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About Kentucky Public Records

Criminal records for employment, adoptions, commercial guide licenses, emigration, housing assistance and other industries requiring criminal checks can request official records from the Kentucky State Police. Felonies dating back to 1978, misdemeanors and tr…

About Kentucky public records

🏛️ 120 county pages🏙️ 2 standalone city pages

Criminal records for employment, adoptions, commercial guide licenses, emigration, housing assistance and other industries requiring criminal checks can request official records from the Kentucky State Police. Felonies dating back to 1978, misdemeanors and traffic cases of the last five years or more can be viewed using Kentucky state court's website. The Office of Vital Statistics, department of health provides deaths and births from 1911 and marriages or divorces from 1958. An index of over 200 major state and local government departments across all three branches.

Court records and filings

Access Kentucky Courts online directly. Search court records; from Kentucky county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Kentucky dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to Kentucky probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Kentucky state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.

Court search routes

As there may be more one source to obtaining Kentucky criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

Kentucky State Court Structure:

The Kentucky municipal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases involving moving traffic violations, miscellaneous traffic violations, and DWI or DUI matters. It has exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases involving ordinance violations, and parking violations. The Kentucky district courts are the state's trial courts. These courts have jurisdiction to hear cases involving tort, contract, real property rights ($0/$4,000), interstate support, and estate matters. The courts have exclusive mental health, and small claims jurisdiction, where the amount in controversy is $1,500 or less. The district courts have exclusive paternity jurisdiction, jurisdiction over misdemeanor, DWI or DUI, and domestic violence matters. These courts have exclusive traffic or other violation jurisdiction, and exclusive juvenile jurisdiction. District courts hold venue to preliminary hearings. Kentucky circuit courts hear tort, contract, real property rights ($4,000/no maximum), interstate support, and estate matters. These circuit courts have exclusive civil appeals, miscellaneous civil jurisdiction, exclusive marriage dissolution, support/custody, adoption, miscellaneous domestic relations jurisdiction. Circuit courts also have exclusive felony, and criminal appeals jurisdiction. Kentucky's courts of appeal have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, and original proceeding cases. These courts have discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. Kentucky's highest court is the supreme court. Kentucky's supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in capital and other criminal (death, life, 20 yr+ sentence), disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, and original proceeding cases. The supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases.

Criminal records and background checks

Search Kentucky criminal records for misdemeanors to felony convictions. Request criminal case information and trials held in all 120 counties. Access a list of government agencies to obtain criminal background searches from the state of Kentucky. Current and updated statewide public information databases that collect case and conviction history.

Background check access

Kentucky criminal background checks and public records searches. Court records access links and resources and look up divorces. Begin you employment screening with license verification. Personal history, judgments and liens, free instant UCC searches online. Link to many government agencies that provide public records. Request bankruptcy records, drivers records, find property and real estate ownership or find an address. Order birth certificates, marriage, death and recorded documents. Research among the most complete directory of databases with how to instructions, inquiry forms and step by step process of obtaining public information. Background Checks Help And Frequently Asked Questions Plus Other Related Information

Vital records

Statewide Kentucky vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Kentucky and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Kentucky to conduct research online. Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Lookup the Kentucky vital statistic laws. Search the Department of Libraries and Archives.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in Kentucky and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in Kentucky owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access Kentucky government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Free and easy to use direct official Kentucky government links to driver license and registration sources. Register your vehicle, get your tags, obtain the history of a vehicle. Online forms and processing from your computer anywhere. You can also see the status of your applications at anytime online without having to call the clerk. Locations, hours and office information are also available online.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Kentucky. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Kentucky criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

Kentucky genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Resources and data from the Department for Libraries and Archives Collections, Electronic Records, Secretary of State Land Office, Filson Historical Society Library in Louisville, USGenWeb Project and National Archives Southeast Region.

Missing children resources

Assistance and resources are readily available to search for missing children in the state of Kentucky. Law enforcement, criminal justice and other public agencies work together to secure the safe return of an abducted child. The Kentucky State Police may be the centralized clearinghouse to assist law enforcement agencies to locate and return missing children to their homes. The Kentucky Amber Alert Program is an emergency notification system designed to help locate abducted children. These alerts are broadcast statewide and can also be viewed on internet sites. Websites are also available which post photos and details of children reported missing from Kentucky, as well as sites which offer national search databases. Citizens may also learn about tips for protecting their children from abduction and the many support services provided to families of missing children.
Useful next step

Open the main Kentucky records directory or browse city record pages for direct source links.

Last reviewed: Mar 25, 2026 Updated: Mar 25, 2026