Hopkins County Court Records Search
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Hopkins County, Kentucky, sits in the heart of the Western Coal Field region, with its county seat in Madisonville. The county’s judicial system serves a wide range of legal needs, from criminal prosecutions and civil disputes to family matters and estate proceedings. Whether you are a party to a case, an attorney, a researcher, or a member of the public, understanding how the court system is organized and where records are kept will save you time and effort.
Court records in Kentucky are maintained at the county level by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Each clerk’s office is the primary point of contact for obtaining copies of case files, docket information, and related documents from Circuit, Family, District, and Business courts in that county. For Hopkins County matters, that office is located at the Hopkins County Justice Center in Madisonville.
Residents can begin a search for publicly available court case information through KentuckyCourts.us, which provides a starting point for navigating the state’s court system and connecting to official online tools. In-person searches remain available at the clerk’s office, and the state’s ePay system allows fines and fees to be handled electronically.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Hopkins County?
The starting point for any court records search in Hopkins County is the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, headed by Circuit Court Clerk Tanya M. Bowman. The office is located at the Hopkins County Justice Center and handles records for Circuit, Family, and District courts going back to 1990.
Hopkins County Justice Center — Circuit Court Clerk
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 E. Center St., Madisonville, KY 42431 |
| General Phone | (270) 824-7502 |
| Circuit Civil | (270) 824-7340 |
| Records & Passports | (270) 824-7341 |
| Circuit Criminal | (270) 824-7501 |
| Family Court Records | (270) 824-7502 |
| District Criminal | (270) 824-7507 / (270) 824-7508 |
| District Civil | (270) 824-7509 |
| Bookkeeping | (270) 824-7504 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
Search methods available:
- In person: Visit the clerk’s office during business hours. Staff cannot perform record checks on your behalf — you must conduct your own search using the public access terminals provided. Wednesday is noted as the slowest day and is therefore the best day to visit for record searches.
- Online: The KYeCourts public portal allows guest access to case information without creating an account. You can search by case number, party name, or citation number.
- By phone or mail: Contact the clerk’s office directly to discuss availability of specific records before submitting a formal written request.
Copy fees and payment:
- Copies: $0.25 per page (self-service only)
- Payment accepted: Cash and checks for citations and suit filings; cash only for restitution and bail bonds
- Online payments are available through the ePay system
The clerk’s office can also direct you to case records held at an off-site storage facility if older files have been transferred there. The clerk will provide the necessary case and file locator numbers for access. Records that have been destroyed in accordance with the Kentucky Court of Justice’s official Record Retention schedules are no longer retrievable.
Are Court Records Public in Hopkins County?
The foundation for public access to government records in Kentucky is the Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS §61.870, which grants citizens the right to inspect and obtain copies of records held by public agencies. This right extends to most court records maintained by the Hopkins County Circuit Court Clerk, including case dockets, criminal filings, civil case files, and judgments.
That said, certain categories of records are restricted by statute or court order:
- Juvenile records are sealed to protect the interests of minors and are not available to the general public.
- Adoption records are confidential and require a court order or specific statutory authorization to access.
- Mental health commitment proceedings are protected from general disclosure.
- Expunged criminal records are no longer available to the public once a court grants expungement under KRS §431.073. Individuals seeking to expunge eligible records must file a motion with the Circuit Court Clerk and obtain a certification from the Kentucky State Police, which carries a $40 fee.
- Documents containing sensitive personal identifiers — such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data — are typically redacted before public release.
Anyone seeking a restricted record must either demonstrate a legal entitlement to access the record or obtain a court order authorizing its release. For general guidance on requesting court case records and understanding what is available, the Kentucky Court of Justice’s Request Court Records page is a useful resource.
Hopkins County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Hopkins County are handled at two court levels depending on the severity of the offense.
Circuit Court (presided over by Hon. Christopher B. Oglesby) has jurisdiction over felony cases and Class A misdemeanors transferred up from District Court. This court also handles appeals from the District Court in criminal matters.
District Court (Hon. Kim Poe Gilliam and Hon. David G. Massamore) handles misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings in felony cases before they are bound over to the Circuit Court.
Contacting the courts:
| Court | Judge | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Hon. Christopher B. Oglesby | (270) 824-7422 |
| District Court | Hon. Kim Poe Gilliam | (270) 824-7512 |
| District Court | Hon. David G. Massamore | (270) 824-7513 |
Criminal docket information and case records from 1990 to present can be searched through the KYeCourts public portal. Records include charging documents, plea information, hearing dates, and sentencing details for cases that are part of the public record.
For arrest and inmate information, the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is the relevant contact. The Sheriff’s main office is located at 261 Responders Lane, Madisonville, KY 42431, reachable at (270) 821-5661, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For individuals serving sentences in state facilities, the Kentucky Offender Search tool maintained by the Kentucky Department of Corrections allows the public to search by name for offenders currently in custody or under supervision.
