Kentucky court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk. The Circuit Court / District Court handles trial-level cases. Kentucky offers a statewide court search through KY CourtNet, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: Kentucky state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use KY CourtNet for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Circuit Clerk in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: KY CourtNet covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in Kentucky (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
Kentucky Court Records — Key Numbers (FY2025)
What Kentucky court records actually cost
CourtNet searching is free; the certified AOC background report used by Kentucky employers is a separate per-name product. Clerks charge per page for copies plus certification, and expungement in Kentucky pairs a filing fee with a certification-of-eligibility step that has its own small charge.
Exact amounts are set by each court's current fee schedule — check the official source before you order.
What Changed in 2026 — Kentucky Court Records
The 4-Step Kentucky Court Records Pathway
Five Things People Get Wrong About Kentucky Court Records
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.kycourts.gov — Kentucky Court of Justice — Main judicial-branch portal for Kentucky
- Kentucky case access — Public case-search portal
- Kentucky court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- Kentucky annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- Kentucky Criminal Records →
- Kentucky Property Records →
- Kentucky Vital Records →
- Kentucky Voter Records →
- Kentucky Wants & Warrants →
- Kentucky Licenses →
- Kentucky Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
9 official Kentucky court records sources.
Court Records
Kentucky Counties
120 Kentucky counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Kentucky counties publish court dockets online
7 of Kentucky's 121 counties run their own online source for court dockets, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Kentucky court cases online?▼
Kentucky's trial courts publish case lookups through the Kentucky Court of Justice. Start at www.kycourts.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Kentucky?▼
The Kentucky Court of Justice operates Kentucky's official statewide judicial portal at www.kycourts.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Kentucky residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Kentucky?▼
Trial courts in Kentucky handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Kentucky Court of Justice publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.kycourts.gov.
How far back do Kentucky court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Kentucky county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Kentucky Court of Justice portal at www.kycourts.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Kentucky cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Kentucky courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Kentucky Court of Justice portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.