Williamson County Lawyer for Franklin, TN
Williamson County
Criminal Charges in Williamson County
Williamson County is Tennessee's 21st Judicial District. Our office is in Gallatin, and we take criminal cases in the Williamson County courts in Franklin. Attorney Chloe Hawes handles our criminal defense cases.
• Where cases start. Williamson County General Sessions Court is where most criminal cases begin. It issues warrants, sets bonds, holds preliminary hearings and runs traffic court. The county posts a weekly General Sessions schedule showing bond, criminal, traffic and preliminary hearing dockets. Our General Sessions court guide explains your first date.
• Felonies. Circuit Court handles criminal matters for the district. Its Circuit Criminal division coordinates the grand jury, indictments, trial dockets and appeals from lower courts.
• Clerk. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps the records for both Circuit and General Sessions courts, including General Sessions criminal warrants and traffic tickets.
• DUI Recovery Court. Run through General Sessions, this program is for people charged with a DUI 2nd, 3rd or 4th offense (case by case), people with two or more pending DUI 1st charges, and some DUI probation violations. It combines required jail time, outpatient treatment and intensive probation. See our DUI page.
• Other treatment courts. The county also lists the 21st Drug Court and a Veterans Treatment Court. See our drug charge page.
• Probation. General Sessions has its own Adult Probation division. Accused of a violation? Read our probation violation page.
Start with our criminal defense overview.
Call (615) 997-7618 to talk with our team about your case.
Probate, Wills and Conservatorship in Williamson County
A will is probated in the county where the person usually lived when they died (Tenn. Code Ann. § 32-2-101). In Williamson County, the county says probate matters go to Chancery Court. Its judges are Circuit Judges who sit as Chancellor when holding Chancery Court.
• Clerk and Master. The office is in the Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Avenue South, Room 236, Franklin.
• What to bring us. For an estate: the original will if there is one, the death certificate, and a list of assets and debts. For a conservatorship: recent medical information about the person who needs help.
Our estate work is handled by attorney Kylene Ross with our probate paralegal, who has 20 years of probate, wills and estates experience. Learn more about probate, conservatorship, wills and trusts and power of attorney. A good plan can keep a family out of a conservatorship case later.
Lawsuits and Civil Cases in Williamson County
• General Sessions civil. The Circuit Court Clerk's General Sessions Civil division handles small claims lawsuits under $25,000, plus subpoenas and writs. Detainer (eviction) cases have no dollar limit in General Sessions (Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501). The weekly General Sessions schedule shows when civil dockets are called.
• Circuit Civil. Lawsuits over $25,000, along with name changes, condemnations and appeals, go to Circuit Civil Court.
• Courthouse. The Circuit Court Clerk's divisions are in the Williamson County Judicial Center, 135 4th Avenue South, Franklin.
• E-filing. The clerk links to an online e-filing portal, and General Sessions has local rules for civil e-filing.
• Deadlines. A General Sessions judgment can be appealed to Circuit Court within 10 days (Tenn. Code Ann. § 27-5-108).
Sued over a debt, a contract or a lease? Read our lawsuit defense page and our civil matters overview.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
Have a case in Williamson County? Call (615) 997-7618 to talk with our team. Prefer to write first? Send us a message and we are notified right away.