Carter County Court Records Search
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Carter County, Kentucky maintains judicial records through its Circuit and District Courts, both located at the Carter County Justice Center in Grayson. These records document the full life of a case — from initial filings and motions through hearings, rulings, and final disposition — and cover criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and probate matters. The Kentucky Court of Justice defines case records broadly to include written documents, papers, discs, and audio or video recordings generated during legal proceedings, under the Administrative Office of the Courts' Open Records Policy.
If you need to find court case information in Carter County, you have several official channels to choose from. You can go through the Circuit Court Clerk's office, use public access terminals at the courthouse, or search through state-operated online systems. KentuckyCourts.us is a good place to start when looking for publicly available court case information across Kentucky's court system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Carter County?
The Carter County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is your main point of contact for most court record requests. Both Circuit Court and District Court cases are filed and maintained by this office.
Carter County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Address: Carter County Justice Center, 100 East Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143
Circuit Court Phone: (606) 474-5191
District Court Phone: (606) 474-6572
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Online Case Search — CourtNet 2.0
The Kentucky Court of Justice CourtNet 2.0 is the state's primary online case search platform. It gives the public access to civil and criminal case records from all 120 Kentucky counties, including Carter County. You can search for active and closed cases by party name, case number, or citation number. CourtNet 2.0 covers both Circuit and District Court dockets, and basic case lookups are free — no paid subscription required.
Appellate Court Records
If you need records from appellate proceedings, the Kentucky Court of Justice C-Track Public Access portal provides online access to cases filed with the Kentucky appellate court system.
In-Person Access
You can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office during business hours to review physical case files, search court indexes, and request document copies. Clerks can help you identify case numbers and locate specific filings.
Mail Requests
Send written records requests to the Circuit Court Clerk at 100 E. Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143. Include the case number or names of the parties, the approximate filing year, and a description of the documents you need. Attach payment for any applicable copy fees.
Are Court Records Public in Carter County?
Most Carter County court records are open to the public under Kentucky Revised Statutes §§ 61.870–61.884, the Kentucky Open Records Act. This law requires public agencies — including courts — to make records available for inspection and copying upon request. Section 4(3) of the Administrative Office of the Courts' Open Records Policy further specifies that requests for case records may be directed to the clerk of the applicable court.
That said, KRS 61.878(1) and court-specific rules establish exemptions for certain categories of records:
- Juvenile and sealed records — withheld on privacy grounds and not open for public inspection without a court order
- Law enforcement records — documents whose release could harm an ongoing investigation or compromise agency operations
- Personal information — details whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy
- Attorney-client communications and privileged trial preparation materials
- Records sealed by court order — accessible only to parties and authorized representatives
When a record contains both public and exempt information, the clerk redacts the protected portions and provides the rest. If you believe a denial is improper, you can appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, which issues advisory opinions on open records disputes.
Carter County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Carter County are handled by two courts depending on the severity of the offense. The Carter County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felony cases, while the District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and ordinance violations. Both courts maintain records at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
Searching Criminal Records Online
The CourtNet 2.0 portal provides free online access to criminal case dockets from Carter County. Search by defendant name or case number to pull results from both Circuit and District Court criminal proceedings.
Arrest Records and Detention Center
The Carter County Detention Center maintains a publicly accessible inmate roster on its website, updated to reflect current in-custody individuals. The listing is intended to promote public safety. Additional inmate information is available through the Carter County Sheriff's Office inmate search, which shows booking dates, charges, and related information for individuals currently in custody.
Kentucky Department of Corrections Offender Search
For individuals with prior convictions who are serving state sentences, the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) provides a statewide searchable database of Department of Corrections records.
Criminal History and Background Checks
Comprehensive criminal history records are not publicly available in the same way that individual court case records are. Direct requests for criminal background information to the Kentucky State Police or the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which can provide records of court convictions from cases heard in Carter County.
Carter County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Address: Carter County Justice Center, 100 E. Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143
Phone: (606) 474-5191
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Carter County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Carter County are split between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the amount in controversy and the nature of the claim. The Circuit Court handles complex civil litigation — property damage claims, personal injury cases, contract disputes, and personal rights matters above the District Court's monetary threshold. The District Court handles smaller civil claims, forcible detainer (eviction) actions, review of treatment proceedings, and ordinance violations.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records for both courts are searchable through CourtNet 2.0, which allows name- and case-number-based searches covering all publicly available case information. If you need detailed document access or certified copies, you'll need to visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in person or submit a written request.
