Finger, Tennessee Public Records

The General Sessions Court, phone (731) 645-3433, has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, civil cases up to $25,000, evictions, and serves as the county's juvenile court. The McNairy County Chancery Court, also located in the courthouse at (731) 645-3455, handles probate matters, estate administration, property disputes, and equity cases. Tennessee does not have municipal courts in unincorporated areas, so Finger residents do not have a separate city court. Court records can be searched through the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts' online system at www.tncourts.gov, which provides access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, and dispositions for many Tennessee courts, though not all historical records are digitized. For certified copies of court documents, the Circuit Court Clerk charges $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, plus a certification fee. The Clerk's office accepts cash, checks, and money orders for document requests. Visitors seeking court records in person should bring valid identification and specific case information such as case numbers, party names, or approximate filing dates to expedite searches.

The Assessor's office website offers an online property search tool accessible through the county website where residents can search by owner name, property address, or parcel identification number to view assessed values, property characteristics, tax district information, and assessment history. The McNairy County Register of Deeds, located in the McNairy County Courthouse at 1 Cypress Street, Selmer, TN 38375, phone (731) 645-3432, records and maintains all land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, releases, easements, rights-of-way, and various liens affecting real property. The Register of Deeds office preserves the official chain of title for all properties in McNairy County. While some Tennessee counties offer free online access to recorded documents, McNairy County's land records system requires in-person visits or written requests to the Register's office for document retrieval. Recording fees are established by Tennessee state law, with standard deeds costing $13.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Copies of recorded documents cost $1.00 per page. The Register's office maintains deed indexes dating back to the county's formation in 1823, though older records may require additional research time. For property record searches, staff recommend having the complete property address, current owner name, or legal description to ensure accurate results. The offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding county holidays.

McNairy County's largest employers include the McNairy County school system, McNairy Regional Hospital in Selmer, and various manufacturing facilities that have located in the county's industrial parks. The county has attracted automotive parts suppliers and wood products manufacturers that provide industrial employment. Retail and service businesses in Selmer serve Finger residents for most commercial needs. Agriculture remains economically significant, with McNairy County farms producing soybeans, corn, cotton, cattle, and poultry. Median household income for McNairy County as a whole was approximately $38,000 according to recent Census estimates, below Tennessee's state median, reflecting the rural character and limited industrial development in the area. The economy of Finger specifically is characterized by modest home values, aging population demographics, and reliance on the broader McNairy County economic base. Economic development efforts at the county level focus on attracting additional manufacturing investment and supporting existing agricultural operations. Tourism plays a minor role, though the county's connections to former Sheriff Buford Pusser and the "Walking Tall" story bring some visitors to the area. The community faces typical rural challenges including population decline, limited broadband infrastructure, and competition with larger regional employment centers.

Finger, Tennessee, as an unincorporated community, does not maintain its own police department. Law enforcement services are provided exclusively by the McNairy County Sheriff's Office, located at 545 Main Street, Selmer, TN 38375, phone (731) 645-3329. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of McNairy County, including Finger, and handles patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and detention operations. Residents seeking police reports, incident records, or accident reports must contact the Sheriff's Office directly during regular business hours or submit written requests. The McNairy County Sheriff's Office operates the county detention facility, and arrest records and jail bookings are available through the office. While McNairy County does not currently provide a comprehensive online inmate roster, booking information including charges, bond amounts, and booking dates can be obtained by calling the jail at (731) 645-3329 or visiting in person. Arrest logs and incident reports are considered public records under Tennessee law. Tennessee's Public Records Act, found in Tennessee Code Annotated §10-7-503 and §10-7-504, grants citizens the right to inspect and receive copies of public records with limited exceptions for ongoing investigations and confidential information. Records requests should be submitted in writing to the McNairy County Sheriff's Office, specifying the type of record sought and the relevant dates or case numbers. The Sheriff's Office may charge reasonable fees for copies and staff time for extensive records searches, as permitted under T.C.A. §10-7-506. Response times vary depending on the complexity of the request, but the office must respond within a reasonable timeframe as required by state law.

