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How to Find Public Records in Giles County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Giles County, Tennessee, may access a range of publicly available information through official county offices, state repositories, and online portals. GilesRecords.us provides data and publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Giles County. The types of records that may be found through official channels include, but are not limited to:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax assessment and property records
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement records, where permitted by law

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by Giles County and the State of Tennessee.

Online Access:

The Giles County Government website provides access to several departmental portals, including property and deed records.
The Tennessee Property Viewer maintained by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury allows members of the public to search property assessment data by county.
The Giles County Register of Deeds maintains an online index of property ownership records, liens, and contracts. No registration is required to view publicly indexed records.
Historical county records from 1810 to 1900 have been indexed and are accessible through the Giles County Archives.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the relevant county office in person. The primary offices are located at 1 Public Square, Pulaski, TN 38478. Requestors should identify the record type sought, provide the name of the subject or relevant dates, and submit a written or verbal request to the appropriate clerk or deputy.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the specific office maintaining the record. Requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, custodians are required to respond promptly, and in no event later than seven business days from receipt of the request.

Phone/Email:

Giles County Clerk: (931) 363-5300
Register of Deeds: (931) 363-5315
Circuit Court Clerk: (931) 363-5315

What Are Public Records in Giles County?

Public records in Giles County are defined under Tennessee law as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files, and other documentary materials made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-301, public records are broadly construed to promote transparency and accountability in government.

The following record types are maintained by Giles County offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Court Clerk
Property deeds, liens, mortgages	Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	County Clerk / Tennessee Department of Health
Tax assessment records	Giles County Assessor of Property
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk
Voting and election records	Giles County Election Commission
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Commission / County Clerk
Historical records (1810–1900)	Giles County Archives
Law enforcement records	Giles County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Giles County Planning and Zoning

As noted on the county's official archives page, "Giles County's history is preserved in the archives. County records from 1810 to 1900 have been indexed and archived for public research."

Is Giles County an Open Records County?

Giles County operates in full compliance with Tennessee's open records laws, which mandate public access to government documents. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, § 10-7-503, all state and local government records are presumed open to inspection by any citizen of Tennessee unless specifically exempted by statute. The Act states that "all state, county and municipal records shall at all times, during business hours, be open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee."

Giles County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance that supersedes state law; the Tennessee Public Records Act governs all public records requests submitted to county offices. The Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel, established under state law, provides guidance to both government entities and the public regarding records access rights and obligations. Members of the public who believe a records request has been improperly denied may seek assistance from the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel or pursue judicial review in the appropriate court.

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

The standard fee structure for public records in Giles County follows the schedule established under Tennessee law and the policies of each individual office. Fees are subject to change; requestors are advised to confirm current rates directly with the relevant office prior to submitting a request.

Fee Type	Standard Rate
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.15 per page (standard rate per state guidelines)
Certification of records	$1.00–$5.00 per document (varies by office)
Electronic copies	Varies; some records provided at no charge
Deed recording copies	Set by Register of Deeds schedule
Inspection of records	No charge for in-person inspection

Inspection fees: Members of the public may inspect records at no charge during regular business hours.
Copy fees: Charges apply when physical or electronic copies are requested.
Certification fees: Documents requiring an official seal or certification carry an additional fee.
Search fees: Tennessee law does not authorize custodians to charge a search fee for standard public records requests.
Payment methods: Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order. Credit card acceptance varies by office.

Fee waivers are not broadly established under Tennessee statute for standard public records requests, though individual offices retain discretion in certain circumstances.

Does Giles County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any citizen of Tennessee at the offices maintaining those records during regular business hours, as required by state law. No fee is charged for in-person review of documents at the counter.

The following free resources are available through official government channels:

Tennessee Property Viewer: The TN Property Viewer provided by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury allows free online access to property assessment data for all counties, including Giles County. As stated on the portal, "The content contained herein is made available by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury as a public service."
Giles County Archives: Historical records indexed through the county archives portal are available for public research at no charge.
Register of Deeds Index: The online index of deeds and property instruments maintained by the Register of Deeds is accessible without a fee for index searches.
Court Records Inspection: Members of the public may inspect court filings at the Circuit Court Clerk's office without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no cost, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the applicable fee schedule.

Who Can Request Public Records in Giles County?

Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, any citizen of Tennessee has the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records. The Act does not require requestors to be residents of Giles County specifically; Tennessee citizenship is the applicable standard for most record types.

Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification as a condition of inspecting most public records, though some offices may request identification for administrative purposes.
Statement of purpose: Under current law, requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most public records.
Non-residents: Individuals who are not Tennessee citizens may access certain records, particularly those available through online portals, though the statutory right of inspection is expressly extended to Tennessee citizens.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves may have access to certain records that are otherwise restricted, such as sealed or confidential documents, subject to applicable identity verification requirements.
Restrictions by record type: Certain record categories, including juvenile records, adoption records, and sealed court files, carry additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity or purpose.

What Records Are Confidential in Giles County?

Not all government records in Giles County are subject to public disclosure. Tennessee law establishes specific categories of records that are exempt from inspection. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504, the following categories of records are confidential and not subject to public inspection:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Tennessee law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records related to active investigations are exempt from disclosure.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents.
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective agencies are confidential.
Personnel records: Government employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for certain employment-related information.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Records that could compromise public safety or security are withheld.

When a records custodian denies access to a requested record, the custodian is required to identify the specific statutory basis for the exemption claimed.

Giles County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Giles County Register of Deeds 1 Public Square, Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-5315 Register of Deeds – Giles County Government

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

Giles County Circuit Court Clerk 1 Public Square, Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-5315 Circuit Court Clerk – Giles County Government

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

Giles County Archives 1 Public Square, Pulaski, TN 38478 Giles County Archives

Giles County Clerk 1 Public Square, Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-5300 Giles County Government