Nelson County Court Records Search

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    Nelson County, Kentucky, sits in the heart of the Bluegrass State, with Bardstown serving as the county seat. The county’s court system operates under the Kentucky Court of Justice and includes both a Circuit Court and a District Court, both housed within the Nelson County Justice Center. 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.

    Residents seeking court records in Kentucky have several options. Public access terminals, clerk office visits, and online tools can all yield case information. KentuckyCourts.us may assist in locating publicly available court case information across the state. The Kentucky Court of Justice also provides direct web-based tools for searching trial court records, and the circuit court clerk in each county remains the primary point of contact for obtaining actual copies of case documents.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Nelson County?

    All requests for court case records in Nelson County begin with the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk, which manages records for the Circuit, Family, and District Courts in the county. The Kentucky Court of Justice Public Court Records Portal allows free online access to indexed case information, including case type, party names, case status, and docket summaries. This is useful for identifying whether a case exists and obtaining a case number, but results from this portal are for informational purposes only and are not suitable for official or legal use.

    For appellate cases decided by the Kentucky Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Kentucky, records can be accessed 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

    Requesters should be prepared to provide specific case details when contacting the clerk, such as the full names of parties, the case number, the type of case, and the approximate filing date. Fees apply for document copies and certifications. Payments may be made in person with cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (with a processing fee), or online through ePay for eligible case types.

    If a case is older and no longer held at the courthouse, records may be stored at the State Records Center. In those instances, the clerk will provide the case and file locator numbers, and a formal request must be submitted with those numbers to state.records@ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-3617. Records stored with 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 may 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 additional time is needed.

    Despite this broad access framework, several categories of records are shielded from public view under KRS 61.878 and applicable court rules. In Nelson County, records excluded from or restricted in public access include:

    • 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. When in doubt, the circuit court clerk can advise on whether a particular record is publicly accessible.

    Nelson County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal jurisdiction in Nelson County is divided between two courts based on 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 exercises jurisdiction over felony offenses, as well as appeals from District Court decisions. Both courts are located in the Nelson County Justice Center.

    Searching Criminal Records Online

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

    Arrest Records

    Arrest records from Nelson County are maintained by the law enforcement agency that conducted the arrest, rather than the court clerk. The Kentucky State Police conducts statewide criminal background checks for a fee of $20, which is the appropriate resource for statewide law enforcement records. For specific Nelson County arrest information, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is the relevant contact.

    In-Person Criminal Record Requests

    Contact the Nelson County Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 348-3648 or visit the Justice Center during regular hours. Provide the defendant’s full name, case number if known, and the type of offense. The clerk charges applicable fees for document copies and certified records.

    Nelson County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Nelson County are handled differently depending on the claim amount. The Nelson County District Court has jurisdiction over civil cases with claims not exceeding $5,000, while the Nelson County Circuit Court handles larger civil disputes, including contract cases, tort claims, and matters requiring injunctive or equitable relief.

    Both courts share the Nelson County Justice Center address. All civil records are maintained by the circuit court clerk’s office, which also handles records for the district court.

    Searching Civil Records

    1. Begin with the Public Court Records Portal to identify the case and obtain the case number.
    2. Contact 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 the request.
    4. Pay applicable copy and certification fees to receive documents.

    For civil cases heard by the Kentucky Court of Appeals, use the C-Track Public Access portal to search appellate records. Payment for in-person copies may 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 jurisdiction of the Nelson County Circuit Court, which maintains 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. To request these records, contact the clerk at (502) 348-3648 and provide the names of both parties, the case number, and the approximate date the case was filed. Standard copy fees apply.

    For 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. Requests are made by mailing or dropping off a completed application form along 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. Copies of marriage license records can be viewed online through the EZ Document Search tool on the County Clerk’s website, or requested in person or by mail at:

    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

    Provide the names of both parties and the marriage date when requesting 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. Requests are mailed 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, using the death certificate application form.

    Nelson County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Nelson County are divided by 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 has general jurisdiction over more complex estate disputes. Because both courts operate out of the same Nelson County Justice Center, all probate record requests are directed to the same clerk’s office.

    What Probate Records Cover

    • Decedent’s 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

    Provide specific case details including the decedent’s name, approximate filing date, and case number if available. Valid identification may be required if the record or portions of it carry access restrictions. The clerk charges applicable fees for document copies and certified records. Wills that have been probated are also accessible through the Nelson County Clerk’s Office, which maintains land and document records and can be searched through its online document search portal. For older probate records no longer maintained at the courthouse, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives is the appropriate resource.