Bourbon County Court Records Search
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Bourbon County, Kentucky sits in the heart of the Bluegrass region, with Paris serving as the county seat and the hub of local judicial activity. The county's courts handle a broad range of legal matters — from criminal prosecutions and civil disputes to family proceedings and estate administration. The records they generate, including judgments, dockets, motions, case summaries, and sentencing documents, form an official history of legal proceedings and serve as essential references for legal research, background investigations, and administrative purposes.
In Kentucky, court records are generally maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk for each county. In Bourbon County, that office holds records from the Circuit Court, Family Court, and District Court. Older cases may have been transferred to a state facility. Finding what you need means knowing which court handled the matter, how old the case is, and whether the records are available online, at the courthouse, or through a state archive. KentuckyCourts.us can help you orient yourself within the Kentucky court system and locate publicly available case information by county.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bourbon County?
Kentucky offers several official channels for locating court case information, from free online search tools to in-person requests at the courthouse.
Online Search — CourtNet 2.0
Start with CourtNet 2.0, the primary public tool for searching Kentucky court records, operated by the Kentucky Court of Justice. No registration or fee is required to search as a guest. Enter a party name or case number to look up active and closed civil and criminal cases. CourtNet covers Circuit, Family, District, and Business court filings statewide and provides detailed case information including docket entries and case status.
Trial Court Dockets
The Kentucky Court of Justice Trial Court Docket lists scheduled hearing dates and upcoming court appearances. This is useful if you need to confirm whether a matter is scheduled before a specific judge or court division.
In-Person Records Requests
The Bourbon County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is the place to go for certified copies or to view physical case files. Staff can retrieve records by name or case number during regular business hours.
Bourbon County Judicial Center — Circuit Court Clerk
Address: 310 Main Street, Paris, KY 40361
Circuit Court Clerk: Trina Huston
Phone: (859) 987-2624
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Payment at the clerk's office is accepted by cash, money order, certified check, or local personal check. Out-of-state and third-party checks are not accepted. Court fines and fees can also be paid online through ePay.
Older and Archived Records
Cases more than 15 to 35 years old may have been moved from the clerk's office to an off-site record facility. When a clerk indicates that a case has been archived, they'll give you the case and file locator numbers needed to request the records. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) maintains older court records and processes research requests by mail. In-state research requests require a $20.00 non-refundable search and copy fee payable to KDLA. You can also submit requests by email to state.records@ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-3617.
Are Court Records Public in Bourbon County?
Kentucky law generally permits public access to court records. The Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA), KRS 61.870–61.884, gives residents of the Commonwealth the right to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies. Courts in Kentucky additionally operate under the Administrative Office of the Courts Open Records Policy, which specifically governs access to judicial records.
Under these frameworks, most case filings, judgments, dockets, and court orders are generally accessible to the public. However, certain categories of records receive confidential treatment and are released only to named parties, their attorneys, or individuals who present a valid court order. Restricted record categories in Bourbon County include:
- Adoption records — sealed under Kentucky statute to protect the privacy of adoptive families and biological parents
- Juvenile court records — proceedings involving minors are confidential by default
- Attorney-client communications filed under seal
- Records sealed by court order — a judge may restrict access to specific documents or entire case files upon proper motion
- Domestic violence petition records — certain protective order filings carry access limitations to protect petitioners
When requesting records, be prepared to show your identity and, where applicable, your legal interest in the case. Court staff cannot confirm the contents of sealed filings but will typically acknowledge the existence of a case number.
Bourbon County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Bourbon County move through two different courts depending on the severity of the charge. The District Court handles misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, and the initial arraignment and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Felony prosecutions proceed to the Circuit Court for grand jury action, trial, and sentencing. Under KRS 24A.110, the Kentucky District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over misdemeanor and violation dispositions.
Bourbon County Judicial Center — Criminal Divisions
| Court | Divisions | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court — Division I | Criminal docket | Tuesdays at 1:00 PM |
| Circuit Court — Division II | Criminal docket | Tuesdays at 1:00 PM |
| District Court | Juvenile Criminal | 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 9:30 AM |
Searching Criminal Records Online
CourtNet 2.0 provides free public access to criminal case records filed in Bourbon County's Circuit and District Courts. Search by a defendant's name or case number to retrieve charge information, court dates, dispositions, and sentence details where applicable.
Arrest and Detention Records
The Bourbon County Regional Detention Center maintains a current inmate list that includes charges and bond information for individuals currently held in the facility. Records may be viewed online or requested in person.
Bourbon County Regional Detention Center
Address: 101 Legion Road, Paris, KY 40361
Phone: (859) 987-2137
The Kentucky Department of Corrections Offender Search (KOOL) provides an additional statewide database for locating individuals serving sentences in state custody.
Criminal History Background Checks
Formal criminal history background checks are processed separately from court record requests and are obtained through the Kentucky State Police, which administers the state's official criminal records program.
Bourbon County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Bourbon County are divided between the Circuit Court, which handles higher-value claims and equity cases, and the District Court, which handles lower-value civil disputes and small claims.
Civil Jurisdiction Overview
- Circuit Court: Handles civil cases exceeding District Court jurisdiction, including major contract disputes, real property actions, personal injury cases, and appeals from lower courts.
