Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

UnionTNRecords.us provides publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Union County, Tennessee. Members of the public seeking court documents, property filings, vital records, or government meeting minutes may locate those materials through official county offices, state-administered online portals, and public access terminals. The availability and completeness of any given record depends on the custodial office, the nature of the document, and applicable state law.

Record categories that members of the public may search include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Marriage records and County Commission minutes
Tax assessment and property valuation data
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning documents

Online Access: Members of the public may search property assessment data through the Tennessee Property Viewer, administered by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. The tool allows users to select Union County and retrieve parcel-level assessment information without registration. The Union County Register of Deeds and County Clerk offices maintain additional records accessible through the county's official website.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Union County Courthouse in Maynardville to inspect records held by the Register of Deeds, County Clerk, or Circuit Court Clerk. Requestors should identify the specific record type and approximate date range before arriving. Staff will direct requestors to the appropriate office and, where applicable, to a public access terminal.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to Union County Finance, 300 Main Street, Maynardville, TN 37807. The Union County Open Records Policy states that "requests for inspection may be made orally or in writing." Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, the custodian must respond within seven business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email:

Union County Finance (Records Requests): (865) 992-3061
Union County Courthouse: 300 Main Street, Maynardville, TN 37807

The official Tennessee Public Records Request Form, published by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, is available for download and may be submitted to the appropriate custodial office.

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Union 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 in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. The following record types are currently maintained by Union County offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records	Circuit Court Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens	Register of Deeds
Marriage records and Commission minutes	County Clerk
Property tax assessments	County Assessor / TNMap
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk
Voting and election records	County Election Commission
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Office
Budget and financial documents	County Finance Office

The Union County Circuit Court Clerk maintains dockets and records for state court proceedings, including civil and criminal case files. The Union County County Clerk holds marriage records and County Commission minutes, both of which are available for public viewing. Property instruments are recorded and indexed by the Union County Register of Deeds.

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County operates in full compliance with Tennessee's open records framework. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, all state and local government records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) serves as the primary legal authority governing access to government-held documents throughout the state, including all Union County offices.

The county has adopted a formal public records access policy that outlines the procedures for submitting inspection requests, the responsibilities of the records custodian, and the timeframes within which responses must be provided. The policy affirms that "all county records are open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee" unless otherwise exempted by statute.

Tennessee's open records law is further reinforced by the state's Sunshine Law, which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public and that minutes be maintained as public records. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury's Office of Open Records Counsel provides guidance to both government agencies and members of the public on the application of the TPRA.

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

The cost to obtain public records in Union County depends on the type of record requested and the format in which copies are provided. Under Tennessee law, custodians may charge fees that reflect the actual cost of producing the records, but inspection of records is not subject to a fee.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (standard size)	$0.15 per page (standard state rate)
Certified copies of court records	Varies by document type
Certified copies of deeds/instruments	Set by Register of Deeds fee schedule
Electronic copies	Actual cost of production
Inspection (in-person viewing)	No charge

Accepted payment methods at Union County offices include cash, check, and money order. Specific fee schedules for recorded instruments are established by the Register of Deeds in accordance with Tennessee statutory fee schedules. Certification fees for vital records and court documents are set by the respective custodial office. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under state law, though individual offices may exercise discretion in certain circumstances.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at Union County government offices during regular business hours. Under the TPRA, custodians are not permitted to charge a fee solely for the act of inspecting records; charges apply only when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to Union County records:

Tennessee Property Viewer (TNMap): The TN Property Viewer provides free online access to property assessment data for all Tennessee counties, including Union County. No registration is required.
Union County Clerk's Office: Marriage records and County Commission minutes are available for free public viewing at the office counter.
Union County Circuit Court Clerk: Court dockets and case indexes may be inspected at no charge at the courthouse.
Union County Register of Deeds: Recorded instruments, including deeds and mortgages, may be inspected in person at no cost.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may view any non-exempt record at no charge, but obtaining a physical or electronic copy is subject to the applicable fee schedule.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any citizen of Tennessee may request access to public records maintained by Union County government offices. The TPRA does not require requestors to be residents of Union County specifically, but the statute's explicit language extends the right of inspection to Tennessee citizens. Non-residents of Tennessee may also submit requests, though the statutory right of enforcement is extended primarily to state citizens.

Requestors are not required to:

State the purpose for which the records are sought
Provide identification for inspection of most records
Demonstrate a personal interest in the subject matter of the records

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. Requests for records containing personal identifying information, sealed court files, or records subject to statutory exemptions may require the requestor to demonstrate a legal basis for access or to submit a formal written request. Individuals seeking their own records — such as personal court filings or property records — follow the same process as any other requestor. The Tennessee Public Records Request Form may be used to formalize any written request submitted to a Union County office.

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Not all government-held documents are subject to public disclosure. Tennessee law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from inspection under the TPRA. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted in Union County:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Tennessee Code.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active investigation are exempt from disclosure.
Social Security numbers and financial account data: Personal identifying information embedded in otherwise public documents is subject to redaction.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only through court order.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.
Personnel records: Employee records held by government agencies are exempt from disclosure with limited exceptions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety.

Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504 enumerates specific categories of records that are confidential by law. Custodians are required to redact exempt information from otherwise disclosable documents rather than withholding the entire record, where practicable.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Union County Register of Deeds
300 Main Street, Maynardville, TN 37807
(865) 992-3061
Register of Deeds – Union County Tennessee

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

As noted on the office's official page, "property and mortgage fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes," and the Register of Deeds encourages property owners to monitor their recorded instruments regularly.

Additional Offices:

Union County Clerk
300 Main Street, Maynardville, TN 37807
(865) 992-3061
County Clerk – Union County Tennessee

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The County Clerk's office notes that "the marriage records and County Commission Minutes are available for public viewing," and members of the public may inspect these documents during regular business hours.

Union County Circuit Court Clerk
300 Main Street, Maynardville, TN 37807
(865) 992-3061
Circuit Court Clerk – Union County Tennessee