Population
911K
County Seat
Memphis
Libraries
24
Schools
250
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 Shelby County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Tennessee state publishers on the review date. 7 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Shelby County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Shelby County, Tennessee — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
910,530
Population
Census estimate
357,839
Households
Census estimate
$59,621
Median income
Annual household
$206,100
Median home value
Census ACS
Memphis
County seat
In Tennessee
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
15 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
11 sources
Vital records
2 sources
Voter records
1 source
Professional licenses
1 source
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Shelby County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Shelby County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Docket Entries - Chancery Court - Shelby County Docket Entries - Circuit Court - Shelby County |
| Criminal records | No verified source — see Shelby County state portal below |
| Wants & warrants | No verified source — see Shelby County state portal below |
| Property records | Assessor of Property, Shelby County TN Willie F. Brooks, Jr. | Shelby County Register of Deeds |
| Vital records | Vital Records at the Library and Archives | Tennessee Secret… Marriage Licenses |
| Voter records | Tennessee GoVoteTN |
| Professional licenses | Land Bank Properties |
| Recorded documents | No verified source — see Shelby County state portal below |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Shelby County. Data verified June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Shelby County Records
2026
Shelby County official government portal active
The official Shelby County government website at www.shelbycountytn.gov continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Shelby County court records portal verified
State court system links for Shelby County verified against the Tennessee judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Shelby County property records online
Shelby 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 Shelby County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Shelby County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Shelby 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 Shelby County Records
❌ Myth: "Shelby County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Shelby County are held by the Tennessee state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Shelby 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 Shelby County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Tennessee state repository has verified, current Shelby County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Shelby County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Shelby 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.shelbycountytn.gov — Official Shelby County government website
- chancerydata.shelbycountytn.gov — Court records — official source
- register.shelby.tn.us — Property records — official source
- sos.tn.gov — Vital records — official source
- tnmap.tn.gov — Voter records — official source
- landbank.shelbycountytn.gov — Licenses — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Shelby County & Tennessee Records
For records not specific to Shelby 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 Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County is located in southwestern Tennessee. The county seat is Memphis (official site: http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/).
- Households: 357,839
- Median household income: $59,621
- Median home value: $206,100
- Below poverty line: 18.1%
- Land area: 752.8 sq mi
- Population density: 1,209.6 people / sq mi
Docket Entries - Chancery Court - Shelby County
Official Free
Report Selection Criteria · Case Description · Related Cases No related cases were found. Case Event Schedule No case events were found. Case Parties · Docket Entries
Docket Entries - Circuit Court - Shelby County
Official Free
Report Selection Criteria · Case Description · Related Cases No related cases were found. Case Event Schedule · Case Parties · Docket Entries
Logged Off - Shelby County Criminal Justice System Portal
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Your browser is currently set to block cookies. Your browser must allow cookies before you can use this application · Cookies are small text files stored on your computer that tell this application when you're signed in. To learn how to allow cookies, see online help in your web browser
Big - Shelby County
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ACS, a Xerox company and the ACS, a Xerox company logo are registered trademarks. This material contains trade secrets and other confidential information and is subject to a confidentiality agreement. The unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, display, or disclosure of this material ...
Docket Entries - Chancery Court - Shelby County
Official Free
Report Selection Criteria · Case Description · Related Cases No related cases were found. Case Event Schedule No case events were found. Case Parties · Docket Entries
- Not an Official Document
Official Free
Report Selection Criteria · Case Description · Related Cases No related cases were found. Case Event Schedule No case events were found. Case Parties · Docket Entries
Probate Court | Shelby County, TN - Official Website
Official Free
Skip to Main Content · Search · Government · Courts · Probate Court · NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: · New Filing Fees- Effective January 1, 2026 · The Probate Court Clerk's Office is now accepting new Passport applications. Appointment only · Please call 901-222-3750, select option 4 for more ...
