Calloway County Court Records Search

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    Calloway County, Kentucky, sits within the 42nd Judicial Circuit and is served by a court system that encompasses Circuit Court, Family Court, and District Court divisions. All three divisions operate out of the Calloway County Judicial Building in Murray and share a single Circuit Court Clerk’s Office responsible for maintaining and providing access to case records. Court records in Calloway County include criminal citations, pleadings, motions, orders, evidence records, dockets, video recordings, and transcripts generated during judicial proceedings. These documents are valuable to attorneys, litigants, researchers, employers, and anyone with a legitimate need to understand the history of a legal case.

    People looking for court case information in Kentucky can begin their search through several official channels. The Kentucky Court of Justice website provides access to case search tools, clerk contact information, and record request guidance for all 120 Kentucky counties. KentuckyCourts.us may also assist users in identifying publicly available court case information across the commonwealth. In addition to online options, records can be searched in person at the clerk’s office or through public access terminals at the courthouse.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Calloway County?

    All requests for Calloway County court case records begin with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. The Circuit Court Clerk—currently Melinda Starks—is responsible for managing records from Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court, and Business Court proceedings filed in the county. The Kentucky Court of Justice makes clear that the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) does not hold or provide access to individual case records; only the court clerk’s office can confirm a record’s location or availability.

    Calloway County Judicial Building
    Address: 312 N. 4th Street, Murray, KY 42071
    District Court Phone: (270) 753-0060
    Circuit Court Phone: (270) 753-2773
    Jury Recording: (270) 753-2714
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Payment options at the clerk’s office: Cash, check, money order, credit and debit cards (with applicable convenience fee). Cash is required for bond and restitution payments. Online payment is available through the Kentucky ePay portal.

    Available search and request methods:

    • CourtNet 2.0 (online): The CourtNet 2.0 public access portal provides free online searches of Kentucky civil and criminal court cases. Users can search by name, party/business name, or citation number. This is the fastest starting point for locating a case without visiting the courthouse.
    • In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at the Calloway County Judicial Building during business hours. Bring identifying information about the case, including party names and approximate filing dates.
    • By mail: Submit a completed record request form by mail to the clerk’s office or to the state records facility, depending on the age of the case.
    • Email: Send a Record Request Form to state.records@ky.gov for records stored at the State Records Center. The case and file locator numbers must be included; records at this facility cannot be searched by name or Social Security number.
    • KDLA Records Ordering System: For older archived records, use the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) Records Ordering System or submit a written request following KDLA’s instructions.

    Appellate cases heard by the Kentucky Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Kentucky are accessible through C-Track Public Access. For Court of Appeals clerk inquiries, call (502) 573-7920. For Supreme Court clerk inquiries, call (502) 564-5444.

    Are Court Records Public in Calloway County?

    Calloway County court records are presumptively open to the public under two overlapping frameworks. The Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) grants the public the right to inspect and copy public agency records, while the Kentucky Court of Justice’s Administrative Office of Courts Open Records Policy governs access to judicial branch records specifically. Together, these frameworks establish broad public access, subject to defined categories of exemptions.

    The following categories of records are not accessible to the general public:

    • Adoption records
    • Juvenile court records
    • Records and documents protected by attorney-client privilege
    • Legal research, analysis, and personal notes equivalent to a diary or journal
    • Email addresses and personal contact information of judges, justices, and court staff
    • Technical or administrative information whose release would compromise a record-keeping or security system
    • Personal identifying information, including dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, home addresses, financial account numbers, passwords, and personal email addresses

    When a custodian withholds a record, they are required to identify the specific legal basis for the denial. Under KRS 61.878, exemptions to the Open Records Act are construed narrowly, and the burden falls on the agency to justify withholding. Requesters who believe a denial is improper may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, which serves as the primary administrative review body for Open Records disputes.

    Record age also affects access: current records are held at the clerk’s office, older records may be stored at the State Records Center, and the oldest records are archived at KDLA. The clerk’s office can advise on whether a specific case has been transferred to a storage facility or destroyed in accordance with the Kentucky Court of Justice’s retention schedules.

    Calloway County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal jurisdiction in Calloway County is divided between the Circuit Court and District Court based on offense severity. The Circuit Court handles felony cases and serious criminal matters, while the District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings. Both courts operate out of the Calloway County Judicial Building, and all records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.

    Searching criminal records online:

    The CourtNet 2.0 portal provides free public access to criminal case records searchable by name, party, or citation. For formal criminal record reports, the Kentucky Court of Justice offers FastCheck, an online background check portal that generates criminal record reports containing all misdemeanor and traffic cases from at least the past five years and felony records dating back to 1978. Criminal record reports are considered public information, but certain case types—including juvenile cases, mental health cases, and domestic violence cases—are excluded from the reports. FastCheck accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa; credit/debit card processing fees are 2.25% of the transaction or $2.50, whichever is greater. Questions about report results or concerns about accuracy can be directed to the AOC Records Unit at (800) 928-6381, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Arrest records and law enforcement records:

    Calloway County Sheriff’s Office
    Address: 701 Olive Street, Murray, KY 42071
    Phone: (270) 753-3151
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    The Calloway County Sheriff’s Office handles arrest-related records and law enforcement documentation. Arrest records, warrant information, and inmate information are maintained by the Sheriff’s Office and the county jail. The Calloway County Jail maintains a public inmate listing accessible online.

    Accessing older criminal court records:

    • Records 15 to 35 years old: Submit a completed Record Request Form by email to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617.
    • Records 36 years or older: Submit a Criminal Case File Record Request form directly to KDLA with a check or money order for the applicable fee. In-state customers pay $20.00 per record; out-of-state customers pay $25.00. Additional copies cost $0.20 per scanned page, $0.25 per photocopy, and $0.50 per microfilm copy. Processing typically takes 8 to 10 weeks. Online requests through the KDLA Records Ordering System carry an additional $1.50 processing fee.

