Graves County Court Records Search

Graves County, Kentucky sits in the heart of the Jackson Purchase region in the far western part of the state. Its court system handles everything from felony prosecutions to estate settlements, and the records generated by those proceedings are administered primarily through two offices: the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk and the Graves County Clerk. Whether you need a copy of a criminal judgment, a divorce decree, a probate filing, or a deed of record, knowing which office holds what — and how to request it — is the most efficient starting point.

Residents and researchers looking for Graves County court case information have several access points available to them. The Kentucky Court of Justice maintains online tools and resources that allow users to search civil and criminal case records statewide, including cases filed in Graves County. Searches can be conducted through public access terminals at the courthouse, by contacting the Circuit Court Clerk directly, by submitting mail requests, or by using the court system’s electronic filing and records platform. KentuckyCourts.us provides a gateway to case information, court dockets, and guidance on requesting official records from individual county clerk offices.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Graves County?

The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk is the official custodian of court case records in Graves County. Circuit Court Clerk Emily Ward Buzanis oversees the office, which currently operates out of a temporary location following 2021 tornado damage to the original Graves County Courthouse.

Graves County Circuit Court Clerk (Temporary Location)

Address: 1102 Paris Road, Suite 21, Mayfield, KY 42066
Phone: (270) 247-1733
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Payment: Cash, cashier’s check, or money order (no out-of-state checks; cash only for bonds)

There are three primary methods for looking up a court case:

In person — Visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s office during business hours. Public access terminals are available on-site for self-directed record searches. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment for any copy fees.
Online — The KYeCourts guest login portal allows users to search case records electronically by name, case number, or citation. Online payments for fines and fees are also processed through the ePay system at this portal.
By mail — Submit a written request to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office at the address above, including the requester’s contact information, a description of the records sought, and payment for applicable fees.

For records older than approximately 15 years, the originals may have been transferred to a state records facility rather than remaining in the clerk’s office. In that situation, the clerk will provide the record facility’s contact information and the file locator numbers needed to retrieve the documents. Older archived records may also be accessible through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

Court docket information, including upcoming hearing dates, can also be viewed through the Kentucky Court of Justice dockets system.

Are Court Records Public in Graves County?

Kentucky’s Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) establishes the default rule that public records — including most court filings — are open to inspection by any person. The Circuit Court Clerk is obligated to respond to written inspection requests and to provide copies at the applicable rate, which is $0.10 per page for standard document copies.

That said, several categories of court records are restricted from general public access:

Juvenile records — Cases involving minors in the District Court’s juvenile division are sealed to protect the privacy of those individuals under Kentucky law.
Adoption proceedings — Adoption records are confidential and can only be accessed under specific legal circumstances.
Expunged records — Once a court grants expungement under KRS 431.073 (for eligible felony convictions) or KRS 431.076 (for acquittals and dismissed charges), those records are legally removed from public view and cannot be released.
Mental health proceedings — Certain involuntary commitment and mental health records are sealed.
Sealed cases — Individual judges may seal specific case files or portions thereof by court order.

Requesters who are denied access to records may appeal the denial under the procedures outlined in the Open Records Act. The Kentucky Attorney General’s office publishes guidance on open records rights and appeal procedures.

Graves County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Graves County are divided between two court levels. The Circuit Court handles felony offenses — crimes carrying sentences of one year or more — while the District Court handles misdemeanors and violations. Both court levels are served by the same Circuit Court Clerk’s office, making it a single point of contact for criminal case records at either level.

To search criminal court records:

Use the KYeCourts guest login portal to search by defendant name or case number
Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 1102 Paris Road, Suite 21, Mayfield for in-person access
Submit a written mail request with the required identification and fee

It is important to distinguish between court records and criminal history reports. Court records document specific case filings, hearings, and outcomes. A criminal history report — which compiles an individual’s full record of arrests and convictions across jurisdictions — is a separate product. The Kentucky State Police maintains the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) system, which provides public access to information on individuals currently supervised or incarcerated by the state. For arrest records specific to Graves County, open records requests can be directed to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, which accepts written public records requests from any Kentucky resident.

Note that criminal records sealed by expungement order are not accessible through any public channel, and clerks are prohibited from confirming their existence once an order has been entered.

Graves County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Graves County cover a broad range of non-criminal disputes, including contract disputes, property disagreements, small claims matters, and collections. These cases are filed in either the Circuit Court (for matters above the District Court’s jurisdictional threshold) or the District Court (for civil claims up to $2,500 in small claims, and other civil matters within its jurisdiction).