Pay Online | Shelby County, TN - Official Website
Official Free
Shelby County allows residents to pay for a variety of offenses and license renewals online. These services provide convenience both for the general public as well as for the various government offices. All transactions are safe and secure. Things you can pay for online include: County Clerk's Return Check Payment · General Sessions Criminal Case Fees · Criminal Court Payments ·
Shelby County Records | Shelby County Register of Deeds
Official Free
Birth Records 1874-1917 Chancery Court Divorce Index 1945-1997 Circuit Court Indexes 1893-2000 Death Records 1848-1967 Marriage Indexes/Images 1920-1989 Marriage Records 1820-2015 Memphis Census 1865 Memphis City Directories 1849-1943 Memphis Police Blotter 1858-1860 Memphis Police Blotter 1858-1860 Index Memphis Police Blotter 1858-1860 Book Memphis Provost Marshal 1863-1865 Naturalization Records 1856-1906 Occupant, Entry, and Survey Books 1819-1962 Probate Court Loose Paper Index 1820-1900 Probate Court Will Book Indexes/Images 1830-2000 Quarterly Court Loose Papers Index 1820-1865
Courtfeepay.com
Official Free
Sessions Court (TN) Obion County County Probation Court (TN) Benton County Circuit Court (TN) Benton County General Sessions Court (TN) Wilson County Clerk And Master (TN) Shelby County Court (TN) Fentress County Sessions (TN) Crockett Circuit Court (TN) Dickson County Juvenile
Circuit, Criminal, Chancery & Business Courts | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts
Official Free
Governor Bill Lee appointed Chris Frulla to the Circuit Court and Raymond Lepone to the Criminal Court in Judicial District 30, which covers Shelby County.
https://warrants.shelby-sheriff.org/m/warrant_mobi...
Official Free
Do not attempt to arrest or detain any of the subjects of the warrants listed in this database. No attempt should be made to apprehend these individuals except by law enforcement or peace officers. Some individuals may be armed and should be considered dangerous.
Shelby County Sheriff's Office
Official Free
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee is a full-service law enforcement agency and the pre-trial custodial keeper of those who are charged with crimes.
Tennessee Sex Offender Registry - TN.gov
Official Free
You may search for an offender by name, alias, address, city, county, zip code, offender ID, registry status or offense.
Bill Lee Governor TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ATTN: TORIS
Official Free
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found Tennessee criminal history based on the information provided.
🌐 tn.gov
Tennessee Drug Offender Registry Database
Official Free
Please provide either the last name and first initial of the drug offender or the county of the offense.
Assessor of Property, Shelby County TN
Official Free
Shelby County Assessor of Property · May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!. The Assessor's office is closing on November 26th at NOON in celebration of the national holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 1st 2025. Melvin Burgess ·
Willie F. Brooks, Jr. | Shelby County Register of Deeds
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From the time we receive your deed, it takes approximately one business day for us to record and return it in the mail. A digital copy is available on our website register.shelby.tn.us . See the “Filing Tools” section of our website to calculate the correct fees and for more information
Information | Shelby County Trustee, TN - Official Website
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View information on the appeal of your property. Appeals · Use the Shelby County Trustee website to calculate your taxes. Calculate Taxes · View information about the Investment Policy and Portfolio Asset Composition. Investment Management · Request access to public records
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE 2025 TANGIBLE ...
Official Free
Shelby County Assessor of Property · May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!. The Assessor's office is closing on November 26th at NOON in celebration of the national holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 1st 2025. Melvin Burgess ·
Assessor of Property, Shelby County TN
Official Free
The Assessor's office is closing on November 26th at NOON in celebration of the national holiday . We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 1st 2025. Shelby County, TN, its employees, agents and personnel, MAKES NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR WARRANTY FOR FITNESS OF USE
Cumberland County Register
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.
Shelby County Register of Deeds
Official Free
Results will provide an aerial view of the property, surrounding parcels, assessment information, sales data, deeds, and property tax information for Shelby County as well as the muncipality in which the parcel is located.
Elections | Tennessee Secretary of State
Property & Tax Records
OfficialFree
Register to Vote
sos.tn.gov
Evaluation and Referral Bureau
Property & Tax Records
OfficialFree
Evaluation and Referral Bureau
shelbycountytn.gov
Crime Map
Official Free
Tennessee · Secretary of State · Tre Hargett · 2026 Congressional Redistricting · Proposed Constitutional Amendments · Register to Vote · Check My Voter Registration Status · Download the GoVoteTN App · Find My County Election Commission · GoVoteTN - Information for Voters ·
Jail Inmates - Inmate Lookup - Shelby County, TN
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The Shelby County Jail is an accredited facility with the American Corrections Association. The average daily census for the two facilities for men and women is approximately 2,600 inmates . Yearly bookings average 56,000. The Tennessee Corrections Institute re-certified the Jail on December 3, 2025.
