Five Points, Tennessee Public Records

The Lawrence County General Sessions Court, also located at 240 West Gaines Street (phone: 931-762-7700), handles misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, civil cases up to $25,000, evictions, protection orders, and magistrate functions. Lawrence County also has a Chancery Court at the same courthouse address (phone: 931-762-7700), which exercises jurisdiction over equity matters including some divorce cases, adoptions, guardianships, property disputes, and estate matters. Since Five Points is unincorporated, there is no municipal court for the community. Tennessee court records can be searched online through limited county-specific systems, though Lawrence County does not currently offer comprehensive online case search capabilities for the general public. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) provides a limited public case search portal, but access varies by county. For certified copies of court documents, requests must typically be made in person or by mail to the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Lawrence County Courthouse. Filing fees and copy costs are established by Tennessee statute: certified copies typically cost $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page (T.C.A. § 8-21-1001). Civil filing fees vary depending on case type but generally range from $200 to $300 for complaints in Circuit Court. General Sessions Court filing fees are typically lower, around $100-$150 for civil actions. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order, and some courts accept credit cards with an additional processing fee.

Tennessee's public records law, known as the Tennessee Public Records Act, governs the accessibility and dissemination of these records, ensuring transparency and public access to governmental records.

While Lawrence County does not currently offer a fully interactive online property assessment search, property information can be obtained by contacting the Assessor's office directly during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury provides a statewide property tax database at www.comptroller.tn.gov/pa that includes some Lawrence County data, though functionality may be limited compared to dedicated county systems. For recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real property, the Lawrence County Register of Deeds maintains the official records at 240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464 (phone: 931-762-7700). The Register of Deeds office is responsible for recording and indexing all land records as required by Tennessee law. Property record searches can be conducted in person at the Register's office during regular business hours by searching grantor/grantee indexes or by parcel information. Recording fees are established by state statute (T.C.A. § 8-13-104) and are currently $18.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Lawrence County does not currently offer free online access to recorded land documents, so researchers must visit the office or hire a title company or abstractor. Some Tennessee counties use the Register of Deeds Network for online document access, but Lawrence County has not implemented this system as of 2025. The county does maintain GIS mapping data that can be accessed through the Assessor's office, providing visual parcel boundaries and basic property information useful for research and land development purposes.

Manufacturing has historically played a significant role in Lawrence County's economy, with companies like Murray Ohio Manufacturing (lawn and garden equipment) and various automotive suppliers providing industrial employment within reasonable commuting distance of Five Points. The county's agricultural sector continues to be important, with cattle farming, hay production, timber harvesting, and row crop cultivation providing income for landowners in and around Five Points. Lawrenceburg, the county seat located about 8 miles northwest of Five Points, serves as the primary commercial hub for the area, offering retail shopping, professional services, banking, and government services. The Natchez Trace Parkway, which passes through Lawrence County, contributes to tourism-related economic activity, though Five Points itself has limited tourist-oriented businesses. The community's proximity to Interstate 65 (approximately 25 miles to the east) provides access to larger employment markets including Columbia and the southern Nashville metropolitan area, making Five Points viable for residents who commute to larger employment centers. Median household income data specific to Five Points is not separately reported, but Lawrence County's median household income was approximately $46,000-$50,000 according to recent census estimates, below the Tennessee state average. Economic development in the area focuses on industrial recruitment, agricultural support, and leveraging the county's location along historic transportation corridors. The rural character, affordable land, and quality of life continue to attract residents seeking a quieter lifestyle within reach of Tennessee's growing urban centers.

Five Points, as an unincorporated community in Lawrence County, Tennessee, does not operate its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Five Points residents are provided by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, located at 240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (931) 762-3626 and maintains jurisdiction over unincorporated areas throughout Lawrence County, responding to calls for service, conducting investigations, and maintaining patrol operations. The Tennessee Highway Patrol also has jurisdiction on state highways passing through the Five Points area. To request police reports or incident records from the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, residents should visit the office in person during regular business hours or submit a written public records request pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act (Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503 and § 10-7-504). The Sheriff's Office typically charges fees for copying and processing records as permitted under state law.

For arrest and jail booking information, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office operates the Lawrence County Jail, located at the same address as the main office (240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464). Current inmate information can be obtained by calling the jail directly at (931) 762-3626 or by visiting in person. While Lawrence County does not currently maintain a comprehensive online inmate roster with searchable booking records, the Sheriff's Office provides booking information upon request. Statewide offender searches can be conducted through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Department of Correction's offender database for individuals in state custody. Under Tennessee's Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503 et seq.), arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports are generally considered public records unless specifically exempted by law. Requests must be made to the records custodian—in this case, the Lawrence County Sheriff—who has seven business days to respond and must provide records in the most economic and efficient manner. Fees for copying and staff time may apply as outlined in T.C.A. § 10-7-506.

The fee for a certified birth certificate is $15.00 for the first copy and $15.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; online orders through VitalChek incur additional processing fees. Tennessee birth records are available from 1914 to present, with some earlier records existing for major cities. Death certificates cost $15.00 each and are available from 1914 forward statewide. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests and 10-15 business days for online orders, with expedited services available for additional fees. Only eligible persons can request vital records under Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 68-3-306), including the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a direct and tangible interest. Marriage licenses for Five Points residents are issued by the Lawrence County Clerk's office at 240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464 (phone: 931-762-7700). Both parties must appear in person to apply; the fee is $98.50, which includes the license and recording. There is no waiting period or blood test required in Tennessee. Marriage records are public and maintained permanently by the County Clerk. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $15.00 each. Divorce records are judicial records maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk or Chancery Court Clerk (depending on which court granted the divorce) at the Lawrence County Courthouse, 240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the court clerk for $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. The Tennessee Office of Vital Records also maintains a divorce index but does not issue certified copies; those must come from the court of record. Historical vital records prior to statewide registration may be found in county archives or the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville.

