Ohio County Court Records Search
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Ohio County is a south-central Kentucky county with its seat in Hartford. Its courts — the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court — collectively handle thousands of cases each year, covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law matters, and estate administration. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk maintains records from all these proceedings and makes most of them available to the public under Kentucky's open records framework, with certain statutory exceptions.
You can locate public court records in Ohio County through online tools, in-person clerk visits, and mail requests. KentuckyCourts.us is a useful place to understand how Kentucky's court system is organized and to find publicly available case information. For actual case documents and certified copies, your main options are official online portals, the Circuit Clerk's office, and public access terminals at the courthouse.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Ohio County?
There are three practical ways to search Ohio County court records: online through the Kentucky Court of Justice's case portal, in person at the Circuit Clerk's office, or by contacting the clerk directly by phone or mail.
Online — CourtNet/KYeCourts Guest Login
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a public case search tool that lets anyone look up civil and criminal case information for courts across the state, including Ohio County. Guest access is available through the CourtNet Public Access portal without creating an account. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name and pull up basic case details such as charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. For appellate cases, the C-Track Public Access portal handles Kentucky Court of Appeals and Supreme Court records separately.
In Person
The Ohio County Circuit Clerk's office is the county's main repository for all Circuit, Family, and District Court case records. Staff can help with searches not available online, pull physical case files, and provide certified copies for a fee. You can pay for copies and fines in person using cash, cashier's check, money order, or credit and debit cards — though a processing fee applies for card payments.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 130 E. Washington St., P.O. Box 67, Hartford, KY 42347 |
| Phone | (270) 298-3671 |
| Fax | (270) 298-9565 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Online Payments | ePay portal |
By Mail
You can mail written requests for court record copies to the clerk at the address above. Include the full names of all parties, the case number if you have it, the approximate filing date, a copy of valid photo ID, and a check or money order for the applicable copy fees. If the record you need is stored at an off-site facility, the clerk will supply a file locator number and point you to the Request Court Records page for further instructions.
Are Court Records Public in Ohio County?
The Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) establishes that public records held by state and local government agencies — including courts — are open for inspection and copying by any Kentucky resident. You don't need to explain why you want a record, and agencies generally must respond within three business days.
That said, KRS 61.878 identifies specific categories that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. In the context of Ohio County court records, the following are either restricted or require a court order to access:
- Juvenile case records and delinquency proceedings
- Adoption records
- Records whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
- Law enforcement investigative files, including information identifying confidential informants
- Client files and case records of public defenders
- Photographs and videos depicting crimes (enacted under KRS 61.878(1)(q))
- Preliminary drafts and notes not finalized for public action
- Records exempted from disclosure by federal or state statute
When a partially exempt record is requested, the custodian must redact only the protected portions and release the rest. Ohio County court clerks follow this practice before producing documents that contain sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, financial account details, or protected medical records.
Ohio County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Ohio County are split between the Circuit Court and the District Court depending on the severity of the offense.
Circuit Court — Felony Matters
The Ohio County Circuit Court, part of the 38th Judicial Circuit, handles all felony criminal cases — those carrying potential sentences of one year or more of imprisonment. Criminal motion days are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month, with motions beginning at 10:00 a.m. Case records kept by the Circuit Clerk include charging documents, grand jury indictments, plea agreements, pretrial motions, sentencing orders, and any appeals from lower courts.
District Court — Misdemeanors and Traffic
The Ohio County District Court handles misdemeanor offenses, violations, traffic matters, and county and city ordinance violations. The court sits in two divisions: Division I on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. and Division II on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. District Court case records are also kept by the Circuit Clerk's office at the same address.
Sheriff's Office and Detention Center
Arrest records from the Ohio County Sheriff's Office are a separate category from court case records. The Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Adam L. Wright, is located at 301 S. Main Street, Hartford, KY 42347, and can be reached at (270) 298-4444. Arrest report requests are generally handled as open records requests directed to the agency.
Current inmate information is searchable through the Ohio County Detention Center's inmate lookup. The detention center sits at 108 East Washington Street, Hartford, KY 42347, and its administrative line is (270) 298-4455. Keep in mind that detention center records are separate from court records — a case may show up in court searches even if the individual has already been released.
To search for criminal court case records online, use the CourtNet Guest Login and filter by Ohio County. Certified copies of criminal case documents must be requested directly from the Circuit Clerk's office.
Ohio County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Ohio County are handled at two tiers depending on the dollar amount and the nature of the claim.
Circuit Court Civil Cases
The Ohio County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil actions, including personal injury suits, contract disputes, property matters, and other claims without a monetary ceiling. Civil motion days in the Circuit Court fall on the first and third Tuesday of each month, with civil matters starting at 9:00 a.m. The filing fee for a civil case in Circuit Court is $150.00, plus a $20.00 court technology fee, under Kentucky civil procedure rules.
