Marshall County Court Records Search
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Marshall County, Kentucky, is a western Kentucky county with its county seat in Benton. Its trial court system consists of a Circuit Court, a Family Court (which operates as a division of the Circuit Court), and a District Court — all housed together at the Marshall County Judicial Building. Records generated by these courts encompass the full range of legal proceedings, from felony criminal cases and civil disputes to family law matters and probate filings. Understanding which office holds which records, and how retention schedules affect access, is essential before submitting any request.
For those beginning their search, Kentucky offers several ways to locate court case information. Clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by the state judiciary are all available. KentuckyCourts.us provides a starting point for learning about Kentucky’s court structure and the publicly accessible resources available across the Commonwealth, including case search tools and clerk contact information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Marshall County?
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the central record-keeping authority for Marshall County’s Circuit, Family, and District Courts. Circuit Court Clerk Tiffany Fralick Griffith and her staff handle all requests for case records from these courts.
Marshall County Judicial Building — Circuit Court Clerk
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 80 Judicial Drive, Unit 101, Benton, KY 42025 |
| Circuit Court Phone | (270) 527-3883 |
| District Court Phone | (270) 527-1721 |
| Fax | (270) 527-5865 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Payment Options | Cash, money order, cashier’s check, personal check, credit/debit card (fee applies) |
Online Case Search — CourtNet 2.0
The Kentucky Court of Justice operates CourtNet 2.0 (KYeCourts), a subscription-based portal that allows users to search civil and criminal cases from all Kentucky courts, including Marshall County. Searches can be conducted by party name, case number, business name, citation number, and other identifying details. A subscription fee applies for full access. Online payments for court fees and fines can also be processed through this portal via ePay.
Understanding Record Location by Age
Where a record is physically stored depends on how old it is:
- Current and recent records (less than 15 years): Held at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at 80 Judicial Drive, Benton. Call or visit the clerk’s office to access or request copies.
- Records aged 15–35 years: Stored at the Kentucky State Records Center. Submit the electronic records request form to state.records@ky.gov, providing the case or file locator number. If you do not have the case number, contact the Circuit Court Clerk, who can identify where the record is stored and provide the locator number.
- Records 36 years old or older: Transferred to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA), located at 300 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40602. Requests can be submitted online through KDLA’s secure ordering system or by mailing a completed request form with payment.
The Kentucky Court of Justice’s Request Court Records page provides additional guidance on this tiered access process.
Are Court Records Public in Marshall County?
Court and government records in Marshall County are subject to the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884), which grants the public a broad right to inspect and obtain copies of official records. The Act presumes records are open unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Records generally available to the public include:
- Criminal case filings, dockets, and final judgments where charges have been brought
- Civil court filings, motions, orders, and verdicts
- Family court orders, including divorce decrees and child support orders
- Probate filings, estate inventories, and wills
- Property instruments recorded with the County Clerk
- Marriage and divorce records (from 1958 onward, through the Office of Vital Statistics)
Records that may be withheld or restricted include:
- Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors are confidential under Kentucky law and are not accessible to the general public
- Certain family court matters — specific sensitive details within family court files may be protected
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similarly sensitive personal data are redacted or withheld to prevent privacy invasion
- Records sought for commercial purposes — the Act explicitly allows agencies to deny requests that are commercial in nature
- Confidential informant information — details that could identify a protected informant in a criminal case
- Records exempt under KRS 61.878 — this statute enumerates specific categories of protected records, including personnel matters, attorney-client privileged communications, and certain law enforcement records
The Marshall County Fiscal Court processes county-level open records requests through its Open Records policy. Requests can be submitted using the Open Records Request Form by hand delivery, mail, fax, or email:
- Address: 1101 Main Street, Benton, KY 42025
- Fax: (270) 527-4795
- Email: openrecordsrequest@marshallcountyky.gov
Copy fees for non-commercial requests are $0.10 per document page for standard documents and $5.00 per copy for recordings, computer disks, or tapes. Postage costs are charged to the requester.
Marshall County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Marshall County are divided between two courts. The District Court handles misdemeanor charges, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings in felony matters. The Circuit Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over felony prosecutions and trials.
Marshall County Circuit and District Courts
| Court | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | (270) 527-3883 | 80 Judicial Drive, Unit 101, Benton, KY 42025 |
| District Court | (270) 527-1721 | 80 Judicial Drive, Unit 101, Benton, KY 42025 |
Requesting Criminal Case Records
For recent cases, contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office directly by phone or in person. For older cases, use the tiered archive system described above. When requesting criminal case records from KDLA for files 36 years or older, download and complete the Criminal Case File Record Request Form and mail it with payment to:
Archives Research Room — KDLA
P.O. Box 537, 300 Coffee Tree Road
Frankfort, KY 40602
Fees at KDLA are $20.00 per request for Kentucky residents and $25.00 per request for out-of-state requesters (non-refundable), with additional copy charges for extensive records. Allow 4–6 weeks for a response. A list of available civil and criminal case files at the Archives by county is available on the KDLA website to help confirm whether Marshall County records for a specific date range are held there.
