Knox County, Kentucky Court Records

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    Knox County, Kentucky — situated in the southeastern part of the state with Barbourville as its county seat — maintains court records through its Circuit and District Court system. These are official documents produced by court clerks in the course of judicial proceedings, covering everything from case filings and hearing schedules to final orders, judgments, and sentencing information. Attorneys, litigants, journalists, researchers, and private citizens regularly access these records for background inquiries, legal research, and personal review of case outcomes.

    Searching Knox County Court Records in Kentucky:

    Court records in Kentucky can be accessed through several channels — including the circuit court clerk's office, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online case search tools. If you're starting your research remotely, KentuckyCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information and navigate Kentucky's court resources. Official case searches and docket lookups are also available through the Kentucky Court of Justice website, which provides statewide access to Circuit and District Court records.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Knox County?

    Start with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Knox County. This office manages records for Circuit, Family, District, and Business Court proceedings in the county. Depending on the age of a case, records may be stored at the clerk's office, transferred to the State Records Center, or archived at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA).

    Knox County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
    Address: Knox County Courthouse Annex, 401 Court Square, P.O. Box 760, Barbourville, KY 40906
    Circuit Phone: (606) 546-3075
    District Phone: (606) 546-3232
    Fax: (606) 546-7949

    Office Hours:

    DayHours
    Monday–Friday8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Saturday8:30 a.m. – Noon
    SundayClosed

    Payment for court records is accepted by cash, check, money order, or online through the Kentucky ePay system.

    For online case searches, the Kentucky Court of Justice offers two tools:

    Where records are stored depends on how old they are:

    Are Court Records Public in Knox County?

    Court records in Knox County are generally available to the public under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA), which gives Kentucky citizens the right to inspect and obtain copies of government records, including those produced by the courts. KORA is codified at KRS 61.870 et seq. and is interpreted broadly in favor of public access.

    That said, KORA identifies specific categories exempt from mandatory disclosure. In Knox County's courts, restricted records may include:

    • Juvenile court records and proceedings involving minors
    • Active law enforcement investigatory files where disclosure would harm an ongoing investigation
    • Records containing personal identifying information that could jeopardize individual privacy or public safety
    • Confidential or sealed cases as ordered by a judge
    • Records prohibited from disclosure by federal or state statute
    • Proprietary financial or trade secret information
    • Active property sale records, procurement processes, or licensing examination materials

    When a record contains both public and exempt information, the custodian may redact the restricted portions and release the rest. If you believe a lawful request has been improperly denied, you can seek review through the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, which issues advisory opinions on KORA disputes. The CourtNet online case search system also restricts access to sealed cases, juvenile records, and matters prohibited from public disclosure by law.

    Knox County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Knox County are split between two courts. Felony offenses go to the Circuit Court, while misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings are handled by the District Court. Both courts are served by the same circuit court clerk's office at the Knox County Courthouse Annex.

    Knox County Circuit Court
    Address: Knox County Courthouse Annex, 401 Court Square, P.O. Box 760, Barbourville, KY 40906
    Phone: (606) 546-3075 | Fax: (606) 546-7949

    Knox County District Court
    Address: Knox County Courthouse Annex, 401 Court Square, P.O. Box 760, Barbourville, KY 40906
    Phone: (606) 546-3232 | Fax: (606) 546-7949

    Criminal court records from both courts are searchable online through the CourtNet case search portal, which covers active and closed cases, citation images, and visual indicators for outstanding warrants, summonses, and failures to appear. You can search by party name, case number, or other case identifiers.

    For arrest-related information, the Knox County Sheriff's Office is located at 234 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906, and can be reached at (606) 546-3181. The Sheriff's Office is the primary agency for inquiries about recent arrests and active warrants. The Knox County Detention Center also maintains an inmate listing accessible at knoxcountydetention.com.

    Criminal history background checks for employment or licensing purposes are processed through the Kentucky State Police — not through the county clerk's office. Records involving juvenile criminal matters are confidential and are not available to the general public.

