Macon and Trousdale County Courts: What to Know for Lafayette and Hartsville

Macon and Trousdale Counties are part of the 15th Judicial District, along with Wilson, Smith, and Jackson Counties. In both, the court clerks' offices are at a county justice center, and both counties publish far less online than their larger neighbors. Below is what each county does publish, and what to confirm by phone.

Macon County (Lafayette)

The Macon County Justice Center on the Highway 52 Bypass East houses the Circuit, General Sessions, and Juvenile Court clerks, the Clerk and Master, and the Sheriff's Office.

• Circuit Court Clerk (also General Sessions and Juvenile): 904 Highway 52 Bypass East, Lafayette, TN 37083, (615) 666-2354.
• Clerk and Master (Chancery Court): Macon County Justice Center, Room 107, 906 Highway 52 Bypass East, (615) 666-2000. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The two official sources list different hours for the Circuit Court Clerk. The county's page gives Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.; the clerk's own site gives Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1:00. Call before you go if you plan to file in person around midday.

Macon County: General Sessions civil court

Macon County's General Sessions civil court hears cases with $25,000 or less in dispute, evictions, and warrants to recover personal property. The clerk posts a General Sessions civil docket calendar, and every 2026 date on it falls on a Tuesday. The calendar does not list a start time, so confirm yours with the clerk.

Macon County: online records and payments

Macon County's online case search at macon.tncrtinfo.com covers Circuit and General Sessions cases, and the clerk says there is currently no cost to use it. Payments can be made online, by mail, or in person; the office takes cash, local checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards.

Macon County: jury duty and service animals

The Circuit Court Clerk posts jury call-in notices on its jury information page, telling summoned jurors when to call for further instructions. Follow the instructions on your summons. The clerk's site also notes that service dogs are permitted in the Macon County Justice Center.

Trousdale County (Hartsville)

Trousdale County's court offices are at the County Justice Center, 303 East Main Street, Hartsville, TN 37074.

• Circuit Court Clerk: Suite 2, (615) 374-3411.
• Clerk and Master (Chancery Court): Suite 1, (615) 374-2996.
• General Sessions Judge (with juvenile court jurisdiction): listed at 303 East Main Street, Suite 1.

Trousdale County does not post clerk office hours, parking guidance, jury information, or an online case search. The county's general office hours are not necessarily the clerks' hours, so call the clerk for your court before you go.

Which court hears your case

Tennessee law caps General Sessions civil cases at $25,000, with no dollar limit in detainer (eviction) cases (Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501). Cases above that limit belong in Circuit or Chancery Court, and your summons or complaint names the court your case is in.

Courtroom rules in the 15th Judicial District

The 15th Judicial District's published local rules apply in the Circuit, Chancery, and Criminal Courts of its counties, including Macon and Trousdale. Rule 4.06 directs litigants and witnesses not to dress in a way that distracts from courtroom decorum. Rule 4.07 bars eating, drinking, gum, tobacco, smoking, and reading in the courtroom, and Rule 4.04 keeps small children out unless they are parties or witnesses. The rules on file date from 2002, so ask the clerk whether any newer rules apply to your case.

Parking, security, and accommodations

I have not found published parking or security rules for either county. Ask the clerk where to park and what you may bring into the building, and leave weapons of any kind at home. For an interpreter or other accommodation, the state's court ADA contacts page names a coordinator for Macon and for Trousdale; the statewide line is (615) 741-2687.

Cases in the smaller 15th District counties

From my Gallatin office, Lafayette and Hartsville are a short drive, and I take civil cases in both, including eviction cases and real estate and contract disputes. For a Lafayette or Hartsville court date, contact the office.

This guide was last reviewed on October 11, 2026.

Educational disclaimer: This article provides general information about visiting the Macon and Trousdale County courts and is not legal advice about any specific case or matter. Addresses, hours, and rules can change; confirm details with the clerk's office before your court date.