TN · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Tennessee?
Partly — some Tennessee counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
Official source
Open an official county search Opens an official county site in a new tab. Coverage varies by county — a name that isn’t listed does not rule out a warrant in another county or court.Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage Some countiesJurisdiction Tennessee
The official online lookup
There is no statewide public warrant search, and Tennessee has no unified statewide court case portal — court records are kept county by county.
However, many county sheriff's offices publish their own online warrant-search tools.
For example, the Hamilton County (Chattanooga) Sheriff's Office offers a public 'Look Up Warrants' search, and the Montgomery County (Clarksville) Sheriff's Office provides an online warrant search (which may be intermittently offline for maintenance).
Coverage and freshness vary by county, and a listing can lag actual warrant activity.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Tennessee
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Use your county sheriff's online warrant search, where one exists
Many TN sheriffs publish a public warrant search — for example, the Hamilton County Sheriff's 'Look Up Warrants' tool. Check your county sheriff's website; some searches may be intermittently offline.
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Call the clerk of the General Sessions or Criminal Court in the county where charged
Tennessee General Sessions and Criminal Court clerks in the issuing county can confirm whether a warrant is outstanding and tell you your next court date. Find courts through the Tennessee courts site.
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Contact the county sheriff's office directly
The sheriff's office can confirm a warrant and explain how to address it or arrange to turn yourself in.
Open official site -
Request a Tennessee criminal background check from the TBI
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation processes state criminal-history background checks, which can surface outstanding matters; the TBI also publishes a 'Most Wanted' fugitive list.
Open official site
Types of warrants in Tennessee
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Bench warrant / failure-to-appear
- FTA) warrant — issued by a judge for a missed appearance or violation of a court order (common in General Sessions cases
- Arrest warrant
- probable cause) — issued on a sworn showing that a person committed an offense
- Search warrant — authorizes law enforcement to search a specified place or property
What happens if a warrant is ignored
An outstanding warrant generally remains active until resolved and authorizes arrest at any contact with law enforcement.
A missed court date can add a failure-to-appear charge and lead to bond forfeiture.
A warrant does not expire on its own.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Check your county sheriff's warrant search if one is available and confirm the details with the issuing court clerk.
Note the case number and any scheduled court date.
Contact the sheriff's office about the process for resolving the matter or surrendering on your own terms, and keep a record of your contacts.
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Tennessee
Is there an online warrant search in Tennessee?
Some Tennessee counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Tennessee?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Use your county sheriff's online warrant search, where one exists; Call the clerk of the General Sessions or Criminal Court in the county where charged; Contact the county sheriff's office directly.
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Tennessee?
An outstanding warrant generally remains active until resolved and authorizes arrest at any contact with law enforcement. A missed court date can add a failure-to-appear charge and lead to bond forfeiture. A warrant does not expire on its own.
What should I do about a warrant in Tennessee?
Check your county sheriff's warrant search if one is available and confirm the details with the issuing court clerk. Note the case number and any scheduled court date. Contact the sheriff's office about the process for resolving the matter or surrendering on your own terms, and keep a record of your contacts.
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 6 official sources