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all civil case files, and the same access methods apply as for criminal records — in-person review, online search via KYeCourts, or written mail request.

Standard copy fee: $0.10 per page

Civil court filings from Graves County that have reached the appellate level can be reviewed through the Kentucky Court of Justice Appellate Public Access portal.

Property-related civil records — including deeds, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, tax liens, powers of attorney, and assignments — are maintained not by the Circuit Court Clerk but by the Graves County Clerk. The Legal Records Division of the County Clerk’s office holds these instruments from 1902 to the present, with document indexes available for most types going back to at least 1985, along with associated images.

Graves County Clerk (Legal Records/Property)

Detail	Information
Address	1102 Paris Road, Suite 4, Mayfield, KY 42066
Phone	(270) 247-1676
Fax	(270) 247-0075
Email	kim.gills@ky.gov
Hours	Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Clerk	Kim Gills

Property records can be searched online through the Graves County Clerk’s land records portal or by visiting the office in person. The County Clerk’s records database also includes military discharges, UCC filings, and corporation documents.

Graves County Family Court Records

Graves County has a dedicated Family Court division operating within the Circuit Court. Kentucky’s Family Court model — sometimes described as “one family, one judge, one court” — consolidates related domestic matters before a single judge to promote continuity and reduce conflicting orders. The Kentucky Family Court handles the full range of domestic legal proceedings under its jurisdiction.

Cases handled in Graves County Family Court include:

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) — governed by KRS Chapter 403, Kentucky’s no-fault dissolution framework
Child custody and visitation — including initial custody orders and modifications
Child support — including establishment, enforcement, and modification
Paternity proceedings
Domestic violence and protective orders
Adoption proceedings
Dependency, neglect, and abuse (DNA) cases
Guardianship matters involving minors

Family Court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and are generally accessible under the same public records framework as other court filings. However, adoption records are sealed, and juvenile DNA cases may be subject to confidentiality restrictions.

Divorce records from Graves County are accessible through the Circuit Court Clerk’s office, which has maintained these records since 1902. For certified copies of divorce certificates from 1958 to the present, requesters may also contact:

Office of Vital Statistics

Address: 275 East Main Street, Room 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-4212
Fee: $6.00 per certified copy

Marriage licenses and certificates are recorded and maintained by the Graves County Clerk’s office at 1102 Paris Road, Suite 4. Records date back to 1902. Certified copies of marriage certificates from 1958 forward are also available from the Office of Vital Statistics for a $6.00 fee per copy.

Requesters visiting the County Clerk in person should bring valid photo identification; the standard copy fee is $0.10 per page. The County Clerk also accepts written public records inspection requests via mail or in person.

Birth and death records are maintained by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. Certified birth certificates cost $10.00 per copy, while death certificates are $6.00 per copy. Access to birth records under 100 years old is restricted under KRS 213.046 to the named individual, close family members, and their legal representatives. Death records less than 50 years old are similarly restricted under KRS 213.131.

Graves County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Graves County are handled within the Circuit Court’s jurisdiction, with records maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. Probate proceedings cover the legal administration of a deceased person’s estate and related matters.

Common probate case types in Graves County include:

Estate administration — both supervised (full administration) and unsupervised proceedings
Will probate and will contests
Guardianships — for minors or incapacitated adults
Conservatorships — for the management of a protected person’s assets
Curatorships
Name changes
Intestate succession proceedings (when a person dies without a will)

To access probate court records, requesters may visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s office at 1102 Paris Road, Suite 21, Mayfield, use the KYeCourts guest portal to search by case number or party name, or submit a written mail request. Public access terminals at the office allow in-person self-service searches. Copies are available at $0.10 per page with valid photo identification.

Wills that have been filed as part of a probate proceeding become part of the public court record and are accessible under the same rules. However, wills that have not yet been submitted to probate — such as those held in private custody — are not court records and are not subject to public access.

The Graves County Clerk’s Legal Records Division separately maintains will-related instruments (such as recorded wills), deeds, and other documents that may be relevant to estate matters. These records, maintained since 1902, can be searched through the Graves County Clerk’s online land records system.

For questions about the probate process or to obtain forms for filing, the Kentucky Court of Justice’s Request Court Records page provides statewide guidance on record access procedures, including how to identify the correct clerk office and record storage location for older files.