    Knox County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Knox County are handled at both the Circuit and District Court levels, depending on the nature of the dispute and the dollar amount at issue. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over larger civil cases, equity matters, and appeals from the District Court. The District Court handles smaller civil claims, small claims actions, and other civil proceedings within its statutory limits.

    Civil court records — including pleadings, motions, judgments, and orders — are maintained by the Knox County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. You can access these records by visiting the clerk's office in person, submitting a written mail request, or searching online.

    Steps to request civil court records:

    1. Identify whether the case was heard in Circuit or District Court and note the approximate filing year.
    2. Contact the clerk's office by phone — Circuit: (606) 546-3075 or District: (606) 546-3232 — to confirm record availability and location.
    3. If the case is less than 15 years old, visit or write to the clerk's office at 401 Court Square, P.O. Box 760, Barbourville, KY 40906.
    4. For records 15 to 36 years old, submit the State Records Center request form with case and file locator numbers (obtained from the clerk) to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617.
    5. For records older than 36 years, contact KDLA at kdla.archives@ky.gov or (502) 564-1770.
    6. Pay applicable copy fees by cash, check, money order, or online via ePay.

    Civil case records can also be searched online through the CourtNet system, which provides statewide access to case records across Circuit and District Courts.

    Knox County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Knox County fall under the Circuit Court's jurisdiction. Kentucky's Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court, and in counties where a dedicated family court judge has been established, that judge handles family-related matters exclusively. Proceedings covered include divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, domestic violence protective orders, adoption, and termination of parental rights.

    Records of family court proceedings are maintained by the Knox County Circuit Court Clerk and may be requested in person or by calling (606) 546-3075. Certain family court records — particularly those involving children, domestic violence victims, and adoption proceedings — may be sealed or restricted from general public access by court order or statute.

    Vital Records Related to Family Matters:

    The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics maintains certified copies of marriage certificates (records from June 1958), divorce certificates, birth certificates (records from 1911 to present), and death certificates for Knox County residents. These records come up frequently in family law matters — for remarriage eligibility, estate proceedings, and child custody verification, among other purposes.

    Fee schedule for vital records:

    Record TypeFee Per Certified Copy
    Birth Certificate$10.00 (non-refundable search fee)
    Death Certificate$6.00 (non-refundable search fee)
    Marriage Certificate$6.00 (non-refundable search fee)
    Divorce Certificate$6.00 (non-refundable search fee)

    Vital records may be ordered online through VitalChek at (800) 241-8322, in person at the Office of Vital Statistics, by drop box, or by mail. For mail requests, send the completed application form, a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer to:

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

    In-person office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding state holidays. Mail orders are typically processed within five business days, though some requests may take up to 30 working days. Cash is not accepted, and all fees are non-refundable.

    Knox County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Knox County fall under the jurisdiction of the Knox County District Court, which oversees the administration of deceased persons' estates, the probate of wills, the appointment of executors and administrators, guardianships, and conservatorships. All probate filings are maintained by the Knox County Circuit Court Clerk, who serves both the Circuit and District Courts.

    To request probate records, follow the same age-based procedure that applies to other court records:

    • Records less than 15 years old: Contact the Knox County Circuit Court Clerk's Office directly at (606) 546-3075 or visit 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906 during regular hours.
    • Records 15 to 36 years old: Submit the KDLA records request form with the case and file locator numbers provided by the clerk to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617.
    • Records older than 36 years: Contact the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives at kdla.archives@ky.gov or (502) 564-1770.

    Keep in mind that State Records Center archives cannot be searched by name or Social Security number — the case and file locator numbers obtained from the circuit court clerk are required to retrieve off-site records. In-state customers requesting records from KDLA must submit a $20.00 non-refundable search and copy fee by check or money order payable to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

    For property-related records connected to estate matters, the Knox County Clerk's Office maintains wills recorded in the land records system, deeds, mortgages, and related instruments. The county clerk's office also offers online access to recorded documents through a county-authorized vendor. Most online real estate records in the database include deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, wills, corporations, and mechanics liens. Public terminals at the clerk's office are available free of charge for in-person research, while document copies from the online system may carry a fee.