Nelson County, Kentucky Court Records

    Please enter a valid first name
    Please enter a valid last name

    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.

    Nelson County sits in the heart of Kentucky, with Bardstown as the county seat. Both the Circuit Court and the District Court are housed within the Nelson County Justice Center and operate under the Kentucky Court of Justice. Together, these courts generate records covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and probate matters — documents that form the official account of every case from initial filing through final resolution.

    If you need court records in Nelson County, you have a few options: visit the clerk's office in person, use a public access terminal, or search online. KentuckyCourts.us can help you locate publicly available court case information across the state. For actual copies of case documents, the circuit court clerk remains your primary point of contact.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Nelson County?

    All court record requests in Nelson County start with the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk, which manages records for the Circuit, Family, and District Courts. The Kentucky Court of Justice Public Court Records Portal offers free online access to indexed case information — case type, party names, case status, and docket summaries. It's a useful first step for identifying whether a case exists and getting a case number, but results from this portal are for informational purposes only and aren't suitable for official or legal use.

    For appellate cases decided by the Kentucky Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Kentucky, search through C-Track Public Access.

    Nelson County Justice Center – Circuit Court Clerk

    Address200 Nelson County Plaza, Bardstown, KY 40004
    Phone(502) 348-3648
    HoursMonday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM

    When you contact the clerk, have the full names of the parties, the case number, the type of case, and the approximate filing date ready. Fees apply for document copies and certifications. You can pay in person by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (a processing fee applies to cards), or online through ePay for eligible case types.

    Older cases may no longer be stored at the courthouse. If that happens, the clerk will provide the case and file locator numbers so you can submit a formal request to state.records@ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-3617. Records held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives follow a separate process outlined on the KDLA website.

    Are Court Records Public in Nelson County?

    Kentucky law presumes that public records are open for inspection by state residents. Under KRS 61.872, any Kentucky resident has the right to inspect public records and can submit a request in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to the official custodian. Agencies must respond within five business days and must provide a specific explanation and timeline if they need additional time.

    That said, certain categories of records are shielded from public view under KRS 61.878 and applicable court rules. In Nelson County, the following types of records are restricted or excluded from routine public access:

    • Juvenile case records — Protected by statute and not available to the general public
    • Domestic violence case files — Restricted to protect victims' safety and privacy
    • Mental health records — Confidential under state and federal law
    • Law enforcement investigative records — Including files that identify confidential informants or disclose sensitive investigative information
    • Personnel files — Not subject to routine public disclosure
    • Preliminary notes and drafts — Internal working documents not treated as final public records
    • Records sealed by court order — Any case where a judge has entered a sealing order
    • Information that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
    • Records specifically exempted by federal regulation or state statute

    The Kentucky Open Records Act governs the process for requesting records from public agencies, while court-specific access rules may also apply depending on the record type. If you're not sure whether a particular record is publicly accessible, ask the circuit court clerk.

    Nelson County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal jurisdiction in Nelson County is divided by offense severity. The Nelson County District Court handles misdemeanors, city and county ordinance violations, and the preliminary stages of felony cases — including arraignments. The Nelson County Circuit Court takes over for felony offenses and hears appeals from District Court decisions. Both courts are located in the Nelson County Justice Center.

    Searching Criminal Records Online

    • The Public Court Records Portal gives free online access to criminal case indexes. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number.
    • The Kentucky Court of Justice's Background Check system (FastCheck) lets anyone order an official criminal record report. These reports cover all misdemeanor and traffic cases from at least the past five years and felony records back to 1978. They are public information but do not include juvenile, mental health, or domestic violence cases. Payment by major credit or debit card is accepted, with a processing fee of 2.25% of the transaction amount or $2.50, whichever is greater.
    • For questions about report results, call the AOC Records Unit at (800) 928-6381, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Eastern Time.

    Arrest Records

    Arrest records are maintained by the law enforcement agency that made the arrest, not the court clerk. The Kentucky State Police conducts statewide criminal background checks for a fee of $20 — that's the right resource for statewide law enforcement records. For Nelson County-specific arrest information, contact the Nelson County Sheriff's Office.

    In-Person Criminal Record Requests

    Call the Nelson County Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 348-3648 or visit the Justice Center during regular hours. Have the defendant's full name, the case number if you know it, and the type of offense ready. The clerk charges applicable fees for document copies and certified records.