Criminal history background checks for employment or licensing purposes are handled separately through the Kentucky State Police, not through the court clerk’s office.
Hopkins County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Hopkins County are divided between the District Court and the Circuit Court based on the dollar amount at issue.
- District Court handles general civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000, including small claims matters under the Small Claims Division (capped at $2,500 under KRS 24A.230). Small claims filing fees start at $30.
- Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil actions exceeding $5,000, cases seeking equitable relief, property disputes, and appeals from District Court civil decisions.
The Hopkins County Circuit Court Clerk’s office is the filing point for all Circuit-level civil actions. District Court civil filings are also processed through the same Justice Center location.
Practical steps to access civil records:
- Identify the court level where the case was filed (District or Circuit) based on the claim amount or type.
- Visit the clerk’s office or use the KYeCourts public portal to search by case number or party name.
- Request copies at $0.25 per page using the public self-service terminals at the Justice Center.
- For certified copies or documents requiring the clerk’s official certification, contact the office directly for applicable fees.
Civil records available to the public include complaints, answers, motions, judgments, liens, and related filings. Property-related records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are maintained separately by the Hopkins County Clerk and can be viewed online through the Title Searcher service linked from the Hopkins County Clerk’s legal records page.
Hopkins County Family Court Records
Family Court in Hopkins County is a dedicated division of the Circuit Court, presided over by Vice Chief Regional Circuit Judge Hon. Susan Wesley McClure. The court operates from the Hopkins County Justice Center and handles a broad range of domestic matters.
Family Court contact:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Judge | Hon. Susan Wesley McClure |
| Address | 120 E. Center St., Madisonville, KY 42431 |
| Phone | (270) 824-7342 |
| Fax | (270) 824-7346 |
| Records Line | (270) 824-7502 |
Matters within Family Court jurisdiction include:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce) proceedings
- Child custody and parenting time arrangements
- Child support establishment and modification
- Domestic violence protective orders
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases
- Adoption proceedings
- Guardianship of minors
- Paternity establishment
Divorce and custody case files are part of the Circuit Court record system and are accessible through the clerk’s office, subject to the same public access rules. Some family court records — particularly those involving minors or domestic violence — may be restricted or partially sealed.
A required parenting education class for divorcing parents is held on the first Tuesday and first Saturday of each month at Madisonville Community College. This is a court-ordered program for parties with minor children involved in dissolution proceedings.
Marriage and divorce certificates are handled through state vital records rather than the court clerk. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics issues certified copies of marriage and divorce records at a fee of $6 per certificate. Certificates can be ordered online through VitalChek at (800) 241-8322, in person at 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), or by mail to the same address. Birth certificates cost $10 per copy, and death certificates are $6 per copy through the same office. All fees are non-refundable search fees.
For cases involving domestic violence or protective orders, the Hopkins County Attorney’s Office maintains a Juvenile and Family Court unit at the Hopkins County Courthouse Annex, 25 East Center Street, Madisonville, KY 42431, reachable at (270) 821-3164, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hopkins County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Hopkins County are handled through the Circuit Court’s probate division, with the circuit court clerk serving as the administrative hub for estate filings. The probate process governs the administration of decedents’ estates, appointment of executors and administrators, validation of wills, conservatorships, and adult guardianship proceedings.
How to access probate records:
- Contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s office at (270) 824-7503 (Circuit Civil line) or visit in person at 120 E. Center St., Madisonville during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday).
- Search the KYeCourts public portal by the decedent’s name or case number.
- Provide the case number or decedent’s full name and approximate date of death when requesting records.
Once a will is admitted to probate and a name change is approved by the probate court, the document is transferred to the Hopkins County Clerk’s Office for permanent recording. The recording fees applicable at that stage are:
- Will recording: $47 for the first 5 pages, plus $3 for each additional page
- Name change recording: $43 flat fee
The County Clerk’s office, located at 56 North Main Street, Madisonville, KY 42431 (Phone: (270) 821-8294), handles the recording side of probate-related documents. Recorded documents, including wills that have been probated and entered into the permanent record, can be viewed online through the Title Searcher service. The Clerk’s office also offers electronically certified copies — contact the office to arrange remote document retrieval, electronic certification, and payment by credit or debit card, eliminating the need for an in-person visit.
Property owners and interested parties can also take advantage of the County Clerk’s Fraud Alert service to receive notifications about any new activity recorded against their documents, which is particularly useful during the administration of an estate.
For guardianship and conservatorship matters involving adults, these proceedings are initiated in the Circuit Court and follow the same filing and records access procedures as other circuit-level cases. The Kentucky Court of Justice’s District Court overview and the Small Claims Handbook provide additional procedural context for lower-court matters that may intersect with estate and guardianship filings.