Clark County Court Records Search
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Clark County, Kentucky, anchored by its county seat of Winchester, maintains a two-tier court system through the Kentucky Court of Justice: a Circuit Court and a District Court, both operating from the Governor James Clark Judicial Center. The Clark County Circuit Court Clerk serves as the unified custodian for case records generated by all courts at the county level — Circuit, Family, District, and Business divisions — making it the essential first stop for anyone requesting official court documentation.
Kentucky residents looking to locate court records for Clark County have multiple channels available to them. KentuckyCourts.us can help orient searchers to the structure of the state’s judicial branch before reaching out to the appropriate clerk’s office. Official resources include online case search portals, in-person access at the courthouse, email requests to state records facilities, and formal written requests to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, depending on the age and type of record needed.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Clark County?
Court Location and Contact Information
All Circuit, Family, and District Court operations in Clark County are housed at:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Courthouse Name | Governor James Clark Judicial Center |
| Address | 17 Cleveland Avenue, P.O. Box 687, Winchester, KY 40392 |
| Circuit/Family Court Phone | (859) 737-7264 |
| District Court Phone | (859) 737-7141 |
| Fax | (859) 737-7005 |
| Circuit Court Clerk | Tony Kirk |
Payment options at the clerk’s office include cash, personal checks from Clark County residents, money orders, and other checks subject to office approval. Court fees can also be paid online through ePay via the Kentucky eCourts portal.
Online Case Search
The primary online tool for locating Clark County court cases is CourtNet 2.0, a free public portal operated by the Kentucky Court of Justice. It allows searches of civil and criminal cases by case number or party name and provides detailed case information for both active and closed matters. Appellate case records — Court of Appeals and Kentucky Supreme Court — are separately searchable through C-Track Public Access.
In-Person Access
Visiting the clerk’s office directly remains the most reliable method for obtaining certified copies or accessing case files not available through online portals. The clerk’s office is the starting point for all court record requests, as the Kentucky Court of Justice’s Request Court Records page makes clear — the Administrative Office of the Courts does not maintain case records and cannot fulfill record requests.
Records Held Off-Site
Depending on a case’s age, records may be stored at the Clark County clerk’s office, transferred to the State Records Center, or archived with the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA):
- 15–35 years old: Submit a Record Request Form by email to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617. Include the case and file locator numbers provided by the clerk’s office. These records cannot be searched by name or Social Security number.
- 36 years or older: Contact KDLA directly using the appropriate request form.
Are Court Records Public in Clark County?
Kentucky’s Open Records Act, codified at KRS 61.870 through 61.884, establishes the default rule that public records — including court case records — are open to inspection by any person. The Administrative Office of the Courts Open Records Policy supplements those statutory provisions with court-specific guidance.
However, the right of access is not unlimited. Kentucky law identifies categories of records that are shielded from routine public disclosure:
- Juvenile records — cases involving minors are sealed by statute
- Adoption proceedings — confidential under Kentucky law
- Mental health and commitment records — restricted from general public access
- Records protected by attorney-client privilege
- Personal information of judges, justices, and court staff
- Personal identifying information of crime victims and witnesses
- Legal research and analysis prepared by court staff
- Personal notes that function as the equivalent of a private diary or journal
- Unexecuted warrants — withheld until served
When a record is restricted, access is typically limited to the named parties, their legal counsel, and persons acting pursuant to a court order. KRS 61.878(1)(h) also provides law enforcement agencies with a basis to withhold records related to ongoing investigations.
Clark County Criminal Court Records
The Clark County Circuit Court handles felony prosecutions and capital offense cases, while the District Court manages misdemeanors, traffic violations, and other lower-level criminal matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records for all of these proceedings.
Searching Criminal Cases Online
CourtNet 2.0 is the primary free online tool for searching criminal case records in Clark County. A basic search by party name or case number returns case status, charges, scheduled hearings, and judgment information for both active and resolved matters.
Older Criminal Case Files
For criminal case files held off-site, the KDLA provides a dedicated Criminal Case File Record Request form. Requesters should first confirm with the Clark County Circuit Court Clerk which facility holds the record and obtain the case and file locator numbers before submitting a request. Fees are $20.00 for Kentucky residents and $25.00 for out-of-state requesters per research request, submitted with check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Additional copy charges of $0.20 per scanned page and $0.25 per photocopy apply when reproduction exceeds 30 pages.
Records can alternatively be ordered through the KDLA Records Ordering System, which accepts credit card payment with a $1.50 processing fee, or mailed to:
Archives Research Room
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
P.O. Box 537 | 300 Coffee Tree Road
Frankfort, KY 40602
Allow four to six weeks for a response to mailed requests.
Arrest Records and Sheriff’s Office
Arrest records, incident reports, and inmate information are maintained separately from court case records by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Public records requests to the Sheriff’s Office follow the Open Records Act procedures. The Clark County Detention Center also maintains a publicly accessible inmate lookup function in compliance with Kentucky’s public information requirements.
Clark County Civil Court Records
The Clark County Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over civil matters exceeding $5,000, while the District Court handles civil claims up to $5,000, including small claims matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records for both divisions.
Online Search
Civil case information — including filings, docket entries, orders, and judgments — is searchable through CourtNet 2.0 at no charge. Users can search by case number or party name, and the system returns both active and archived civil case details.
Requesting Older Civil Records
For civil case files that have been transferred off-site, use the KDLA’s Civil Case File Record Request form. As with criminal files, the Clark County Circuit Court Clerk should be contacted first to determine where the record is held and to obtain the locator numbers needed for the KDLA request.