    Nelson County Civil Court Records

    Civil jurisdiction in Nelson County depends on the amount in dispute. The Nelson County District Court handles civil claims not exceeding $5,000. Larger civil disputes — contract cases, tort claims, and matters requiring injunctive or equitable relief — go to the Nelson County Circuit Court. Both courts share the Nelson County Justice Center, and the circuit court clerk's office maintains records for both.

    Searching Civil Records

    1. Start with the Public Court Records Portal to identify the case and get the case number.
    2. Call the Nelson County Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 348-3648 to request copies of specific documents.
    3. Provide the case number, party names, filing date, and case type when making your request.
    4. Pay the applicable copy and certification fees to receive your documents.

    For civil cases heard by the Kentucky Court of Appeals, use C-Track Public Access to search appellate records. In-person payments can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card at the clerk's office. Online payment through ePay is available for citations and case-related fines. A drop box located to the left of the Justice Center near the parking spaces accepts check or money order payments — no cash — during off hours.

    Nelson County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Nelson County fall under the Nelson County Circuit Court, which has exclusive authority over divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoptions, name changes, and domestic violence protection orders. The circuit court clerk maintains all family court records in the county.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce case files — including the petition, final decree, custody orders, and property settlement agreements — are held by the Nelson County Circuit Court Clerk at the Justice Center. Call (502) 348-3648 and provide the names of both parties, the case number, and the approximate filing date. Standard copy fees apply.

    If you need a certified divorce record from the state, the Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) issues copies of Kentucky divorce certificates for divorces granted since June 1958. Mail or drop off a completed application form with a $6 fee to:

    Office of Vital Statistics (Kentucky)
    275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621
    Phone: (502) 564-4212

    Marriage Records

    Marriage licenses issued in Nelson County are recorded by the Nelson County Clerk — a separate office from the circuit court clerk. You can view marriage license records online through the EZ Document Search tool on the County Clerk's website, or request them in person or by mail:

    Nelson County Clerk (Jeanette Hall Sidebottom)

    Address113 East Stephen Foster Avenue, Bardstown, KY 40004
    Phone(502) 348-1820
    Fax(502) 348-1822
    Emailnelsoncountyclerk@ky.gov
    HoursMon, Tue, Wed & Fri: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu: 8:00 AM–5:30 PM; 2nd Saturday: 8:00 AM–11:30 AM

    Have the names of both parties and the marriage date ready when you request copies. State-issued certified marriage certificates for marriages since June 1958 are also available from the OVS using the same application form and $6 fee described above. For older vital records not held by the OVS, contact the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

    Birth and Death Records

    The Office of Vital Statistics maintains Kentucky birth records from 1911 to the present. Certified birth certificates cost $10 each and require the person's full name at birth, date of birth, county of birth, mother's full maiden name, and father's name where applicable. Mail your request with payment to the OVS at the Frankfort address above.

    Death certificates are also issued by the OVS for deaths recorded since January 1911 at a fee of $6 per copy. Use the death certificate application form and mail it with payment to the same address.

    Nelson County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Nelson County are split between two courts depending on the nature of the proceeding. The Nelson County District Court handles uncontested probate cases, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and smaller estate matters. The Nelson County Circuit Court hears contested probate proceedings and more complex estate disputes. Both courts operate out of the Nelson County Justice Center, so all probate record requests go to the same clerk's office.

    What Probate Records Cover

    • Decedents' wills and petitions for probate
    • Estate inventories and accountings
    • Orders appointing personal representatives or executors
    • Guardianship and conservatorship petitions and orders
    • Settlements and distributions of estate assets
    • Contested will proceedings and related filings

    Requesting Probate Records

    Contact the Nelson County Circuit Court Clerk:

    Nelson County Justice Center
    200 Nelson County Plaza, Bardstown, KY 40004
    Phone: (502) 348-3648
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM

    Have the decedent's name, the approximate filing date, and the case number if available ready when you call or visit. Valid identification may be required if the record or portions of it carry access restrictions. The clerk charges applicable fees for copies and certified records.

    Probated wills are also accessible through the Nelson County Clerk's Office, which maintains land and document records searchable through its online document search portal. For older probate records no longer held at the courthouse, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives is the right place to look.