Perry County Court Records Search

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    Perry County, Kentucky sits in the heart of Appalachia, with Hazard serving as the county seat. The county's court system handles a broad range of legal matters — criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and estate administration. Court records from these proceedings form the permanent judicial record of every case filed and decided in the county, capturing motions, judgments, orders, and other filings along the way.

    If you need to search or obtain Perry County court records, Kentucky offers several ways to do it. KentuckyCourts.us is a useful place to start for learning about the state's court structure, finding county-level offices, and accessing online case information. You can search records through the clerk's office in person, via public access terminals at the courthouse, or through online case search tools maintained by the state's Administrative Office of the Courts. The sections below explain how each method works, which office handles which record type, and what fees or restrictions may apply.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Perry County?

    Start with the Perry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office — it maintains court records for all Circuit, Family, District, and Business court cases originating in the county. Whether you're looking for a recent criminal case, a civil judgment, or a family court order, this is the right office to contact.

    Perry County Circuit Court Clerk
    Address: Perry County Hall of Justice, 545 Main St., P.O. Box 7433, Hazard, KY 41702
    Phone: (Circuit): (606) 435-6000
    Phone: (District): (606) 435-6002
    Fax: (606) 435-6143
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Saturday–Sunday: Closed
    Parking: Free parking in the courthouse lot and adjacent parking structure; two-hour street parking on Main Street.
    Payment: Cash, check, or money order accepted. Cash is required for bond matters. Photo ID required to pick up a released bond. Online payment is also available through the court's ePay portal.

    Online Case Search

    The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts operates the AOC CourtNet portal, which lets the public search active and closed cases online. You can create an account or log in as a guest. Searches can be conducted using a party name, case number, or citation number.

    The portal covers Circuit, District, Family, and appellate cases across the state. For appellate cases specifically, a separate C-Track Public Access system is available through the Kentucky Court of Justice.

    In-Person Terminal

    A public access computer terminal is located in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the Hall of Justice. Anyone may use it during regular business hours to search case records. Certified or plain copies of court records are available at $0.25 per page.

    Older Court Records

    The age of a case determines where its physical records are stored:

    • 15 to 35 years old: Complete the State Records Center request form and submit it to the Kentucky State Records Center at state.records@ky.gov.
    • 36 years old and older: Records are held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA), which handles reference and retrieval requests for archival court materials.

    For a full guide on requesting court records statewide, the Request Court Records page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website provides detailed instructions.

    Are Court Records Public in Perry County?

    Kentucky law broadly supports public access to court records. The Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS 61.870 through KRS 61.884, establishes that government records — including most court records — are open and available to any member of the public upon request. You don't need to state a reason or show a personal interest in a case to inspect or obtain copies.

    That said, the statute also identifies categories of records exempt from public disclosure. Under KRS 61.878, along with additional state and federal provisions, certain records are treated as confidential and withheld from general public access. Commonly restricted records include:

    • Juvenile records — cases involving minors are sealed under Kentucky law to protect privacy
    • Adoption records — finalized adoption files are confidential by statute
    • Expunged records — legally expunged cases are removed from the public record
    • Confidential court orders — certain protective or sealed orders are withheld
    • Preliminary drafts and internal court notes — working documents not intended for public release

    If a requested record falls under one of these exemptions, the clerk's office will advise you accordingly. If you believe a record has been improperly withheld, you may challenge the denial through the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General.

    Perry County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Perry County are handled at two levels. Felony prosecutions — including serious violent crimes, drug offenses carrying significant penalties, and major property crimes — are heard in the Perry County Circuit Court. Misdemeanor offenses, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings for felony charges go through the Perry County District Court. Both courts operate from the Hall of Justice in Hazard.

    Searching Criminal Court Records

    Case information for both Circuit and District criminal matters can be retrieved online through the AOC CourtNet portal or in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office using the public terminal. Searching by party name will return case history, charge information, and court scheduling data for publicly accessible cases.

    Arrest Records

    Arrest records are generated and maintained by the arresting law enforcement agency, not the courts. Several agencies operate within Perry County, and each handles open records requests for the records it produces.

