Tennessee is a landlocked Midwest state surrounded by eight other states. The home of Tennessee whiskey features 10,000 caves and caverns, and it's also the birthplace of cotton candy and Mountain Dew. With its rich musical history, Tennessee offers residents a lot of culture and a lot of land (approximately 42,000 square miles), meaning a lot of people and lots of property records.

Tennessee has 95 counties, each responsible for its own property and land records. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury has created a search portal where you can find records online from 86 of the 95 counties. However, they do not guarantee the accuracy of the records.

Property records in Tennessee contain information about each piece of real property along with the historical and current owner(s). They verify ownership, provide an opinion of value, validate upgrades and renovations, and transfer property.

Use this guide to learn all about Tennessee property records, what they are, how people use them, where you can find them, and how to change them.

Property records in Tennessee are legal documents that provide information about a parcel of land, the buildings contained within, and its owners. Some are purely information like appraisals and assessments, and others serve a purpose. For example, building permits allow residents to renovate their property, liens use the property as collateral for a loan, and deeds transfer property from one person to another.

Sources of Property Records in Tennessee

Tennessee property records are public records that can be found with various government agencies. You file deeds with the county register of deeds, and they can supply you with copies if needed. You can contact the county assessor for information about the land, value, or property taxes. Each county commissioner and city government determines local property tax rates and sends out bills. The State Board of Equalization establishes policies and procedures governing the county assessors. The state Comptroller of the Treasury oversees the entire system.

Property records must be appropriately filed before they can become legal and public. Whenever land changes hands, someone creates a new deed, which must be filed with the county register of deeds. Once it has been filed, the record becomes public, and anyone can look it up and access it. Each of Tennessee's 95 counties has a register of deeds office.

How are Property Records Maintained in Tennessee?

The agency responsible for the records must keep them filed in order and maintained according to state rules. Once they receive new documents, they stamp them with the date, time, and filing code.

Accessing Records at the Register of Deeds in Tennessee

Tennessee property records are public records and are openly available to anyone who wishes to see them. You can contact the agency in charge of the records you want to view and ask for copies. You may have to wait while they locate them and pay a small fee per copy.

For example, if you were looking for property records in Nashville, you would visit the Davidson County Register of Deeds office. A few other county examples would be:

Register of Deeds Locations in Tennessee

When filing or researching public records, you need to know which county the property resides in. Once you have the full property address, you will know which county to consult. Use this resource for a complete list of all county registers of deeds locations.

Property records come in many shapes and sizes. Each serves a different purpose. Some of the more common types of property records that you will find in Tennessee consist of:

State laws require assessors to revalue property once every four to six years and revalue personal property annually. The county assessor's office is responsible for the revaluation. The assessor distributes employees within their jurisdiction to identify, assess, and thus determine a property's value. The standard process has three key steps:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants accompany deeds during the transfer or sale of property. Easements are rights-of-way that give someone other than the owner access to the property. A good example would be a wireless company with towers on someone's land. The company can enter the property at any time to maintain its towers, and it doesn't have to ask permission first.

Covenants are rules for using the land. They most often apply to gated communities and condo developments. They might contain rules against having pets on the property or motorcycles.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are types of maps. Plats show the boundaries of all the neighboring properties, while surveys show only the boundaries of the property itself. Tennessee created a survey tool to help you see the boundaries of any property online. You can use it by entering the parcel name, owner's name, property address, or subdivision.

Historical Property Records

Due to the vast number of property records, many states like Tennessee move older historical records into archives. You can visit The Tennessee State Library and Archives for older property records and maybe find some with historical significance.

In this modern age of technology, you have many different options available to you when searching for property records. They are as follows:

Online Property Record Search

Using the internet is one way to search for property records. Type the property address into a Google search bar and review the results. You may get lucky, but you might not find enough information. A more targeted approach might yield better results.

