SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Clay County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Tennessee state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Clay County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Clay County, Tennessee — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
7,857
Population
Census estimate
3,035
Households
Census estimate
$39,572
Median income
Annual household
$132,500
Median home value
Census ACS
Celina
County seat
In Tennessee
Criminal records
2 sources
Court records
2 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
2 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Clay County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Clay County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Courtfeepay.com Keshia Smith | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts |
| Criminal records | Tennessee Bureau of Investigation — TORIS shoemake, jimmy shane - Tennessee Sex Offender Registry |
| Wants & warrants | No verified source — see Clay County state portal below |
| Property records | Tennessee Property Assessment Data | Parcel Details CLAY |
| Vital records | No verified source — see Clay County state portal below |
| Voter records | No verified source — see Clay County state portal below |
| Professional licenses | No verified source — see Clay County state portal below |
| Recorded documents | No verified source — see Clay County state portal below |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Clay County. Data verified June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Clay County Records
2026
Clay County court records portal verified
State court system links for Clay County verified against the Tennessee judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Clay County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Clay County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Clay County property records online
Clay County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Tennessee, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Clay County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Clay County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Clay County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Tennessee statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Tennessee state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Clay County Records
❌ Myth: "Clay County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Clay County are held by the Tennessee state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Clay County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Clay County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Tennessee state repository has verified, current Clay County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Clay County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Clay County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources (All Verified)
- www.tncourts.gov — Court records — official source
- www.tn.gov — Criminal records — official source
- assessment.cot.tn.gov — Property records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Clay County & Tennessee Records
For records not specific to Clay County, use Tennessee's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Tennessee statewide record systems:
- Tennessee Court Records →
- Tennessee Criminal Records →
- Tennessee Property Records →
- Tennessee Vital Records →
- Tennessee Voter Records →
- Tennessee Wants & Warrants →
- Tennessee Licenses →
- Tennessee Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Tennessee statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
About Clay County, Tennessee
Clay County is located in north-central Tennessee. The county seat is Celina.
- Population: 7,857
- Households: 3,035
- Median household income: $39,572
- Median home value: $132,500
- Below poverty line: 22.3%
- Land area: 236.5 sq mi
- Population density: 33.2 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 1
- NCES schools indexed: 4
Courtfeepay.com
Official Free
Sessions Court (TN) Obion County Clerk And Master (TN) Fayette County Circuit Court (TN) Fayette County Juvenile Court (TN) Fayette County Sessions Court (TN) Clay County Circuit Court (TN) Clay County Sessions Court (TN) Obion County Clerk And Master (TN) Gibson County
Keshia Smith | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts
Official Free
Courts · Keshia Smith · Last Name · Smith · First Name · Keshia · Email · keshia.smith@tncourts.gov · Location · P.O. Box 749 TN United States Open Map · County · Clay · District · 13 · Phone · 9312432557 · Clerk Type ·
Public Access to Court Electronic Records | PACER: Federal Court Records
Criminal & Court Records
.gov
Federal court electronic records (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
pacer.gov
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation — TORIS
Official Free
PACER provides information about accessing and filing federal court records electronically. Find resources for using PACER.
🌐 tn.gov
shoemake, jimmy shane - Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
Official Free
CLAY COUNTY JAIL · PAROLE OFFICER · SHEPHERD, RICK · *Note: In the field entitled Last Registration/Report Date, the term "Not Available" indicates The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has not received offender information as directed by T.C.A. 40-39-201 et. seq. The Website is updated daily based on information submitted to the TBI. The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry exists as a public information resource, allowing citizens to take proactive measures to ensure safety in their communities.
VINE is not working right now - VINELink
Official Free
ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY USERS OF THIS SITE WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL BE USED ONLY FOR VINE SERVICES, INCLUDING NOTIFICATION PURPOSES. The VINE service representatives may contact you from time to time to ask about your experience with the VINELink site and our VINE services.
Tennessee Property Assessment Data | Parcel Details
Official Free
Clay County, TN | Tax Year 2026 · County Information · County Number: 014 · Reappraisal Year: 2022 · Property Owner and Mailing Address · January 1 Owner · KRISTIANSSON JOYCE ANN BAILEY ETVIR · LARS - TRUSTEE · 243 CABIN LN · CELINA TN 38551 · Property Location ·
CLAY
Official Free
VanBuren County Document images that are retrieved will be $4.00 each. The search by name option will require a 0.25 cent charge to open each name retrieved. As a Gap Control customer, you can monitor recorded documents in any of the counties available on TitleSearcher.
Clay County Early Voting Site(s) - TNMap
Official Free
Division of Publications publishes the following: Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly, Administrative Register, Blue Book, Open Appointments, Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennesse, and other documents for which the secretary of state is responsible.
Clay County
Official Free
Field notes are the narrative record of the cadastral survey . They are written in tabular format and contain the detailed descriptions of entire survey process including the instrumentation and procedures utilized, calling all physical evidence evaluated in the survey process, and listing all ...
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Clay County?
Clay County court cases are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk / Criminal Court Clerk. Search the Keshia Smith | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts portal: https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/state-court-clerks/clerks/keshia-smith. For federal matters, see PACER.
Does an arrest show up on a background check before conviction in Tennessee?
Yes — in Tennessee, an arrest can appear on a name-based background check from the moment of booking, even before any court ruling. Whether it appears on an employment screening depends on the type of check (name-based vs. fingerprint-based) and how recent the arrest is.
How long does an arrest stay on my record in Tennessee if I wasn't convicted?
In Tennessee, an arrest stays on your record indefinitely unless you petition the court to seal or expunge it, even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Tennessee's rules for clearing non-conviction records are stricter than for convictions — start with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Are Clay County records free to search?
Yes — every link on this page goes to an official government source. Basic searches are free. Certified copies and formal background checks carry the standard government fee.