    Statewide Criminal History Records

    The Kentucky State Police (KSP) compiles criminal history records reported by agencies across the state. You can request a criminal background check through the KSP Background Checks program. The fee is $20, payable by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer. The Kentucky Court of Justice also maintains a FastCheck background check portal, which allows registered users to obtain criminal record reports online.

    Perry County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases filed in Perry County — including contract disputes, personal injury claims, property matters, and small claims — are handled by the Circuit Court or District Court depending on the dollar amount and nature of the claim. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains case files for all civil proceedings.

    Accessing Civil Records

    You can search civil case records through the AOC CourtNet portal using a party name or case number, or by visiting the clerk's public terminal at the Hall of Justice. Copies of civil case documents are available at $0.25 per page.

    The Perry County Circuit Court Clerk page on the county government website confirms that the office provides all Circuit and District case information and maintains the public terminal for case lookups.

    Property Records

    Property-related civil matters often intersect with records held by the Perry County Clerk and the Property Valuation Administrator. These are separate from court case files but frequently relevant to civil proceedings:

    • The Perry County Clerk's Online Land Records Search portal provides access to deeds, mortgages, and liens filed with the County Clerk. An account and subscription fee are required.
    • Property assessment data is available through the Perry County PVA Property Search.
    • In-person inspection of land records at the County Clerk's office is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., at 481 Main Street, Suite 102, Hazard, KY 41701. Phone: (606) 436-4614

    Perry County Family Court Records

    Family court matters in Perry County — including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, and adoption proceedings — are heard within the Circuit Court's family division. These cases are filed and tracked through the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the Hall of Justice.

    Divorce and Custody Records

    Most divorce and custody filings are part of the public record and can be searched using the AOC CourtNet portal or the in-person public terminal. However, certain family court documents — particularly those involving minor children — may be partially or fully restricted from public view to protect sensitive information.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records in Perry County are divided by date:

    • June 1958 to present: Maintained by Kentucky's Office of Vital Statistics (OVS). Certified marriage certificates cost $6 each and can be requested using the VS-230 Marriage and Divorce Application Form (also available in Spanish). Requests may be submitted in person, via drop box, or by mail to: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St., 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. OVS hours are 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mail and drop-box requests are typically processed in five to seven business days, though some may take up to 30 days; in-person requests are usually processed the same day.
    • Before June 1958: Available through the Perry County Clerk's Office at 481 Main Street, Suite 102, Hazard, KY 41701, Phone: (606) 436-4614

    Divorce Records

    • June 1958 to present: Certified divorce certificates are available from OVS using the same VS-230 form, at a cost of $6 per certificate.
    • Before June 1958: Contact the Perry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 545 Main St., P.O. Box 7433, Hazard, KY 41702, Phone: (606) 435-6000

    Birth and Death Records

    Kentucky birth and death records are confidential under state law and are released only to eligible individuals — the record subject, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives. The OVS maintains records from 1911 to the present. Fees are $10 per birth certificate and $6 per death certificate. Submit requests using the Birth Application Form (also in Spanish) or the Death Application Form (also in Spanish) to OVS with the applicable fee.

    Perry County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Perry County — including administration of decedents' estates, filing and validation of wills, conservatorships, and guardianship proceedings — are handled through the Perry County District and Circuit courts. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the Hall of Justice maintains all probate case records.

    What Probate Records Contain

    Probate filings typically document:

    • The decedent's will and any codicils
    • Petitions to open an estate
    • Appointment of personal representatives or executors
    • Inventories and appraisals of estate assets
    • Creditor claims and settlement orders
    • Trustee appointments and accountings
    • Final orders of distribution

    How to Access Probate Records

    Probate records that are not subject to a sealing order are generally available to the public. You can:

    • Visit the Perry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the Hall of Justice (545 Main St., Hazard, KY 41702) during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).
    • Use the public terminal in the clerk's office to search for probate cases by party name or case number.
    • Request paper copies of specific documents at $0.25 per page.

    For older probate case files, the same archival pathways apply as with other court records — files between 15 and 35 years old are retrievable through the Kentucky State Records Center, while those over 36 years old are held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Have the case name, case number, and approximate filing year ready when contacting either facility, as this will help speed up retrieval.