"Obituaries from Nineteenth Century Memphis Newspapers"
Official Free
This index is a compilation of names as they appear in funeral and obituary notices, as well as the mortuary reports of the Memphis Board of Health submitted to the "Memphis Appeal" and later in the "Commercial Appeal". Obituaries were often submitted from the surrounding Mid-South area.
Properties Available for Sale | Shelby County Trustee, TN - Official Website
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Starting 30 days before the auction opening date, the properties offered will be available to view on ZeusAuction.com. In addition, the list of properties offered at the tax sale will also be advertised in the Memphis Daily News, between 30 - 45 days before the opening day of the tax sale.
Vital Records at the Library and Archives | Tennessee Secretary of State
Official Free
Davidson County (as distinct from Nashville) began keeping their own death records in 1900 and continued to do so through 1913. The death records in this index include the following information: last name, first name, race, date of death, age, place of burial, and the volume & record number. Please note that many of the recorded names in this index do not appear in the Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912. An online index to Shelby County death records for the years 1848-1966 and a state-wide index to Tennessee death records for the years 1949-2014 is available on the web site of the
Apply for a Birth or Death Certificate
Vital Records
OfficialFree
Apply for a Birth or Death Certificate
shelbytnhealth.com
Tennessee GoVoteTN
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A marriage license may be obtained order, along with the exact date of the marriage and the full names of both parties, to: Shelby County Clerk, 150 Washington Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 Remember, we need the exact date of the marriage and the full names of both parti
Shelby County Election Commission
Voter Records
OfficialFree
Election & Voting Information
electionsshelbytn.gov
Land Bank Properties
Official Free
Click here to view unofficial election results from the Shelby County Primary The General Assembly has adopted revised congressional districts during the Second Extraordinary Session of the 114th General Assembly held in May 2026. Click here to learn more. SHELBY COUNTY IS OUR HOME VOTE FOR ...
Verify Public Search
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NETR Online • Shelby • Shelby Public Records, Search Shelby Records, Shelby Property Tax, Tennessee Property Search, Tennessee Assessor
Search Cemeteries - Find a Grave
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Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States of America · No open requests · 234 memorials · 80% photographed · 30 with GPS · Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States of America · No open requests · 8 memorials · 50% photographed · Cordova, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States of America ·
Shelby County, TN - Official Website | Official Website
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Please browse to learn more about the wonderful things happening here, as well as the myriad ways that our government is available to serve children, families, and neighborhoods in Shelby County. Pursuant to Art. II, §15 of the Tennessee Constitution, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will take nominations from Commissioners and hold a vote, at the special call meeting, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 1:00 P.M..
Chapter 6 | Code of Ordinances | Shelby County, TN
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MunicodeNEXT, the industry's leading search application with over 3,300 codes and growing!
Central Records - Memphis Police Department
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Nearest Police Station · Annual Reports · Ways to Get Involved · Search For · Area Sex Offenders · Inmates at Shelby County Jail · Current Warrants · Report/Submit · Crime(s) to Tips to Crimestoppers · Drug Dealers or Gang · File a Report online · View/Download ·
Role of the Minutes Department | Shelby County, TN - Official Website
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The primary role of the Minutes Minutes, Ordinances, and Agendas from the County Commission and Committee Meetings . The Minutes Clerk serves in the capacity of Keeper of the Record by way of compiling the final action of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners conducted
Employment | Shelby County, TN - Official Website
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Posting of job announcements Job announcement postings fall into the following categories: permanent, part-time, or temporary. Each permanent or temporary position may also be classified as either open or closed promotional. Open postings are open to both current county employees and the public ...
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Shelby County?
Shelby County court cases are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk / Criminal Court Clerk. Search the Docket Entries - Chancery Court - Shelby County portal: https://chancerydata.shelbycountytn.gov/chweb/ck_public_qry_doct.cp_dktrpt_docket_report?case_id=CH-06-1019. For federal matters, see PACER.
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 Tennessee marriage records public?
Marriage records in Tennessee are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
Are Tennessee criminal records public?
Mostly yes. Tennessee's public-records law makes adult arrests, court filings, and conviction histories accessible to anyone unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Juvenile cases and sealed records are generally excluded by statute.