Montgomery County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Montgomery County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information related to public records through MontgomeryTNRecords.us as well as through official county and state government channels. Montgomery County, Tennessee maintains a range of government-generated documents that may be accessible to the public, subject to applicable state law and specific exemption provisions. Records that may be available include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, meeting minutes, and law enforcement logs, among others. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the custodial office, the nature of the document, and whether any statutory exemptions apply.

Records in Montgomery County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.

Online Access:

The Circuit Court Clerk's web inquiry service allows members of the public to view case information for civil, criminal, and traffic matters without visiting the courthouse in person.
Property documents, including deeds and mortgages, are searchable through the Montgomery County Register of Deeds online portal.
Historical and archival county records are accessible through the Montgomery County Archives research service.
No registration is required to use the Circuit Court's web inquiry tool; however, certified copies require an in-person or written request.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, located at 2 Millennium Plaza, Suite 101, Clarksville, TN 37040, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM) to inspect or request copies of court records.
Property records may be inspected at the Register of Deeds Office, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 101-B, Clarksville, TN 37040.
Requestors should identify the record by name, case number, date, or other identifying information to facilitate retrieval.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests for county commission records may be submitted to Michelle Hueffmeier via the Montgomery County Public Records Request portal at mrhueffmeier@mcgtn.net.
Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, the custodian of records must respond promptly, and in no event later than seven business days from receipt of a written request.
Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery.

Phone/Email:

Circuit Court Clerk's Office: (931) 648-5703
Register of Deeds: (931) 648-5711
County Commission Public Records: mrhueffmeier@mcgtn.net

What Are Public Records in Montgomery County?

Public records in Montgomery County are defined under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files, and other material made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. The following record types are maintained by various county offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil, criminal, and traffic court records	Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens	Register of Deeds
Historical and archival county records	Montgomery County Archives
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates	Tennessee Department of Health / County Health Department
Business licenses and permits	Montgomery County Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	Montgomery County Assessor of Property
Voting and election records	Montgomery County Election Commission
County commission meeting minutes and agendas	Montgomery County Commission
Budget and financial documents	Montgomery County Finance Department
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted)	Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Montgomery County Planning and Development

As stated by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, "The Circuit Court Clerk ensures the efficient operations of our courts by maintaining dockets and records, handling administrative matters and serving as a liaison to the public."

Is Montgomery County an Open Records County?

Montgomery County operates in full compliance with Tennessee's open records framework. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, codified at Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-501 et seq., all state and local government records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act affirms that "the people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know."

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury reinforces this framework at the state level. According to the Tennessee Comptroller's public records guidance, all requests for records held by state agencies must be processed in accordance with the Public Records Act, and custodians are prohibited from requiring requestors to state a reason for their request in most circumstances. Montgomery County follows these same principles for records held at the county level. The county does not maintain a separate open records ordinance, as the state statute governs all public bodies within Tennessee.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Montgomery County?

The fee structure for public records in Montgomery County is governed by state law and the policies of each custodial office. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-506, fees for copies of public records may not exceed the actual cost of producing the copies.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (standard size)	$0.15 per page (standard rate)
Certified copies of court records	Varies by document type
Certified copies of deeds	$1.00 per page (Register of Deeds)
Electronic records	Actual cost of duplication
Inspection of records	No charge
Search fees	Not permitted under state law

Accepted payment methods at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Individual offices may vary in accepted payment types.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Tennessee law, but indigent requestors may petition the court for waiver of certain court-related fees.
Certification fees for vital records are set by the Tennessee Department of Health and differ from county copy fees.
The Register of Deeds notes that "most of the time, it will be the largest investment these citizens ever make. Therefore, the integrity of these records is extremely important," reflecting the office's commitment to accurate and accessible property documentation.

Does Montgomery County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Montgomery County. Tennessee law does not permit custodians to charge a fee solely for the act of inspecting records; charges apply only when copies are requested. Members of the public may inspect records at no cost at the following locations:

Circuit Court Clerk's Office – Civil, criminal, and traffic case information is available at no charge through the online court records inquiry tool and at public access terminals in the courthouse.
Montgomery County Archives – The Archives division provides free access to historical county records for research purposes. As stated by the Archives, "Our primary services are the preservation of Montgomery County records and providing access to the information within those records for research."
Register of Deeds – Property records may be inspected in person at no charge during regular business hours.
Tennessee Felony Offender Information – The State of Tennessee provides free access to felony offender records through the Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) system, available online at no cost.

Free inspection differs from free copies. Obtaining a physical or certified copy of a record incurs the applicable per-page or per-document fee described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Montgomery County?

Any person may request public records in Montgomery County. The Tennessee Public Records Act does not restrict access to residents of the state; non-residents retain the same right to inspect and obtain copies of public records as Tennessee citizens. Requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving specific record categories.

Identification: Not required for general record inspection; may be required for records containing sensitive personal information or for certified copies.
Residency: Not required. Non-residents may submit requests in person, by mail, or by email.
Purpose: Requestors are not obligated to disclose the reason for their request under § 10-7-503.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access records that are otherwise restricted to the subject of the record, such as certain personnel or investigative files.
Restrictions by record type: Some records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to authorized parties regardless of the requestor's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Montgomery County?

Not all government records in Montgomery County are open to public inspection. Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504 enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Juvenile court records and proceedings
Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
Social Security numbers and personal financial account information
Medical and mental health records (protected under both state law and federal HIPAA regulations)
Adoption records and related proceedings
Child welfare and protective services case files
Personnel records of government employees (with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions)
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans, infrastructure vulnerability assessments, and emergency response protocols

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodian is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Tennessee courts apply a balancing test in disputed cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interest in nondisclosure.

Montgomery County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Montgomery County Register of Deeds
350 Pageant Lane, Suite 101-B
Clarksville, TN 37040
(931) 648-5711
Montgomery County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
2 Millennium Plaza, Suite 101
Clarksville, TN 37040
(931) 648-5703
Circuit Court Clerk's Office