Property used for commercial purposes is assessed and taxed by the Lawrence County Trustee based on assessments from the County Assessor of Property. Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA filings) in Tennessee are filed with the county clerk where the business is located. For Five Points businesses, this is the Lawrence County Clerk at 240 West Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464 (phone: 931-762-7700). The filing fee is approximately $20, and the registration must be renewed every five years. Tennessee does not maintain a statewide searchable database of DBAs; searches must be conducted at the county level. For formal business entities including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, registration is handled by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state maintains a free searchable database at https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/FilingSearch.aspx where anyone can look up business entity names, status (active, dissolved, withdrawn), registered agents, formation dates, and principal office addresses. Business entity filings, annual reports, and amendments are all processed through the Secretary of State's office, located at 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 6th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 (phone: 615-741-2286). Filing fees vary: LLC formation costs $300, corporation formation costs $100, and annual reports cost $20-$300 depending on entity type. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which are liens on personal property used to secure loans, are also filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State's UCC Division. UCC searches can be conducted online at https://tnbear.tn.gov/ECommerce/UCCSearch.aspx to identify security interests on business assets. Commercial property tax records for businesses operating in Five Points can be researched through the Lawrence County Assessor of Property (931-762-7790) and the Lawrence County Trustee, who collects property taxes based on those assessments.

Five Points voters are served by the Lawrence County Election Commission, located at 240 West Gaines Street, Suite 1, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464 (phone: 931-762-7700). The Election Commission is responsible for voter registration, maintaining voter rolls, conducting elections, managing polling places, and certifying election results for all county, state, and federal elections affecting Lawrence County residents. Tennessee voters can register online at https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/, the official Tennessee Online Voter Registration system maintained by the Tennessee Secretary of State's Division of Elections. Registration deadlines in Tennessee require voters to register at least 30 days before an election. Acceptable forms of identification for registration include a Tennessee driver license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. To vote in person in Tennessee, voters must present valid photo identification such as a Tennessee driver license, U.S. passport, or other government-issued photo ID as required by state law (T.C.A. § 2-7-112).

Since Five Points is an unincorporated community, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Five Points residents vote in Lawrence County elections for county mayor, county commission, county clerk, county trustee, register of deeds, sheriff, circuit court clerk, and other county constitutional offices. County general elections are held in even-numbered years, with the next county general election scheduled for August 2026 (primaries) and November 2026 (general election). Tennessee state elections include the governor's race (next in 2026), state senate and state house of representatives (both elected in even years), and various state offices. Five Points is located in Tennessee State Senate District 24 and Tennessee State House District 71; voters should verify their specific legislative districts at https://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/.

Five Points residents can find their assigned polling location by visiting the Tennessee Secretary of State's GoVoteTN website at https://tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/ and entering their name and date of birth or address. Polling places for Five Points area voters are designated by the Lawrence County Election Commission and are typically located at schools, community centers, or other public buildings. Early voting in Tennessee begins 20 days before an election and ends five days before Election Day; early voting locations and hours are posted at https://tnsos.org/elections/.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Lawrence County recorded approximately 55-60% voter turnout among registered voters, consistent with rural Tennessee counties in presidential election years. Total turnout exceeded 10,000 voters out of approximately 18,000 registered voters in the county. Tennessee does not have voter registration by party, so all registered voters may participate in either the Republican or Democratic primary (but not both in the same election).

Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Five Points and Lawrence County voters will decide several important races. Tennessee's U.S. Senate Class I seat will not be on the ballot in 2026 (next election in 2024), but the Class II seat currently held by Senator Bill Hagerty is not up until 2026—voters should verify the specific federal races at https://tnsos.org. The Tennessee gubernatorial election will be held in 2026, as governors serve four-year terms and the last election was in 2022; Governor Bill Lee's term expires in January 2027, making the 2026 governor's race a major statewide contest. All 99 Tennessee State House seats and 17 of the 33 State Senate seats will be on the ballot. At the county level, Lawrence County offices including County Mayor, County Commission seats, Sheriff, County Clerk, Trustee, Register of Deeds, and Circuit Court Clerk will be decided depending on the specific election cycle for each office (some are four-year terms with staggered elections).

Tennessee election records are largely public under state law. Voter registration lists can be purchased from county election commissions for legitimate purposes as defined in T.C.A. § 2-2-119. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance and are available online at https://www.tn.gov/tref/. Candidate nominating petitions and qualifying information are maintained by the county election commission for local races and the Secretary of State for state races. Precinct-level election results are public records and are posted on the Tennessee Secretary of State's website and county election commission websites following certification. Five Points residents can access historical election results and current candidate information through the Lawrence County Election Commission office or at https://tnsos.org/elections/results.php.

Absentee voting by mail is available in Tennessee only for voters who meet specific statutory criteria (T.C.A. § 2-6-201), including: voters 60 years or older, voters hospitalized or ill, full-time students outside the county, election officials, candidates, military and overseas voters, and certain other categories. Tennessee does not have universal no-excuse absentee voting. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Lawrence County Election Commission and can be downloaded from https://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting. The application deadline is seven days before the election. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted.