Meade County, Kentucky Court Records
KentuckyCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on KentuckyCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Meade County, Kentucky sits along the Ohio River in the northwest part of the state, with Brandenburg serving as the county seat. The county's court system — centered at the Meade County Courthouse on Hillcrest Drive — generates a continuous archive of official legal records covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law matters, and probate proceedings. Every case filed in the county's courts produces a permanent documentary record: case filings, pleadings, motions, court orders, dockets, and judgments.
Court records in Kentucky can be located through circuit court clerk offices, public access resources at each courthouse, and online tools provided by the state judiciary. KentuckyCourts.us can help you find publicly available case information and identify the right clerk's office for your county. The Kentucky Court of Justice website also connects researchers to case search tools, court schedules, and guidance on requesting records statewide.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Meade County?
Start with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, which manages records for the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court division. Circuit Court Clerk Ellen F. Lindsey and her staff can advise on the availability and location of specific case records — whether they're stored in the clerk's office, held at an off-site records facility, or have been destroyed under the Kentucky Court of Justice's authorized retention schedules.
Meade County Circuit Court Clerk
Address: 516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 4, Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108
Phone: (270) 422-4961
Fax: (270) 422-2147
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Online Case Search
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers online access to case information through the KYeCourts guest login portal, where anyone can search case records without creating an account. This system covers civil, criminal, family, and other case types handled within the state's courts. Court docket information is also accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice dockets portal.
In-Person and Mail Requests
To request copies of specific documents from a Meade County court case, follow these steps:
- Contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office by phone at (270) 422-4961 or visit in person during office hours to confirm the record is available.
- Submit a written request identifying the case number, names of the parties, filing date or docket number, and the specific documents needed.
- Requests may be submitted in person at the clerk's office or mailed to 516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 4, Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108.
- If a record is stored at an off-site facility, the clerk will provide the case and file locator numbers. Records at the Kentucky State Records Center can then be requested by submitting a records request form to state.records@ky.gov or calling (502) 564-3617.
Payment for fines, costs, and bonds can be made with cash, cashier's checks, or money orders. The court also accepts online payments through the Kentucky ePay system. Cash is required for bond payments.
Are Court Records Public in Meade County?
Kentucky's Open Records Act, codified at KRS 61.870 through KRS 61.884, establishes that public records — including most court case records — are open for inspection by any person. The Act's underlying purpose is to promote transparency and accountability in government by maximizing public access to official documents.
That said, KRS 61.878 lists specific categories of records exempt from public disclosure. For court records in Meade County, the following are restricted or confidential:
- Juvenile case records — proceedings involving minors in dependency, neglect, abuse, and delinquency cases are generally sealed
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and not available through public records requests
- Personally identifiable information — including Social Security numbers, financial account data, and certain medical records that must be redacted from public copies
- Ongoing criminal investigation records — certain law enforcement materials compiled during an investigation
- Records sealed by court order — any case or document sealed by a judge is inaccessible to the general public
Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt content, the custodian is expected to separate the restricted portions and provide the remaining public content to the requester. Any denial must cite the specific statutory authority supporting it.
The county also maintains its own open records request pathway. You can submit requests through the Meade County Open Records Request portal on the official county website.
Meade County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Meade County are split between two courts based on the nature of the offense. The Meade County Circuit Court holds original jurisdiction over felony cases and capital offenses. Once a matter progresses past the District Court's preliminary stage — including arraignments and probable cause determinations for felonies — the case transfers to the Circuit Court for trial and disposition. The Circuit Court Criminal docket is held at 9:00 a.m. on designated dates.
The Meade County District Court handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors, violations, traffic infractions, and DUI offenses. The District Court Criminal docket convenes on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. Motions scheduled for District Court must be filed no later than the Thursday of the week prior to the hearing date.
Court Locations — Criminal Matters
| Court | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meade County Circuit Court | 516 Hillcrest Drive, Brandenburg, KY 40108 | (270) 422-4961 | Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Meade County District Court | 516 Hillcrest Drive, Brandenburg, KY 40108 | (270) 422-4961 | Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Searching Criminal Records
Criminal case records for both the Circuit and District Courts are searchable through the KYeCourts public access portal. You can filter searches by county, party name, case number, or case type. For copies of criminal case documents — including citations, charging documents, orders, and judgment records — the Circuit Court Clerk's office is your in-person contact.
Arrest records that resulted in criminal prosecution will appear within the related court case file. For arrest records not connected to a court proceeding, direct inquiries to the Meade County Sheriff's Office, reachable through the Meade County Sheriff's Office page. Expunged criminal records are sealed under Kentucky law and are not accessible through public records requests.
Grand jury proceedings are scheduled monthly at the Circuit Court — grand jury dates for 2026 include July 13, August 3, September 14, October 12, November 2, and December 14. Grand jury proceedings themselves are confidential and not available for public inspection.
Meade County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Meade County are split between the two trial courts based on the dollar amount in dispute. The Meade County Circuit Court handles all civil cases involving amounts exceeding $5,000, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, real property title disputes, mortgage matters, and injunctions. The Circuit Court Civil docket is heard at 1:00 p.m.
The Meade County District Court handles civil claims up to $5,000, as well as small claims matters. The Small Claims Division, subject to KRS 24A.230, handles disputes of $2,500 or less. Small claims proceedings are designed to let individuals resolve minor disputes without attorneys, with streamlined procedures compared to the general civil division. The District Court Civil/Probate docket is held on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m.
Requesting Civil Records
Civil case records are maintained by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. You can request them in person or by mail at 516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 4, Brandenburg, KY 40108. Staff cannot provide legal advice, but they can confirm the location and availability of specific case documents. The Meade County Clerk's legal records page also provides access to certain document indices and images filed from January 2004 to the present through the eCCLIX document imaging system, with document index access going back to approximately 1798. Viewing all public records documents and indices at the clerk's office is free of charge; fees apply to copies.
Civil case information for Meade County is also searchable online through the KYeCourts guest portal by entering party names, case numbers, or related identifiers.
Meade County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Meade County are handled within the Circuit Court structure. Kentucky's Family Court — established as a division of Circuit Court — holds primary jurisdiction over all cases involving families and children in counties where it operates. In Meade County, the family division of the Circuit Court addresses:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce)
- Spousal support and equitable distribution of marital property
- Child custody, visitation, and parenting time
- Child support determination and enforcement
- Paternity actions
- Adoption proceedings (records sealed)
- Domestic violence Emergency Protective Orders (EPOs) and Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs)
- Dependency, neglect, and abuse proceedings
- Termination of parental rights
- Juvenile matters — the Juvenile Court docket is heard on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.
Divorce Records
Divorce case files are maintained by the Meade County Circuit Court Clerk and are generally public. You can request copies in person or by mail at the clerk's office. Include the names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case number if available.
For certified divorce certificates — as distinct from court case files — the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics holds records from June 1958 to the present. For divorces predating June 1958, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the decree was granted. The OVS accepts requests for marriage and divorce certificates by mail. Include the full names of both parties, the date, and the Kentucky county where the decree was granted. The fee is $6.00 per certified copy, payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer by check or money order, mailed to:
Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street, 1E-A
Frankfort, Kentucky 40621
Phone: (502) 564-4212
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Meade County are issued by the Meade County Clerk's Office, which maintains marriage records dating back to 1824. Both parties must appear together to obtain a license; licenses are valid for 30 days and must be used within Kentucky. The County Clerk's Office is located at:
Meade County Clerk's Office
516 Hillcrest Drive, P.O. Box 614, Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108
Phone: (270) 422-2152
For marriage records from June 1958 forward, certified copies are also available through the Kentucky OVS at the address listed above.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are maintained by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. Under Kentucky law, birth records are restricted for the first 100 years after the event and may only be accessed by the individual named, their parents, legal guardians, legal representatives with a court order, and those demonstrating a direct and tangible legal interest. Death records are similarly restricted for 50 years, after which they become publicly accessible.
Eligible individuals may request death certificates through the OVS online, by mail, or in person. The OVS is located at 275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, Kentucky 40621, and can be reached at (502) 564-4212.
Meade County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Meade County rests with the Meade County Circuit Court, which handles all contested probate matters — will contests, estate administration disputes, and related filings. Routine probate matters, including uncontested estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust supervision, are processed through the District Court's probate docket, which convenes on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. alongside civil matters.
Probate records are generally public documents. A typical file may contain wills, inventories of estate assets, creditor claims, administrator or executor appointments, guardianship orders, conservatorship filings, and final distribution orders. Certain sensitive details — such as Social Security numbers or confidential medical information — may be redacted from publicly accessible copies.
Searching Probate Records Online
Probate case information for Meade County is searchable through the KYeCourts public access portal. The Meade County Clerk's legal records page also contains indices and document images for certain instruments — including wills filed from 2004 forward through the eCCLIX system — with document index access available going back to approximately 1798.
Requesting Probate Records In Person or By Mail
Send written requests for probate case documents to the Circuit Court Clerk. Include the name of the decedent or protected individual, the approximate filing year, and the case number if known. Requests may be submitted at the clerk's office or mailed to:
Meade County Circuit Court Clerk
516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 4
Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108
Phone: (270) 422-4961
Fax: (270) 422-2147
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
If a probate record has been moved to off-site storage, the clerk will supply the case and file locator numbers needed to retrieve the documents through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.