Arrest Records and Detention Center
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Matt Hilbrecht, is located at 52 Judicial Drive, Benton, KY 42025, and can be reached at (270) 527-3112. The Marshall County Detention Center, adjacent to the Sheriff’s Office, provides a public inmate roster listing current and recently released inmates. This roster is updated from public sources as a convenience to the public, though it does not constitute official records of the Sheriff’s Office. For official inmate status, contact the Detention Center directly.
Marshall County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Marshall County are split between the Circuit Court (larger civil disputes, including damages, breach of contract, and appeals) and the District Court (smaller civil claims and civil matters within its jurisdictional limits). All civil case files from both courts are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.
Requesting Civil Case Records
The procedure mirrors the criminal records process:
- For recent civil case files, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 527-3883 or visit 80 Judicial Drive, Unit 101, Benton, KY 42025.
- For files aged 15–35 years, submit the state records request form to the State Records Center at state.records@ky.gov with the case or file locator number.
- For files 36 years or older, download the Civil Case File Record Request Form from KDLA and mail it with payment to the Archives Research Room in Frankfort.
Property Records
Real property documents — including deeds, mortgage instruments, plats, liens, powers of attorney, and various deed types (quit claims, condominium deeds, trust assignments, and others) — are recorded with and maintained by the Marshall County Clerk:
Marshall County Clerk
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1101 Main Street, Benton, KY 42025 |
| Phone | (270) 527-4740 / (270) 527-4741 |
| Fax | (270) 527-4738 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
The County Clerk also handles motor vehicle liens, delinquent property tax records, and other property-related instruments required by state law to be recorded at the county level.
Payment at the Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk accepts cash, money order, cashier’s check, personal check, and credit or debit cards (with an applicable convenience fee). Online payments through CourtNet ePay are also available for court fines and fees.
Marshall County Family Court Records
The Marshall County Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court and handles all domestic relations proceedings, including divorce, spousal support, property distribution, child custody, child support and visitation, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence petitions. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office maintains all Family Court case files.
Divorce Records
Divorce records filed through the Circuit Court are public records under Kentucky statutes. To request a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 527-3883 or submit a written request to 80 Judicial Drive, Unit 101, Benton, KY 42025. Include the full names of both parties, the case number if available, and the approximate filing date.
For statewide divorce records from June 1958 onward, the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics serves as the central repository. Complete the applicable divorce records application and submit it with a check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer:
Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street, 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-4212
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
A drop-box is available at the visitor’s entrance for added convenience. Note that the Office of Vital Statistics does not issue photocopies, faxed copies, non-certified copies, or electronic copies. For divorce records predating June 1958, contact the Marshall County Clerk at 1101 Main Street, Benton.
Marriage Records
Marriage records from June 1958 onward are also held by the Office of Vital Statistics. Use the same marriage and divorce application form and mail it to the Frankfort address above with appropriate payment. For records prior to June 1958, contact the Marshall County Clerk. The County Clerk also issues new marriage licenses and maintains marriage records in that capacity.
Birth and Death Records
Birth certificates from 1911 onward and death certificates from 1911 onward are available through the Office of Vital Statistics. For birth records, submit the birth certificate application by mail or in person. For death records, use the death certificate application. Pre-1911 birth and death records dating back to 1852 are held at KDLA; consult the KDLA microfilm list for available Marshall County records. Current vital record fees for Kentucky are $10 for birth certificates and $6 each for death, marriage, and divorce certificates.
Marshall County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Marshall County belongs to the Circuit Court, which handles all matters related to the administration of deceased persons’ estates. This includes probating wills, appointing personal representatives and administrators, establishing guardianships for minor children, and creating conservatorships for incapacitated adults. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all probate case files.
Searching Probate Records Online
Current and recent probate case records can be searched through CourtNet 2.0 by party name (typically the decedent’s name), case number, or business name. A subscription is required to access full case details.
Requesting Probate Records In Person or by Mail
For case files held at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, visit or contact:
Circuit Court Clerk — Marshall County
80 Judicial Drive, Unit 101
Benton, KY 42025
Phone: (270) 527-3883
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
For older probate files held at KDLA, download the Probate/Will Record Request Form and submit it with the required fee to the Archives Research Room. The KDLA County Records Inventory identifies what probate record types and date ranges are available for Marshall County at the Archives. Kentucky residents pay a $20.00 non-refundable search and copy fee; out-of-state requesters pay $25.00. Additional copy charges apply for requests requiring reproduction of more than 30 pages. Allow 4–6 weeks for a response.
Probate records are generally public under the Kentucky Open Records Act unless sealed or restricted by court order. Wills admitted to probate, estate inventories, and appointment orders are among the documents typically accessible to any interested party.