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Kentucky · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Circuit Court Clerk (county level - each of Kentucky's 120 counties) / Kentucky Courts (state level - unified system)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (felonies, civil over $5,000, family/domestic, probate), District Court (misdemeanors, civil up to $5,000, small claims up to $2,500, traffic), Court of Appeals, or Kentucky Supreme Court
  2. Note: Kentucky has a unified state court system organized by judicial circuits (57 circuits and 59 districts within 120 counties)
  3. Search online through Kentucky's eCourts portal:
  4. KY COURTS CASE SEARCH: ky.gov/courts - limited public case search available; check the Kentucky Court of Justice website (courts.ky.gov) for available online case information
  5. CIRCUIT COURT CLERK ONLINE ACCESS: Some counties offer online case search through their county clerk websites; access varies significantly by county
  6. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed; each county has a Circuit Court Clerk's office (this is a separately elected official from the County Clerk)
  7. In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online access varies; certified copies: typically $0.25-$1.00 per page; contact specific county Circuit Court Clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Varies by county; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Limited; courts.ky.gov for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions; county-level access varies
Where to Go
Circuit Court Clerk's office in the county where the case was filed (NOTE: this is different from the County Clerk)
County-specific variations apply

Kentucky's 120 counties each have a Circuit Court Clerk's office (separate from the County Clerk). Online case access varies significantly - Jefferson County (Louisville) and Fayette County (Lexington) have the most comprehensive online systems. Many rural Kentucky counties have very limited online access requiring in-person or written requests. Call ahead to confirm hours and procedures.

Kentucky Notes

Important state-specific details

  • IMPORTANT: Kentucky has both a CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (court records, case filings) and a COUNTY CLERK (deeds, marriage licenses, vehicle titles) - these are different offices; court records go to the Circuit Court Clerk, not the County Clerk.
  • Kentucky Court of Appeals and Kentucky Supreme Court opinions: courts.ky.gov.
  • Criminal history background checks: Kentucky State Police (KSP) - justice.ky.gov/ksp; background checks available.
  • Kentucky Sex Offender Registry: ksor.ky.gov - searchable online.
  • Juvenile records: generally sealed; special access rules apply.
  • Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870 et seq.): agencies must respond within 3 business days.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Kentucky Court of Justice - courts.ky.gov | (502) 573-2350; KSP (criminal history) - justice.ky.gov/ksp | (502) 782-2060