In-Person Property Record Search

You always have the option of visiting one of the government offices in person to review property records. You can ask for specific records based on an address or owner. You may have to wait if they are busy and pay a small fee per page.

Using Property Record Indexes

You can find dozens of property record indexes online. Some are archives, and some may be current records. Be careful; these third-party resources may not have the most accurate or up-to-date data.

How to Search Property Records by Address

The best way to search is using the full property address. Simply type the address into the search bar and see what comes up.

How to Search Property Records by Name

Sometimes, you have the option of searching by the owner's name, but not always. Enter a current or past owner into the search and review the results.

Because Tennessee property records are public, you can identify who owns what property, which can be helpful in many situations. The best way to find out is to visit the register of deeds office in person or search online using a trusted property records portal.

Another important aspect of property records is property descriptions. These are legal descriptions of the property, including natural landmarks and other details, so that anyone can easily identify the property.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys are land measurements used to correctly identify the proper boundaries of the land. They are most often used in new construction and laying utilities. However, they also come into play during boundary disputes. Tennessee land was originally partitioned through the "metes and bounds" method.

The following information may appear in the various types of property survey documents:

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Whenever someone infringes upon another person's property, an issue may arise. These boundary disputes often end up in court, with a judge deciding who owns what. Surveyors are frequently asked to provide expert testimony to help the judge decide.

Encumbrances like liens show up in various property records and can negatively affect the property in many ways. Some liens are voluntary, but others are involuntary, and those can lead to foreclosure and loss of the home.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are those that you agree to whenever you use your home as collateral for a loan. If you take out a mortgage, for example.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are imposed against your will for an unpaid debt or default on a loan.

The Process of Property Liens in Tennessee

The process of putting a lien on a property in the state depends on the type of lien. Here is a breakdown of the process of placing a mechanic's lien:

Property records come into play most often during real estate transactions. Real estate professionals consult property records before the sale and create them during the sale. After, they file them with the appropriate agencies.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

Before buying any property, you must find out as much as possible about it so you can go into the sale with open eyes. You can learn how much the property is worth, what the annual taxes are, if any building permits were pulled recently (indicating renovations), and other impactful details that can help you decide whether to buy it or not.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

When selling property, you must provide the buyer with certain disclosures regarding any material defects in the home. For example, if you know that the foundation is damaged or the roof needs replacing, you must offer that information. If you don't have all the necessary information, you can get it from property records.

Title Searches and Insurance

If you borrow money to buy a place, your lender will require that you purchase title insurance. This protects both you and them against any legal claims on the property after the sale. Your attorney or title company will perform a property title search to try to avoid any issues.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Tennessee

A property under foreclosure may not be an enticing option for regular buyers, but it is for investors. Some investors use property records to search for distressed properties and buy them cheaply to sell later at a profit.

Property values are one of the most essential pieces of information, especially when buying or selling property. These values appear in many different documents, such as property taxes, appraisals, insurance documents, assessments, and others.

Assessments and Appraisals

Property appraisals come into play with estate planning and mortgages. If you borrow money to buy your house, the lender will require an appraisal. They need to know that the actual property's value supports the loan so they don't lose money.

Property tax assessors use assessments to value property and set tax rates. These values may or may not match the actual fair market value (FMV). You can check property records to find out the value of neighboring homes and get an accurate idea of what yours is worth when selling.

Most property records are public and cannot be kept private. Since anyone can access them online or in person, you should investigate what information is out there about you. Although public records can contain personal information, they shouldn't.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public, to be transparent, so no one can secretly buy up land and property without anyone knowing about it. This also prevents one government agency from having too much control over the citizens it governs.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

You cannot remove all your personal information from property records. However, you can request that anything beyond your name and address (email address, phone, and other details) be removed from all public records. You may have to contact in-person offices and online resources to have details removed.

The agency that holds your records will not know there is a problem unless you bring it to their attention. Therefore, it's your responsibility to keep your property records updated and maintained correctly.