Johnson County Court Records Search
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Court records produced through Johnson County's judicial system document the progression of legal proceedings from the moment a case is filed through final judgment and any appeals. These official files contain petitions, complaints, motions, orders, transcripts, exhibits, and affidavits created during criminal, civil, family, and probate proceedings. The Circuit Court Clerk is the official keeper of all court records maintained in Johnson County and is the primary point of contact for anyone seeking to inspect or copy them.
Kentucky residents have several ways to locate court case information. KentuckyCourts.us — the official site of the Kentucky Court of Justice — provides a county-by-county court directory, an online public court records portal, legal forms, and guidance on requesting records. You can also get court information in person at the clerk's counter, through a drive-thru service window at the courthouse, or via written requests by mail or fax. If you prefer to search remotely, the court system's online portal allows case lookups by name and case number across all Kentucky counties.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Johnson County?
The Johnson County Circuit Court Clerk's office — located at the Johnson County Judicial Center in Paintsville — manages records from Circuit, Family, District, and Business courts in the county. It's the single starting point for any court records request.
Johnson County Circuit Court Clerk
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Circuit Court Clerk | Hillary M. Chafin |
| Address | Johnson County Judicial Center, 908 3rd St., Suite 109, Paintsville, KY 41240 |
| Phone | (606) 297-9567 |
| Fax | (606) 297-9573 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Payment Options | Cash, check, money orders, credit/debit cards (fee applies); ePay online |
Available Access Methods
- In person — Visit the clerk's office during business hours. A drive-thru window is also available to pay fines, obtain forms, and file papers without entering the building.
- Online portal — The Kentucky Court of Justice Public Court Records portal allows searches by party name, case number, or citation across the Commonwealth, including Johnson County cases.
- Court dockets — Upcoming hearing schedules are available through the Trial Court Docket tool on the Kentucky Court of Justice website.
- Mail or fax — Written requests submitted to the clerk's office at the address above are accepted during regular business hours.
- Request Court Records page — For detailed guidance on submitting records requests and understanding what information is required, consult the Request Court Records page maintained by the Kentucky Court of Justice.
Depending on the age of a case, the file may be stored off-site or may have been destroyed consistent with the Kentucky Court of Justice's record retention schedules. If the clerk confirms off-site storage, staff will provide the case and file locator numbers needed to arrange access.
Court Session Schedules at a Glance
| Court Division | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Circuit Court Motion Hour | 1st and 3rd Friday; Civil Motions at 9 a.m., Arraignments/Motions/Sentences at 10 a.m., Pretrial conferences at 11 a.m. |
| Family Court Motion Hour | 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 9 a.m. |
| Juvenile Court | 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. |
| Probate | Thursday at 9 a.m. |
| District Court | Scheduled months in advance; call the clerk's office for motion hours |
Are Court Records Public in Johnson County?
Kentucky law creates a broad presumption of public access to government records, including those produced by the courts. The Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS 61.870 through KRS 61.884, grants every resident of the Commonwealth the right to inspect and obtain copies of most court records filed in circuit and district courts. The specific provision enabling that right — KRS 61.872 — sets out the mechanics of submitting records requests and the timelines agencies must follow when responding.
Certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure under KRS 61.878. These exemptions apply to records involving:
- Juvenile proceedings — all records from juvenile court matters are confidential
- Adoption files — permanently sealed and inaccessible without a court order
- Expunged records — removed from public view following a successful expungement petition
- Mental health evaluations — protected from routine disclosure
- Personal identifiers — Social Security numbers and similar sensitive data are redacted from public-facing records
- Protected witness and informant information — withheld to preserve safety
- Domestic violence and sexual assault victim identities — shielded by statute
- Attorney-client communications — exempt as privileged material
- Court-ordered sealed records — inaccessible through any public channel without a court order lifting the seal
When a record contains both public and restricted information, the clerk will typically redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Requests denied in whole or in part must include a written explanation citing the applicable statutory exemption.
Johnson County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Johnson County are split between two levels of court. The Johnson County Circuit Court handles felony charges, capital offenses, and appeals from the District Court. The Johnson County District Court handles misdemeanor matters and traffic offenses. Both courts are housed at the Johnson County Judicial Center.
Searching Criminal Court Records
Criminal case dockets — charges, hearing dates, plea entries, and disposition information — can be searched online through the Kentucky Court of Justice Public Court Records portal. Searches can be run by party name or case number. Records that are sealed, expunged, or otherwise confidential under Kentucky law will not appear in search results.
In-person access to the courthouse's public terminal is available during regular clerk's office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) for records not fully indexed in the online system.
Arrest Records
Arrest and booking records are maintained by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office separately from court case files. Direct requests for arrest records or booking information to:
Johnson County Sheriff's Office
339 Main Street, Paintsville, KY 41240
Phone: (606) 789-3411 / (606) 789-3424
Fax: (606) 789-2574
Email: johnson.so.ky@gmail.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
After-hours dispatch: (606) 789-4221
Anonymous Tip Line: (606) 788-0252
For inmates currently held in Johnson County, the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center handles inmate housing and publishes an inmate search on its website.
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
Two official channels provide formal criminal history reports covering Johnson County and all Kentucky counties:
- Kentucky State Police (KSP) — The KSP Criminal Background Check program offers name-based adult criminal history checks for $20 per search, payable by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Fingerprints are not required. Request forms are available at the KSP background check forms page. A combined state and FBI check costs $20 (state) plus $13.25 (FBI fee).
