Union County Background Check
Union County background check records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, General Sessions Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Maynardville. You can access these public records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through free statewide online tools.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Maynardville handles felony criminal records, civil circuit filings, and related court documents for Union County. Union County is part of the 8th Judicial District. The clerk's office is located at the Union County Courthouse in Maynardville on Main Street.
In-person record searches are available Monday through Friday, typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a photo ID and the full legal name of the person you need information on. Adding a date of birth will help narrow results if the name is common. Staff can pull case files, docket entries, and judgment records for you. Viewing public records at the counter is free. Copies cost a small per-page fee that staff can quote on arrival.
Mail requests are handled by the clerk as well. Send a written request with the subject's name and date of birth, state clearly what records you need, and include return postage and payment for copy fees. Call (865) 992-3061 before mailing to confirm the current fee schedule. Allow one to two weeks for mail responses. The clerk's staff cannot give legal advice but can tell you what types of records are available.
Union County court cases are searchable for free through the Tennessee AOC online portal. This tool covers both Circuit and General Sessions dockets. Search by name and view case numbers, charges, and dispositions from any device. The portal is generally current within a few days of court activity.
General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims, and preliminary hearings for felony matters in Union County. The clerk operates from the Maynardville courthouse. General Sessions records are public and follow the same access rules as Circuit Court records.
Cases that begin and end in General Sessions stay with that clerk. Cases where felony charges are bound over to Circuit Court move to the Circuit Court Clerk. The AOC online portal shows which court a case is in, which helps you contact the right office. In smaller counties like Union, clerks often know the local case volume well and can help you find what you need quickly.
If you need to verify whether a warrant exists in Union County, ask the clerk directly. Served warrants are public. Some details on active unserved warrants may be withheld, but the clerk can confirm whether one was issued for a specific person.
Union County Sheriff's Office
The Union County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement throughout the county and operates the county jail. Arrest records are public under Tennessee law. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (865) 992-3979 to ask about recent arrests or check whether someone is currently in custody. Booking records show the name, charge, and date of arrest for each person processed into the jail.
An arrest is not a conviction. People booked into Union County jail may later have charges reduced, dismissed, or may be found not guilty at trial. For how a case turned out, check with the court clerk or search the AOC online portal. The Sheriff does not provide employment background checks. Those requests go to the TBI.
Union County is surrounded by Knox, Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, and Jefferson counties. If a person has lived in multiple counties, a county-level records search may miss records from other jurisdictions. A TBI statewide check covers all Tennessee counties in one search.
Statewide Background Checks Through TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation offers statewide criminal history checks through TORIS. A name-based check covering all Tennessee counties, including Union, costs $29. Submit requests online at tbibackgrounds.tbi.tn.gov/Toris/. Results typically return in a few business days and cover felony and misdemeanor convictions from Tennessee courts.
Details on background check types, eligibility, and fees are at tn.gov/tbi/divisions/cjis-division/background-checks.html. Fingerprint-based checks, which also access the FBI national database, are available for positions that require them. The TBI's free sex offender registry search is also available separately from the TORIS background check.
Public Records Access Under T.C.A. § 10-7-503
Tennessee's Public Records Act at T.C.A. § 10-7-503 gives any person the right to inspect public records held by government offices. Court files and arrest logs in Union County are public records under this statute. Agencies must respond to requests within seven business days.
Exempt records include juvenile court files, sealed cases, active investigation materials, and certain personnel and medical records. If access is denied, the agency must state the reason. The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel provides free assistance for records access questions and can help if you receive a denial you believe is improper.
Expungement Under T.C.A. § 40-32-101
Tennessee's expungement law at T.C.A. § 40-32-101 allows certain criminal records to be removed from public access. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and some low-level first-time convictions after waiting periods may qualify. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and DUI convictions are generally not eligible.
File an expungement petition with the Circuit Court Clerk in Maynardville to start the process. A filing fee is required. If the judge grants the petition, all state agencies, including the TBI, must remove or seal the record. After expungement, the record will not appear in most background checks. Consult an attorney to confirm eligibility before filing.
Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)
Tennessee's FOIL database is free and searchable at apps.tn.gov/foil-app/search.jsp. It lists felony convictions from all Tennessee counties, including Union. Search by name to see offense type, sentencing date, and current supervision status. Misdemeanor records and uncharged arrests are not shown.
FOIL is a useful free tool for a quick felony check. For a full background report with misdemeanor history or for certified results, use TBI TORIS. The AOC online portal lets you search case-level records in Union County for free as well.
Cities in Union County
Union County has no cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Maynardville is the county seat. For records in any Union County community, contact the county clerk's office in Maynardville.