Christian County Court Records
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Christian County sits in the southwestern corner of Kentucky, with Hopkinsville as the county seat. All state-level trial courts operate out of the Christian County Justice Center at 100 Justice Way in Hopkinsville. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk manages records for the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court — making it the single point of contact for requesting case files, paying fines, and getting case information. Circuit Court Clerk Paige Parker's office handles everything from criminal filings and civil judgments to family law decrees and probate matters.
If you're searching for court records in Kentucky, the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was filed is your best first call. You can also search through online case-lookup tools, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and statewide databases maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts. KentuckyCourts.us can help you locate publicly available court case information across the Commonwealth's judicial system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Christian County?
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Christian County Justice Center is where you start any records request. The clerk manages filings for the Circuit, District, Family, and Business courts in the county, and staff can tell you where to find a specific case file and whether it's still held locally.
In-Person and Phone Requests
Visit or call the clerk's office during business hours to request records. Staff can confirm whether a file is held at the courthouse, stored at an off-site records facility, or has been destroyed under the Kentucky Court of Justice's retention schedules. If a record has been transferred to a storage facility, the clerk will give you the case and file locator numbers you'll need to retrieve it.
Christian County Justice Center — Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Address: 100 Justice Way, Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Phone: (270) 889-6539, (270) 889-6541, (270) 889-6542, (270) 889-6592
Circuit Court Fax: (270) 889-6029
District Criminal Fax: (270) 889-6564
District Civil Fax: (270) 881-3662
Email: ChristianCoCircuitClerk@kycourts.net
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Online Case Search
The Kentucky Court of Justice runs the KYeCourts guest login portal, where the public can search civil and criminal case information and make payments via ePay. If you need appellate case records, search through the C-Track Public Access system instead.
Records at the State Records Center
Older case files that have been moved from the clerk's office to the State Records Center require a records request form, which you can submit to state.records@ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-3617. These records cannot be searched by name alone — you'll need the case number and file locator numbers, which the circuit court clerk can provide. For records older than 36 years, direct your request to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
Payment Methods
The clerk's office accepts cash, money orders, and credit/debit cards (a processing fee applies to card payments). Online payments can be made through ePay.
Are Court Records Public in Christian County?
Kentucky's Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) creates a strong presumption that records kept by public agencies are open for inspection. The law requires public agencies to provide reasonable access so that citizens of the Commonwealth can exercise their right to know. Court case records — including civil filings, criminal charges and dispositions, judgments, and most probate documents — are generally available for public review.
Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under KRS 61.878. Records that fall outside public access include:
- Juvenile court proceedings and identifying information about minors
- Mental health case records
- Domestic violence case records (in the context of criminal background reports)
- Sealed or expunged case files
- Communications protected by attorney-client privilege
- Information disclosed to a government entity in confidence
- Records whose release would endanger someone's safety or compromise an ongoing investigation
- Personal information that would constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy
The Administrative Office of the Courts notes that criminal record reports generated through its systems include all misdemeanor and traffic cases for at least the last five years and felony records dating back to 1978. Juvenile cases, mental health cases, and domestic violence cases classified as confidential by law are excluded from those reports.
Depending on the age and type of case, a physical file may be at the clerk's office, at the State Records Center, or may have been destroyed under the court system's authorized retention schedules. The clerk can confirm availability for any specific case.
Christian County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Christian County is divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court. The Circuit Court handles felony prosecutions and appeals from the District Court. The District Court hears misdemeanors, traffic violations, city and county ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. Both courts operate from the Christian County Justice Center.
Searching Criminal Cases Online
The KYeCourts portal lets you search criminal case data online at no charge. The Kentucky Court of Justice also runs AOC FastCheck, an online portal for ordering official criminal record reports. FastCheck offers two options: a registered-user account for recurring requests, and a one-time request option for individuals. Criminal record reports cost $25.00 and cover misdemeanor and traffic cases from the past five years, plus felonies since 1978. Payment is by credit or debit card, with a processing fee of 2.25% of the transaction amount or $2.50, whichever is greater. Reports are available to download online for 30 days after processing. Reach the AOC Records Unit at (800) 928-6381, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
Kentucky State Police Background Checks
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) maintains statewide criminal history records, and any member of the public may request an adult criminal history check. The fee is $20.00, payable by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Submit a completed criminal history request form by mail to:
Kentucky State Police Headquarters
919 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 782-1800
Walk-in requests are processed the same day. Mail-in requests take up to 10 business days. Third parties may only obtain someone else's criminal history with that person's written permission.
Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL)
The Kentucky Department of Corrections runs the KOOL database, a free online tool for looking up current and former offenders. Search by name or DOC number and apply filters for crime date, conviction date, supervision status, and detention location. Results can be narrowed to Christian County specifically.
Christian County Sheriff's Office
The Christian County Sheriff's Office maintains local arrest and incident records. The office is located at 701 West 7th Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240, and can be reached at (270) 887-4141. Non-emergency dispatch is available at (270) 890-1300.
Christian County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Christian County are divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount at issue. The Circuit Court hears civil actions involving claims above $5,000. The District Court handles civil disputes of $5,000 or less, including small claims cases up to $2,500.