- District Court — Civil Division: Handles general civil claims with limited dollar amounts.
- Small Claims Division: Handles disputes of $2,500 or less under KRS 24A.230. No attorney representation is required, and filing fees typically range from $25 to $30.
Small Claims, District Civil, and Probate matters are calendared on the Second Tuesday of each month at 1:30 PM.
Searching Civil Case Records
CourtNet 2.0 includes civil case filings from both the Circuit and District Courts. Searches are free and available without registration. For certified copies of civil case documents, visit or contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Bourbon County Judicial Center.
Copy Fees
Standard document copies from Kentucky circuit court clerks are generally $0.25 per page. Certification of records carries a separate fee of $5.00 per case. Call the clerk's office at (859) 987-2624 to confirm the current fee schedule before submitting a request.
Property-Related Civil Records
Deeds, liens, mortgages, easements, and plats are recorded and maintained by the Bourbon County Clerk's Office, which operates separately from the Circuit Court Clerk. The County Clerk's office doesn't charge for viewing property records but does assess a nominal fee for copies. The County Clerk also maintains an online records portal through eCCLIX, allowing users to view and print documents recorded by participating county clerks across Kentucky.
Bourbon County Clerk's Office
Address: 301 Main Street, Suite 106, Paris, KY 40361-0312
Phone: (859) 987-2142
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Bourbon County Family Court Records
Bourbon County operates a dedicated Family Court as a division of the Circuit Court. In Kentucky, Family Court is the exclusive venue for a defined range of domestic matters, with a specialized docket and procedural framework that keeps these cases separate from general civil litigation.
Subject Matter Handled by Family Court
- Divorce, annulment, and legal separation proceedings
- Child custody, visitation, and allocation of parental responsibility
- Child support establishment, modification, and enforcement
- Paternity determinations
- Adoptions
- Domestic violence civil proceedings and emergency protective orders
- Dependency, neglect, and abuse (DNA) cases involving children
- Termination of parental rights
- Status offenses involving juveniles (runaways, truancy)
Family Court Schedule at Bourbon County Judicial Center
| Division | Matter | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Division III | Dependency/Neglect/Abuse | 1st Tuesday, 9:00 AM |
| Division III | Domestic Violence | 1st & 2nd Tuesdays, 2:00 PM |
| Division III | Domestic Relations Motions | 1st & 2nd Tuesdays, 1:00 PM |
| Division III | Child Support | 2nd Tuesday, 11:30 AM |
| Division IV | Domestic Relations | 3rd & 4th Tuesdays, 1:00 PM |
| Division IV | Domestic Violence | 3rd & 4th Tuesdays, 2:00 PM |
| Division IV | Child Support | 4th Tuesday, 11:30 AM |
Divorce Records
Divorce records dated before June 1958 are maintained by the Bourbon County Circuit Court Clerk. Post-1958 divorce records are accessible through CourtNet 2.0 by searching the names of the parties or the case number. You can also request copies in person at the clerk's office — staff may ask for the names of both parties, the date of the divorce, or the case number to process the request.
Marriage Records
Marriage records in Bourbon County are maintained by the Bourbon County Clerk's Office, not the Circuit Court. Certified copies cost $5.00 when requested in person. Mail requests require a completed Marriage License Copy Request Form, the groom's name, the bride's maiden name, the year of the marriage, and a fee of $6.00 per copy by check or money order payable to the Bourbon County Clerk.
Birth and Death Records
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) maintains Bourbon County birth and death records from 1911 to the present. Certified birth certificates cost $10.00 per copy, while certified death certificates cost $6.00 per copy. Requests can be submitted in person at the OVS office, by mail with a completed application form, or through the OVS's third-party vendor by phone, fax, or online — those last options carry additional processing fees. Mail applicants should use the Application for a Certified Birth Certificate or the Application for a Certified Copy of Death Certificate, each submitted with the applicable fee.
Bourbon County Probate Court Records
In Kentucky, probate matters — including the administration of decedents' estates, the probating of wills, and related filings — are handled by the District Court rather than a standalone probate court. Bourbon County's District Court calendars Small Claims, District Civil, and Probate matters together on the Second Tuesday of each month at 1:30 PM.
What Probate Records Contain
Probate records document the formal legal process of settling a deceased person's estate and typically include:
- Original wills submitted for probate
- Petitions for appointment of personal representatives or executors
- Inventories and appraisals of estate assets
- Creditor notices and claim filings
- Final settlement accounts
- Orders of distribution to heirs and beneficiaries
- Guardianship and conservatorship appointments for incapacitated individuals
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records filed in Bourbon County's District Court are searchable through CourtNet 2.0 at no charge. Search by party name or case number. For records not available online, in-person requests are accepted at the Bourbon County Judicial Center during regular business hours — staff may ask you to complete a records request form and provide identifying details about the case.
For older probate records that predate current electronic filing, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives holds historical records and can assist with genealogical and legal research. Mail requests to KDLA must include the $20.00 non-refundable search and copy fee. If you plan to visit the KDLA reading room in person, submit a request form in advance, as records retrieval may take up to 30 minutes.
The Kentucky Court of Justice's Request Court Records page provides additional guidance on obtaining case files, including instructions for accessing records stored at off-site facilities and the process for submitting case and file locator numbers when requesting archived materials.