Overton County court grants the petition, public records of the case are destroyed and the person can legally deny that the arrest occurred.

Legal Aid of Upper Cumberland serves Overton County and can help low-income residents with expungement petitions at no cost. Contact your local legal aid office or the Overton County Circuit Court Clerk for guidance on the filing process.

Felony Offender Records - FOIL

The Tennessee Department of Correction provides the free Felony Offender Information Lookup at apps.tn.gov/foil-app. FOIL shows custody status, facility name, booking photo, sentence start and end dates, and parole eligibility for felony offenders in the state prison system. Overton County residents who are in state custody appear in FOIL results.

FOIL does not include Overton County Jail records. Contact the Overton County Sheriff's Office for local jail information. FOIL updates within one week of an offender entering the state system. The search is free and no account is needed.

Cities in Overton County

Overton County has no cities with a population over 100,000. Livingston is the county seat. All Overton County background check records go through the county court system in Livingston.

Nearby Counties

Overton County borders six Tennessee counties. Each county has its own court system and records offices.

View All 95 Tennessee Counties