Henderson County, Kentucky Court Records

Henderson County operates a two-tier trial court system — Circuit Court and District Court — both housed at the Henderson County Judicial Center in the city of Henderson. Circuit Court is the general jurisdiction court and handles felonies, major civil matters, and family law. District Court takes care of misdemeanors, traffic offenses, probate, small claims, and lower-level civil cases. All records from both courts are maintained by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, which is also the first stop for any records request in the county.

Kentucky court records can be searched through the clerk's office, public access terminals at the courthouse, and several online tools. KentuckyCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information and find the right clerk's office in any Kentucky county. For Henderson County specifically, court dockets and case information are available electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice's online systems described below.

Henderson County Judicial Center Courts and Clerk

Office	Address	Phone	Hours
Circuit Court Clerk (Clyde Gregory Sutton)	5 N. Main Street, Henderson, KY 42420	(270) 826-2405 / (270) 826-1566	Mon–Fri, 8 AM–4:30 PM
Henderson County Clerk	20 N. Main Street, Suite 206, Henderson, KY 42420	(270) 826-3906	Mon–Thu, 8 AM–4:30 PM; Fri, 8 AM–6 PM
Henderson County Sheriff's Office	20 N. Main Street, Suite 112, Henderson, KY 42420	(270) 826-2713
Henderson County PVA (Property)	20 N. Main Street, Suite 100, Henderson, KY 42420	(270) 827-6024	Mon–Fri, 8 AM–4:30 PM

How to Look Up a Court Case in Henderson County?

Start with the Kentucky Court Case Records Search (CourtNet), operated by the Kentucky Court of Justice. This system lets you search by case number, party name, or other criteria across Circuit, District, Family, and Business Court cases statewide — including those from Henderson County. You can also browse upcoming Henderson County hearing schedules through the Kentucky Court of Justice Docket Search.

For appellate matters — cases decided by the Kentucky Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Kentucky — the C-Track Public Access portal gives you electronic access to appellate case information.

When online searches fall short, or when you need certified copies, all requests go through the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Depending on the age of the case, records may be stored on-site, at an off-site state records facility, or at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The clerk can tell you where a specific record is held and what you'll need to request it.

Options for requesting Henderson County court records:

In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk at 5 N. Main Street, Henderson, KY 42420, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM. The office has two Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) computer/printer stations for pro-se parties.
By phone: (270) 826-2405 or (270) 826-1566
Fax: (270) 831-2710
Online payment (after locating a case): The ePay portal allows online payment of fines and fees. Drop box payments — local personal check or money order payable to the Henderson Circuit Clerk — are accepted at the left side of the Judicial Center entrance and are checked Monday–Friday at 8:00 AM.
Records at state archives: For cases transferred to the State Records Center, submit the records request form to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617.

Are Court Records Public in Henderson County?

Kentucky's Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) gives Kentucky residents the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government agencies, including court records. Public agencies must respond to a records request within five business days.

That said, the Act identifies several exempt categories under KRS 61.878. Records that are shielded from public inspection in Henderson County include:

Sealed court records — Cases sealed by court order are off-limits to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records from delinquency and dependency proceedings involving minors are confidential under Kentucky law.
Adoption records — These are sealed and accessible only by court order or statutory authority.
Active law enforcement investigation files — Preliminary investigative materials, witness identities, and other enforcement records may be withheld when their release could compromise an ongoing investigation.
Preliminary drafts and internal notes — Internal agency communications and draft documents not adopted as final policy are exempt.
Records protected by federal or state statute — Specific categories of personal information, such as medical and financial records separately protected by law, are also withheld.

If a custodian denies access to records, the denial must be in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption. Requesters can challenge a denial through the Attorney General's Office or through the courts.

One important practical note: the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) does not hold court case records and cannot fulfill records requests. All such requests must go through the Circuit Court Clerk's office in the county where the case was heard.

Henderson County Criminal Court Records

Criminal jurisdiction in Henderson County is divided by offense severity. Circuit Court handles all felony prosecutions — crimes that carry potential imprisonment in a state penitentiary — along with capital offenses. District Court handles misdemeanors, violations, and criminal traffic offenses, as well as arraignments and probable cause hearings for felony arrests.

Criminal case records are searchable online through the CourtNet case search portal, which gives you access to active and closed cases with information on charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and related case activity. For daily schedules, the Kentucky Docket Search shows upcoming Henderson County criminal proceedings.

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office — located at 20 N. Main Street, Suite 112, Henderson, KY 42420, Phone: (270) 826-2713, fax: (270) 827-6022 — is the county's primary law enforcement agency and maintains arrest records and incident reports. The Henderson County Detention Center keeps a public-facing current inmate list that you can search by name. If someone is incarcerated in a state facility, you can locate them through the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) system maintained by the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Criminal court payments — fines, court costs, and fees — can be made at the payment window at the Circuit Court Clerk's office using cash, money order, certified check, local personal check, or credit/debit card (a processing fee applies to card payments, with a $2,500 per-transaction credit limit). Cash bond payments require a driver's license or Kentucky ID and a Social Security number. Probation fees must be paid in person using cash or credit/debit card — checks and money orders are not accepted for probation.