Tennessee offers online ordering through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com with additional processing fees. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests and 10-15 business days for online orders. Immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest may request certified copies with proper identification. The McNairy County Clerk's Office, located at 1 Cypress Street, Selmer, TN 38375, phone (731) 645-3487, issues marriage licenses for couples planning to marry in McNairy County. The marriage license fee is $99.50, reduced to $60.00 for couples who complete a premarital preparation course. Tennessee eliminated the waiting period for marriage licenses effective July 1, 2019. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo identification and Social Security cards. Marriage records dating back to the 1800s are maintained in the County Clerk's office. Divorce records are not maintained by the Clerk but are available through the McNairy County Circuit Court Clerk's office at the same courthouse address, as divorce proceedings are filed as court cases. Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted under Tennessee law T.C.A. §68-3-203 and available only to eligible applicants.

Tennessee does not have a statewide business license requirement, but specific professions and industries require state licensure through appropriate regulatory boards. Business entity formation and corporate filings are handled by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state maintains a free online database at tnbear.tn.gov where anyone can search for Tennessee corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered business entities. The database provides information on entity status, registration date, registered agent name and address, principal office location, and officers or members for many entities. New business entity registration can be completed online through the same portal with fees varying by entity type: domestic LLCs cost $300 to file, domestic corporations cost $100, and foreign entities (formed in other states) pay $600. Assumed name registrations (DBAs or "doing business as" names) are filed with the McNairy County Register of Deeds office at the courthouse, where the public can search existing assumed names to avoid conflicts. The filing fee for assumed names is approximately $20. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State and searchable online. Business personal property and commercial real estate in Finger are subject to property taxation assessed by the McNairy County Property Assessor's Office at (731) 645-3434, where business owners can look up assessed values and tax obligations.

Finger, Tennessee voters are served by the McNairy County Election Commission, located at 605 Main Street, Selmer, TN 38375, phone (731) 645-3411. The Election Commission administers all federal, state, and county elections for Finger residents and maintains voter registration records. Tennessee residents can register to vote online at ovr.govote.tn.gov, the official Tennessee Online Voter Registration system maintained by the Secretary of State's office. Voter registration deadlines in Tennessee require registration 30 days before an election. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents, at least 18 years old by election day, and not currently serving a felony sentence. A driver's license or Social Security number is required for online registration. Because Finger is an unincorporated community without municipal government, there are no city elections, mayors, or city council members. Finger residents participate in county, state, and federal elections. McNairy County holds elections for County Mayor, County Commissioners, Sheriff, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, Circuit Court Clerk, and other constitutional offices. County general elections occur in even-numbered years on the August primary date and November general election date. Finger voters can locate their assigned polling place by visiting www.sos.tn.gov/elections and using the "Find My Polling Place" tool, which requires entering name and date of birth or the street address. Election records that are public in Tennessee include voter registration lists (with some personal information redacted under T.C.A. §2-2-130), campaign finance disclosures filed with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance at tref.tn.gov, candidate petitions and qualifying documents, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, McNairy County reported approximately 58% voter turnout with strong participation in the rural precincts including the Finger area. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature critical races including Tennessee's gubernatorial election, as Governor Bill Lee's term expires in 2027, all seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives and half the Tennessee Senate (based on district rotation), McNairy County offices including County Mayor and Sheriff if scheduled that year, and one U.S. House of Representatives seat for Tennessee's 8th Congressional District which includes McNairy County. Tennessee does not have a U.S. Senate race scheduled for 2026. Tennessee offers absentee voting by mail for voters who meet specific criteria under T.C.A. §2-6-201, including being 60 years or older, being hospitalized or ill, being a full-time student outside the county, serving as an election official, observing religious holidays, or having physical disabilities. Absentee ballot applications are available through the McNairy County Election Commission and must be received by 7 days before the election. Early voting is available for all Tennessee voters during a period beginning 20 days before an election and ending 5 days before election day at locations designated by the Election Commission, typically the Election Commission office in Selmer.