09/04/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2026
Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson Sworn In for Third Term
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson was sworn in for her third term during a ceremony at the Metropolitan Courthouse. Chancellor Anne C. Martin, Presiding Judge of the Twentieth Judicial District and Chancellor of the Davidson County Chancery Court, Part II, administered the oath of office. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and State Representative Justin Jones also attended the ceremony and delivered remarks.
Johnson thanked her family, staff, and the people of Nashville and Davidson County for their continued support and trust as she begins another four-year term.
“Today, as I take the oath of office for a third term, I do so with gratitude, humility, and an even greater determination to serve,” Johnson said.
During her remarks, Johnson reflected on the progress of the Register of Deeds Office over the past eight years. Under her leadership, the office relocated to a more convenient, customer-friendly location, expanded services for residents, and strengthened its Property Alert program to help homeowners protect what may be their most valuable possession, their homes, from property fraud and improper liens.
Johnson also emphasized the office’s commitment to addressing the needs of a growing Nashville, including the community’s need for affordable housing. During her third term, Johnson will continue exploring innovative ways the Register of Deeds Office can use its unique role and resources to provide meaningful insight into Nashville’s housing landscape and support broader efforts to improve housing affordability.
The office has also continued to expand access to essential government services. The Davidson County Register of Deeds became the first Register of Deeds office in Tennessee to be approved as a passport acceptance facility and the first to develop a mobile app. The office now also offers a convenient driver services kiosk, while a full-service Real ID counter is in the final stages of approval and expected to open later this year.
“My promise is simple: We will continue listening, improving, and meeting people where they are,” Johnson said. “Together, we will protect property, expand access, and use public service to make life better for every person who calls Nashville home.”
Johnson concluded her remarks by thanking Davidson County residents for their trust and for the opportunity to continue serving as their Register of Deeds.
To learn more about the services of the Register of Deeds, please visit www.nashville.gov/rod.
About the Register of Deeds Office
The Register of Deeds is a constitutional office established by the Tennessee General Assembly as the custodian of legal documents pertaining to real property. The office is currently led by Karen Johnson, who made history as the first woman and African American elected to the position.
Contact: Nina Liu
[email protected]
(615) 862-6790