- AOC FastCheck — The Administrative Office of the Courts FastCheck portal allows online criminal record report requests covering misdemeanor and traffic cases for at least the past five years and felonies dating back to 1978. Credit and debit cards are accepted; an additional fee of 2.25% of the transaction amount or $2.50 (whichever is greater) applies for card payments. Results are processed in order of receipt. Questions can be directed to the AOC Records Unit at (800) 928-6381, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Johnson County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Johnson County is divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount at stake. The Circuit Court handles civil disputes involving $5,000 or more, including contested property claims, personal injury suits, contract actions, and foreclosures. The District Court handles civil disputes under $5,000 and small claims matters.
Small Claims
Kentucky's District Court small claims division handles claims of $2,500 or less. Filing fees typically range from $25 to $30 under KRS 24A.270. The Kentucky Court of Justice Small Claims Handbook provides plain-language instructions on filing a claim, responding to a counterclaim, and attending a hearing without an attorney.
Searching Civil Case Records
Civil case dockets are searchable through the Public Court Records portal maintained by the Kentucky Court of Justice. Searches can be run statewide or filtered to Johnson County cases by name or case number.
Forms and Filing
Official court forms for civil cases are available through the Administrative Office of the Courts legal forms library. Completed forms may be filed at the clerk's counter, through the drive-thru window, or by mail. Fines and court costs can also be paid online through the court system's ePay portal.
Copy Fees
Copy fees for civil records follow the standard schedule maintained by the clerk's office. Certified copies are typically $5.00 per document; non-certified copies are charged per page. Postage applies to mailed responses. Confirm current fees by calling the clerk at (606) 297-9567 before submitting a request.
Johnson County Family Court Records
Johnson County is served by a combined Johnson, Lawrence, and Martin Counties Family Court, which hears the full range of family law matters within the 24th Judicial Circuit. Family Court jurisdiction in Kentucky covers dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, adoption, domestic violence protective orders, and dependency, neglect, and abuse proceedings. The Circuit Court Clerk at the Johnson County Judicial Center maintains the files for all family law matters.
Court Schedule
Family Court Motion Hour is held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Domestic Court begins at 9:00 a.m. on those Tuesdays, and Juvenile Court is held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Motions must be filed by the Tuesday of the week prior to the applicable motion hour.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees — the official court orders dissolving a marriage — are maintained by the Johnson County Circuit Court Clerk and can be requested in person, by phone, or by mail at the Judicial Center. Provide the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed; the clerk will confirm fees and processing time.
For statewide divorce certificates (summary documents confirming a divorce occurred) from June 1958 onward, submit a request to the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The fee is $6 per certified copy. The VS-230 application form is required for mail and walk-in submissions. Online and phone orders can be placed through VitalChek at (800) 241-8322.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Johnson County Clerk:
Johnson County Clerk — Sallee Conley-Holbrook
230 Court Street, Suite 124, Paintsville, KY 41240
Phone: (606) 789-2557 / Cell: (606) 792-2251
Fax: (606) 789-2559
The County Clerk's office has marriage records indexed and scanned in the eCCLIX system back to 1797. Certified copies of marriage certificates can be obtained directly from the County Clerk. Statewide marriage certificates from June 1958 onward are also available from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics for $6 per copy using the same VS-230 form.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are maintained by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, which holds statewide records from 1911 onward. These documents are commonly needed in family court proceedings involving paternity, custody, or guardianship determinations.
- Birth certificates — $10 per certified copy; request using the VS-37 birth certificate application form
- Death certificates — $6 per certified copy; request using the VS-31 death certificate application form
Both forms can be submitted in person, by mail, or by phone to the Office of Vital Statistics at 275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Mail payments must be by check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Orders through VitalChek online or by phone at (800) 241-8322 carry an additional service fee.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence petitions are filed in the District or Family Court. These records carry specific confidentiality protections — victim identities are shielded from disclosure under KRS 61.878, and these matters do not appear in standard criminal record reports released by the AOC. If you need to file for or enforce a protective order, contact the Circuit Court Clerk directly.
Johnson County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Johnson County — estate administration, probate of wills, issuance of letters testamentary, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters — are handled by the Johnson County District Court as part of its limited jurisdiction docket. Probate hearings are scheduled on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains the official file for all probate matters filed in the county.
Johnson County Judicial Center — Probate Division
908 3rd Street, Suite 109, Paintsville, KY 41240
Phone: (office): (606) 297-9567
Phone: (cell, Circuit Court Clerk): (606) 357-7804
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate files that are not sealed can be inspected at the clerk's office during regular business hours. You can submit requests for certified copies or document reproductions in person, by mail, or by fax. It's worth calling ahead to confirm that a particular file is available at the courthouse rather than in off-site storage, which may require additional retrieval time. Probate case information is also searchable through the Public Court Records portal.
Official Probate Forms
The Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms library provides official forms for probate proceedings, including petitions to probate a will, affidavits of heirship, letters testamentary, inventories, and accountings. A Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures is also available from the Kentucky Court of Justice for those navigating the process without an attorney.
Wills on File with the County Clerk
In addition to court-filed probate records, the Johnson County Clerk's office maintains will records indexed and scanned back to 1797 in the eCCLIX system. Public viewing of all indexed records is available free of charge at the County Clerk's office at 230 Court Street. Online access through eCCLIX requires a subscription account. Certified copies of documents obtained through the County Clerk cost $5.00; standard page copies are charged per page with postage added for mailed requests.