What to Bring or Include in a Request:
- Full names of all parties to the civil action
- Case number, if known
- Approximate year the case was filed
- Specific documents required (e.g., complaint, judgment, order)
- Valid identification for in-person requests
Property Records — Carter County Clerk and PVA
Property records are separate from court civil records, but they often come up in civil litigation. The Carter County Clerk's Office maintains deeds, liens, mortgages, and releases dating back to 1838 and is located at 300 W. Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143, Phone: (606) 474-5188 The Carter County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) maintains assessment data and property maps at the same address.
Deeds recorded with the County Clerk carry a flat filing fee of $50.00, plus a transfer tax of $0.50 per $500.00 of the property's purchase price. Documents exceeding five pages incur an additional $3.00 per page.
Online Property Records — eCCLIX
The County Clerk's Office participates in the eCCLIX online records system, which lets you search and print documents filed with the Carter County Clerk's Office remotely. Carter County residents searching for personal, non-commercial purposes can conduct up to five free searches per day with no subscription fee. Commercial users — attorneys, title searchers, appraisers — pay a subscription fee for unlimited access and the ability to search additional counties.
Carter County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Carter County are handled through the Circuit Court and District Court depending on the nature of the matter. Divorce proceedings, child custody, child support, and domestic violence protective orders fall under Circuit Court jurisdiction. The District Court handles juvenile proceedings, dependency and neglect cases, and certain family-related civil filings. All records from these proceedings are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Divorce Records
Divorce case records filed in Carter County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. Divorce decrees and related filings from before June 1958 are held exclusively by the Clerk's office at 100 E. Main Street, Grayson. For divorces recorded from June 1958 to the present, certified copies may be obtained from three sources:
- In Person: Circuit Court Clerk's Office, 100 E. Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143
- By Mail: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main Street 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621, using the completed marriage/divorce application form
- Online/Phone: Through VitalChek at (800) 241-8322, with additional processing and delivery fees
The certified copy fee for divorce records through the Office of Vital Statistics is $6.00 per certificate (non-refundable search fee).
Marriage Records
Marriage records in Carter County follow the same dual-custody arrangement. Records from before June 1958 are maintained by the Carter County Clerk at 300 W. Main Street, Grayson, where records dating back to 1838 are accessible in person. Records from June 1958 forward are also available through the Office of Vital Statistics by mail or through VitalChek online. The certified copy fee is $6.00 per certificate. Public marriage records are open to all, though access to confidential marriage records — such as those involving sealed proceedings — requires proof of eligibility, such as documentation showing the requester is a spouse or holds a court order.
Child Custody and Support
Child custody and support orders originate in the Circuit Court and are maintained as part of the case file by the Circuit Court Clerk. Modifications, enforcement motions, and contempt proceedings related to custody and support are filed with the same office. The CourtNet 2.0 portal may return case-level information for custody proceedings, though specific documents require a direct request to the clerk.
Birth and Death Records
Vital records frequently needed in family law proceedings — including birth and death certificates — are managed by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Vital Statistics, with local access available through the Carter County Clerk. The Carter County Health Department also helps residents obtain vital records through its vital statistics services.
Fees and access methods:
| Record Type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | $10.00 per copy | OVS maintains records from 1911–present |
| Death Certificate | $6.00 per copy | OVS maintains records from 1911–present |
| Marriage Certificate | $6.00 per copy | OVS maintains records from June 1958–present |
| Divorce Certificate | $6.00 per copy | OVS maintains records from June 1958–present |
Records predating these cutoffs — including Carter County birth and death indexes from before 1911 — may be viewed by appointment at the Carter County Clerk's Office. Certified copies of birth and death certificates are restricted to authorized individuals, including the record subject, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Informational copies may be available to the general public under appropriate circumstances.
The Office of Vital Statistics is located at 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621, and accepts walk-in requests Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A drop box is available at the visitor entrance for after-hours applications.
Carter County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Carter County is divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court. The District Court handles uncontested probate matters — including routine estate administration, appointment of executors and administrators, and uncontested guardianships. The Circuit Court steps in for contested probate matters, including disputed wills and complex estate litigation.
The Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 100 E. Main Street maintains all probate case records. Types of proceedings documented in probate records include:
- Wills and estate administration (testate and intestate)
- Trusts
- Guardianships and conservatorships for minors and incapacitated adults
- Name changes
- Mental health proceedings related to involuntary commitment
Accessing Probate Records
Most probate records are publicly accessible. Search case index information through CourtNet 2.0 using the decedent's name or the case number. For verified copies of probate documents — including certified copies of letters of administration, will filings, or guardianship orders — contact the Circuit Court Clerk directly:
Carter County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Address: Carter County Justice Center, 100 E. Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143
Phone: (606) 474-5191
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
When submitting a request, include the full legal name of the decedent or ward, the approximate year the case was filed, and the case number if known. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) also maintains historical records from Kentucky courts, including older probate filings that may not be available through the Clerk's office or online systems.