District Court — Small Claims Division
The Ohio County District Court's Small Claims Division handles money claims and disputes over personal property valued up to $2,500 under KRS 24A.230. Filing fees are typically $25–$30, plus service costs. Hearings are scheduled no fewer than 20 days and no more than 40 days after service. Attorneys are permitted in small claims matters. The Kentucky Court of Justice publishes a free Small Claims Handbook that walks self-represented parties through the full filing and hearing process.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case information is searchable online through the CourtNet Public Access portal. Physical case files — pleadings, motions, exhibits, and final orders — are available from the Circuit Clerk's office. For older archived cases stored off-site, the clerk can supply the locator numbers you'll need to retrieve them.
Property Records
Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land instruments are kept by the Ohio County Clerk's Office — a separate office from the Circuit Clerk — at 301 S. Main St., Suite 201, Hartford, KY 42347, Phone: (270) 298-4422 Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The County Clerk's office also offers a free fraud notification service called DOCALERT, which sends email alerts whenever a deed or mortgage is recorded in a registered user's name. You can review property records in person or through the Ohio County Clerk's records page.
Ohio County Family Court Records
Ohio County operates a dedicated Family Court division within its court system. The Family Court convenes at the Ohio County Community Center at 130 E. Washington Street, Hartford — the same building as the Circuit and District Courts. Sessions follow a defined weekly calendar:
| Session Type | Day and Time |
|---|---|
| DVO/IPO (Domestic Violence/Interpersonal Protection Orders) | Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. |
| Civil Matters | Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. |
| Juvenile (1st, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday) | Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. |
| Adoptions (2nd Wednesday) | Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. |
| Child Support (2nd Wednesday) | Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. |
The Ohio County Family Court has jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage, spousal support, equitable distribution of marital property, child custody, child support, visitation, adoptions, and juvenile matters. Records from these proceedings — including divorce decrees, custody orders, and support agreements — are kept by the Circuit Clerk and can be searched online through CourtNet.
Divorce Records
Certified copies of divorce decrees are available from the Circuit Clerk's office. Divorce certificates — as opposed to full case files — can also be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics for $6.00 per copy. To request a divorce certificate by mail, complete the appropriate marriage/divorce certificate application and mail it with a check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer and a copy of valid photo ID to: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St., 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Divorce certificates are available for events recorded from 1958 to the present.
Marriage Licenses and Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Ohio County Clerk's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. Both parties must apply together in person and present an acceptable form of identification. The fee is $60.00 — payable by cash, check, credit card, or money order — and the license is valid for 30 days anywhere in Kentucky. There is no waiting period and no blood test requirement. For copies of an already-issued marriage license, the County Clerk charges $0.50 per page for photocopies and $5.00 for a certified copy.
Certified copies of marriage certificates for records from 1958 forward are also available through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics for $6.00 per copy. Mail requests follow the same process described above for divorce certificates. For more details on the license application process, visit the Ohio County Clerk's Marriage License page.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth certificates — available for events from 1911 to present — cost $10.00 per copy, including the non-refundable search fee. Death certificates cost $6.00 per copy. You can submit requests online through VitalChek (additional service fees apply), by phone at (800) 241-8322, in person at 275 E. Main St., Frankfort, KY (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), or by mail to the Office of Vital Statistics at the same address.
Mail orders are generally processed within five business days, but allow up to 30 working days to be safe. All requests require a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and payment by check or money order made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Application forms are available on the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics certificate purchase page.
Ohio County Probate Court Records
In Kentucky, probate jurisdiction rests with the Circuit Court — there is no separate probate court. The Ohio County Circuit Court administers all matters involving the estates of deceased residents, including:
- Validation of wills and appointment of executors
- Intestate succession proceedings (estates without a will)
- Appointment of administrators for unsupervised estates
- Guardianships for incapacitated adults
- Conservatorships for the management of protected persons' financial affairs
- Name change petitions
- Trust administration matters requiring court oversight
Probate case records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Clerk's Office at 130 E. Washington Street, Hartford, KY 42347. If you need non-restricted probate records — filed wills, letters testamentary, inventories, settlement accounts — you can request them in person during regular office hours or by mail. When writing a mail request for a probate record, include the decedent's full name, the approximate date of death or filing, and the case number if you have it.
Probate case information can also be searched through the CourtNet Guest Login. If the clerk tells you a file is stored at an off-site records facility, visit the Kentucky Court of Justice Request Court Records page for guidance on obtaining the locator number and submitting a retrieval request. Fees for certified copies of probate documents vary by document type and page count — call the Circuit Clerk at (270) 298-3671 for the current fee schedule before sending your request.