    Calloway County Civil Court Records

    The Calloway County Circuit Court handles civil cases involving disputes exceeding $5,000, while the District Court handles civil matters where the amount at issue is $5,000 or less—including small claims. Civil case records span contract disputes, property matters, debt collection, landlord-tenant issues, and a wide range of other non-criminal proceedings.

    How to access civil records:

    • Online: Use CourtNet 2.0 to search by party name, business name, or citation number at no cost.
    • In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 312 N. 4th Street, Murray, KY 42071, during regular business hours. Courthouse parking is available in two lots adjacent to the building, and the facility is accessible by elevator.
    • By mail or email: For records stored at the State Records Center, submit a Record Request Form to state.records@ky.gov with the case and file locator numbers. For archived records, submit a Civil Case File Record Request form to KDLA with the applicable fee.

    Copy fees for KDLA archived civil records:

    Requester TypeBase Search and Copy FeeAdditional Copies
    In-state (Kentucky)$20.00 per record$0.25/photocopy; $0.20/scanned page; $0.50/microfilm
    Out-of-state$25.00 per recordSame additional copy rates
    Online via KDLA portalBase fee + $1.50 processingSame additional copy rates

    The KDLA Records Ordering System allows online submission of civil record requests. Processing time for mail-in and online requests to KDLA is approximately 8 to 10 weeks.

    Calloway County Family Court Records

    Calloway County has a dedicated Family Court division, which operates as a division of the 42nd Judicial Circuit. The Family Court model—formalized across Kentucky by constitutional amendment in 2002—assigns one judge to hear all matters involving a given family, avoiding the fragmentation that can occur when related cases are split across multiple courts. Family Court jurisdiction in Kentucky is defined by KRS 23A.100 and KRS 23A.110 and covers the following matters:

    • Dissolution of marriage (divorce) and legal separation
    • Spousal maintenance and equitable distribution of marital property
    • Child custody, support, and visitation
    • Paternity proceedings
    • Domestic violence matters
    • Dependency, neglect, and abuse cases
    • Termination of parental rights
    • Adoption proceedings
    • Status offenses (runaways, truancy, beyond parental control)

    Family Court Judge Stephanie J. Perlow serves as Chief Circuit Judge for the 42nd Judicial Circuit Family Court Division. Circuit Court Judge Andrea L. Moore serves Division 1 of the 42nd Judicial Circuit.

    Divorce and marriage records:

    Divorce certificates from 1958 to the present are available through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS). The fee is $6.00 per copy. Requests can be made online, by phone, or by fax through a third-party vendor (credit cards accepted; additional vendor fee applies), or by mail. To submit a mail request, send a completed Marriage and Divorce Application (also available in Spanish) with the $6.00 fee and required identification to the OVS. Mail processing takes approximately 30 working days.

    Marriage licenses in Calloway County are issued by the Calloway County Clerk’s Office, not the Circuit Court Clerk. The fee for a marriage license is $60.00, payable by cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.

    Calloway County Clerk’s Office
    Address: 101 South 5th Street, Suite 5, Murray, KY 42071
    Phone: (270) 753-3923 (Motor Vehicle/Election) | (270) 767-0429 (Real Estate)
    Fax: (270) 759-9611
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Open records requests submitted to the County Clerk must use the appropriate form and can be mailed to 101 South 5th Street, Suite 5, Murray, KY 42071, or faxed to (270) 759-9611. The Clerk’s Office responds within five business days of receipt.

    Birth and death records:

    • Birth certificates: Available from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (records from 1911 to present) for $10.00 per copy. Mail requests require a completed Birth Certificate Application (also in Spanish) sent to the OVS at 275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621.
    • Death certificates: Available from the OVS for $6.00 per copy. Submit a completed Death Certificate Application (also in Spanish) to the same OVS address, with check or money order.
    • Local requests: Both birth and death certificates are also available in person at the Calloway County Health Department, 602 Memory Lane, Murray, KY 42071, Phone: (270) 753-3381 A valid photo ID and applicable copy fee are required.
    • OVS in-person and drop-off hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Same-day processing requires submission before 3:45 p.m.

    Calloway County Probate Court Records

    Probate jurisdiction in Calloway County belongs to the District Court, which handles all matters related to decedents’ estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships for individuals who were domiciled in the county at the time of death or appointment. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at the Judicial Building maintains probate case records and can be reached at (270) 753-0060 for District Court matters.

    Probate matters handled by the Calloway County District Court include:

    • Admission of wills to probate and issuance of letters testamentary
    • Administration of intestate estates (where no valid will exists)
    • Appointment of personal representatives (executors and administrators)
    • Guardianship and conservatorship of adults and minors
    • Trust proceedings
    • Involuntary commitment proceedings

    Wills admitted to probate in Calloway County must be filed with the District Court, which issues a probate order. The County Clerk’s Office also plays a role in recording certain probate-related instruments. Individuals handling an estate should confirm with the Circuit Court Clerk which office holds the specific document they need.

    Searching probate records:

    Probate case records that are not confidential can be searched through CourtNet 2.0 by the decedent’s name or case number. In-person requests should be directed to the Circuit Court Clerk at the Calloway County Judicial Building. For older probate records that have been transferred to the State Records Center or KDLA archives, use the same email and mail request procedures applicable to civil and criminal archived records—submitting either the online Record Request Form with case locator numbers, or a written request to KDLA with the appropriate fee. In-state customers pay $20.00 per record for archived probate documents; out-of-state customers pay $25.00, with additional copy costs as described under civil records above.