Henderson County Remote Court Access (select proceedings):

Probate: Contact District Court Judicial Services Specialist at (270) 826-4755 (see remote court instructions here)
Traffic: Contact District Court Judicial Services Specialist at (270) 826-4755 (see remote court instructions here)
Family/Domestic Violence Court: Contact Family Court Judge's staff at (270) 869-0460
Circuit Court: In-person only; no remote access available

Henderson County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Henderson County are divided between the two trial courts based on the dollar amount at stake. Circuit Court hears civil matters involving claims over $5,000, while District Court handles civil cases at $5,000 or less. Small claims — capped at $2,500 under KRS 24A.230 — fall within District Court, with filing fees of approximately $30.00 under Kentucky Civil Rule 3.03. No party may file more than 25 small claims complaints in the same District Court in any calendar year.

Civil case records — including pleadings, orders, judgments, and dockets — are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and searchable through CourtNet. The Clerk's office at the Henderson County Judicial Center (5 N. Main Street) provides in-person access during regular business hours.

Real estate and property records — deeds, liens, mortgages, and other recorded instruments — are maintained by the Henderson County Clerk at 20 N. Main Street, Suite 206. These records are available online through a subscription to TitleSearcher.com. For online access to the Clerk's records, call or email the office at (270) 826-3906. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with an additional $2.00 fee for documents delivered by mail, email, or fax. Property valuation and assessment data are maintained by the Henderson County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) at 20 N. Main Street, Suite 100, Phone: (270) 827-6024

Delinquent property tax records can be searched online through the TaxMaster portal, and delinquent taxes can be paid in person or by credit card through the County Clerk's office.

Henderson County Family Court Records

Henderson County has a dedicated Family Court, which operates as a division of Circuit Court under Kentucky's "One Family, One Judge, One Court" model. Family Court jurisdiction is set out in KRS 23A.100 and 23A.110 and covers a wide range of domestic and family matters, including:

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) and spousal support
Property distribution and equitable distribution proceedings
Child custody, visitation, and parenting time
Child support establishment and modification
Paternity actions
Adoption and termination of parental rights
Domestic violence and protective order proceedings
Dependency, neglect, and abuse cases
Status offenses (runaways, truancy, beyond-parental-control)

Family Court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and searchable through the CourtNet case search system. Because many Family Court cases involve sensitive personal information, filings that concern children, domestic violence victims, or adoptions may be sealed or partially restricted. For remote access to Family or Domestic Violence Court proceedings, contact the Family Court Judge's staff at (270) 869-0460 to find out what's available.

Marriage records in Henderson County are handled by the Henderson County Clerk's office, which issues marriage licenses and maintains related records. The marriage license fee in Henderson County is $60.00. Both parties must appear in person to apply. Certified copies of marriage records from June 1958 onward can also be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. Requests may be submitted online through VitalChek at (800) 241-8322, or by mail to:

Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street, 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621

The Office of Vital Statistics charges $6.00 per certified copy of a marriage or divorce certificate (non-refundable search fee). Checks or money orders must be made payable to the Office of Vital Statistics — cash is not accepted for mail requests. In-person services are available Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM.

Divorce (dissolution of marriage) certificate requests follow the same procedure and fee schedule — $6.00 per certified copy through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. These certificates cover dissolutions from June 1958 to the present. Full divorce case records — pleadings, orders, and decrees — are held by the Circuit Court Clerk and are accessible through CourtNet or by contacting the clerk's office directly.

Birth and death certificates come from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, not the courts. Birth records are available from 1911 to the present at $10.00 per certified copy. Death certificates cost $6.00 per certified copy. You can submit requests online through VitalChek, in person at 275 East Main Street in Frankfort (8 AM–4:30 PM weekdays), via drop box, or by mail. Mail and drop box orders are processed within five business days.

Henderson County Probate Court Records

Probate jurisdiction in Henderson County rests with the District Court, which handles administration of decedents' estates, probate of wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and related matters. The Kentucky Court of Justice describes District Court as the venue for initial probate of wills and related limited-jurisdiction proceedings. Contested probate matters and those involving real property title disputes may be elevated to Circuit Court.

All probate case records are maintained by the Henderson County Circuit Court Clerk's office. To search existing probate cases, use the CourtNet case search portal and filter by District Court in Henderson County. For probate cases requiring remote hearing access, contact the District Court Judicial Services Specialist at (270) 826-4755. Instructions for remote probate proceedings are available in the court's remote access document.

To request Henderson County probate records:

Contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 5 N. Main Street, Henderson, KY 42420, by phone at (270) 826-2405, or by fax at (270) 831-2710.
Provide the decedent's name, approximate date of death, and any known case number.
The clerk will confirm whether records are on-site or stored at an off-site facility.
If records are at the State Records Center, submit a completed records request form to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617. These records are not searchable by name alone — case and file locator numbers are required.
Pay applicable copy fees at the time of your request.

For historical wills and estate records maintained separately from active court files, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives provides access to older records through its archives and reference services. Henderson County probate records reaching back to the county's early history are also indexed in various genealogical databases, though official certified copies must always come from the court clerk.

Guardianship and conservatorship records are similarly filed with the District Court and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. These proceedings establish legal authority over the person or property of individuals who cannot manage their own affairs. Related filings — inventories, annual reports, and settlement accounts — are part of the publicly accessible court file unless specifically sealed by court order.