Circuit Court Civil Filing Fees
Under Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure CR 3.02, the base filing fee for a civil case in Circuit Court is $150.00. Statutory add-ons — including a $20.00 court technology fee under KRS 27A.630, fees under KRS 453.060, and any applicable court facility or library fees — are collected on top of that amount. Additional costs include:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Jury of six persons | $40.00 |
| Jury of more than six | $70.00 |
| Third-party complaint | $35.00 |
| Certification | $5.00 |
| Document copies (per page) | $0.25 |
| Digital/video recording copy | $25.00 |
| Audio recording copy | $15.00 |
| Writs of attachment/execution | $25.00 |
| Garnishments | $15.00 |
District Court civil filing fees are $75.00 under CR 3.03, plus applicable technology and statutory fees. Small claims filing fees are $30.00.
If you can't afford filing fees, the court may waive them if you demonstrate financial need. The Motion for Waiver of Costs is available through the circuit clerk's office or through a guided interview at KYJustice.org.
Requesting Civil Records
To get civil case records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 889-6539 or visit the Justice Center in person. Online case searches are available through KYeCourts. Older files held at the State Records Center require the standardized request form and a case or file locator number from the clerk.
Property Records
The Christian County Clerk's Office — separate from the Circuit Court Clerk — maintains property and legal records dating from 1797 to present, including deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, tax liens, wills filed for record, military discharges, and corporate filings. Reach the Legal Records Division at (270) 887-4109. An online search portal is available with subscription plans ranging from $15.00 per day to $720.00 per year, with all plans subject to a 5% service fee.
Christian County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Christian County — including divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, adoption, domestic violence orders, and paternity — are handled by the Family Court division, which operates within the Circuit Court system. All records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Justice Center. Note that emergency protective order (EPO) intake ends at 4:00 PM daily because of the time required to process each filing.
Divorce Records
The Circuit Court Clerk holds records for all divorces granted in Christian County. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) also maintains statewide divorce records from June 1958 to present. OVS charges a non-refundable search fee of $6.00 per certificate. You can submit a request online through VitalChek, by mail to the OVS at 275 East Main Street, Suite 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621, or by using the drop box at the visitor entrance. Allow five business days for drop-box requests and up to 30 business days for mail orders.
Marriage Licenses and Records
Marriage licenses in Christian County are issued by the Christian County Clerk's Office, not the Circuit Court Clerk. The fee is $60.00 (non-refundable), payable by cash, check, or money order. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old and appear in person with a valid driver's license, state ID, or passport (military IDs are not accepted). The license is valid for 30 days from the date of purchase, and the ceremony must take place within Kentucky.
Certified copies of recorded marriage licenses can be obtained from the County Clerk's office at 511 South Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240, Phone: (270) 887-4105 By mail, send a request with both parties' names, the date of marriage, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $5.00 processing fee (check or money order payable to Christian County Clerk). If you omit the self-addressed stamped envelope, the cost increases to $7.00 plus postage. Regular (non-certified) copies cost $0.50.
The OVS also maintains statewide marriage records from 1958 to present, available for a $6.00 search fee.
Birth and Death Records
The Office of Vital Statistics holds Kentucky birth records from 1911 to present and death records from 1911 to present. The fee is $10.00 per birth certificate search and $6.00 per death certificate search — both non-refundable even if no record is found. You'll need to provide the full name on the record, county of birth or death, date of the event, and (for births) both parents' names. Requests can be placed online through VitalChek, by phone at (866) 283-7477, in person at the OVS office in Frankfort (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday), or by mail with a check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.
Child Support Questions
For child support inquiries specific to Christian County, contact the Christian County Attorney's Child Support Division at (270) 887-9442.
Christian County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Christian County rests with the Circuit Court, which handles estate administration, will contests, guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and trust matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all associated filings and is the sole custodian of local probate case records.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate records often contain sensitive personal and financial information. While most filings in a probate case are part of the public court record, certain documents — particularly those involving incapacitated persons, minor beneficiaries, medical records of the deceased, and confidential financial details — may be restricted under Kentucky law. Ask the clerk about availability and any applicable restrictions before submitting your request.
To request probate records, call the Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 889-6539 or visit the Justice Center during business hours. Online case information may be available through the KYeCourts portal. If older probate files have been transferred to the State Records Center, the clerk will give you the case and file locator numbers needed to retrieve them.
Wills Filed With the County Clerk
Beyond wills probated through the Circuit Court, the Christian County Clerk's Legal Records Division also holds wills that have been filed for record as part of the county's legal document archive, with records dating from 1797 to present. Contact the Legal Records Division at (270) 887-4109 for inquiries.
Filing Fees
Probate filing fees in Circuit Court follow the same structure as other Circuit Court matters — a base filing fee of $150.00 under CR 3.02, plus applicable technology and statutory surcharges. A $50.00 fee may apply when a domestic relations or probate case is reopened for modification more than six months after entry of the original decree. For specific fee totals, contact the clerk's office directly, since costs vary depending on the nature of the proceeding.