Pulaski County Court Records Search

Pulaski County sits in south-central Kentucky with Somerset as its county seat. The county’s judicial infrastructure handles a wide cross-section of legal matters, from minor traffic violations at the District Court level to complex civil litigation and felony prosecutions before the Circuit Court. Court records generated by these proceedings — including orders, judgments, motions, pleadings, transcripts, and filings — are primarily maintained by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, which serves as the official custodian for all case files across Circuit, District, Family, and Business court divisions.

Residents, attorneys, researchers, and members of the public can approach Pulaski County court records through several channels, including direct contact with the clerk’s office, official state court portals, and in-person visits to the courthouse in Somerset. Those beginning a records search in Kentucky can also consult KentuckyCourts.us, which provides a centralized starting point for navigating publicly available case information and locating the right office for specific record types. The Kentucky Court of Justice additionally operates online tools that allow case lookup without visiting the courthouse in person.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Pulaski County?

The most direct route to Pulaski County case records is the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, headed by Circuit Court Clerk J.S. Flynn. This office manages records across all court divisions and serves as the county’s primary point of contact for anyone requesting case information.

Pulaski County Court of Justice
Address: 50 Public Square, P.O. Box 664, Somerset, KY 42502-0664
Phone: (606) 677-4029
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

For online searches, the Kentucky Court of Justice provides two primary tools. The KYeCourts guest portal allows any member of the public to search civil and criminal cases without creating an account. For users who need ongoing or more detailed access, CourtNet 2.0 offers a subscription-based service with advanced search functionality, including detailed case information and access to both active and closed matters across Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Step-by-step process for locating a case:

Visit the KYeCourts guest login and select the guest access option.
Choose Pulaski County from the county selector and select the applicable court division.
Enter available search criteria: party name, case number, or filing date range.
Review the case summary and docket entries displayed on screen.
For certified or official copies, contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s office by phone at (606) 677-4029 or visit in person during business hours.

For older case files not available electronically, the clerk will determine whether the record is held in-office or at an off-site storage facility. If the file has been transferred to a records facility, the clerk provides the case and file locator numbers needed to request retrieval. Some older records may have been destroyed in accordance with the Kentucky Court of Justice’s Record Retention schedules.

Payment at the clerk’s office is accepted in cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (with a processing fee). Some court costs and traffic fines can be paid by phone at (606) 677-4029, and online payments are processed through the ePay portal. Bond and filing fees cannot be paid by credit or debit card over the phone.

Are Court Records Public in Pulaski County?

Kentucky’s Open Records Act, KRS 61.870–61.884, establishes that most government-held records — including court records — are presumptively open to public inspection and copying. Any person may submit a written request to the custodial office and receive a response within five business days. This framework applies to Pulaski County court records held by the Circuit Court Clerk and related county offices.

However, KRS 61.878 enumerates categories of records that are excluded from public access. In the context of Pulaski County courts, the following types of records are generally withheld or restricted:

Juvenile case records, which are sealed under Kentucky law to protect minors
Adoption records, which are confidential and require a court order to access
Mental health proceedings and related sensitive records
Records that have been expunged pursuant to a court order — these are treated as if they never existed
Ongoing criminal investigative records not yet resolved
Divorce decree details and certain domestic case materials that courts designate as sensitive

Records that fall outside these categories are available upon request. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office at 50 Public Square is the appropriate contact for confirming whether a specific case type is publicly accessible before making the trip in person.

Pulaski County Criminal Court Records

Criminal proceedings in Pulaski County are divided between two court levels. The Circuit Court handles felony charges and serious misdemeanors that exceed District Court jurisdiction, while the District Court presides over lesser criminal matters, including misdemeanors, traffic offenses, violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Both courts operate out of the Pulaski County Court of Justice at 50 Public Square in Somerset.

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all criminal case filings at both levels, and case docket information is searchable through the KYeCourts portal for matters that have been electronically filed. For complete criminal case files, requests should be submitted directly to the clerk’s office.

For criminal history background checks — the type of record needed for employment screening, licensing, or personal review — Kentucky offers two primary systems:

AOC Background Check Options:

Method	Portal	Fee
Online (one-time, individual)	AOC FastCheck / One-Time Request	$20–$25
Mail-in / In-Person	AOC Records Unit, 1001 Vandalay Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601	$25

The AOC Background Checks page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website explains both options in detail, including what information is included in the report (felony and misdemeanor convictions back to 1978, plus misdemeanor traffic violations from the past five years) and what is excluded (juvenile records, mental health cases, and domestic violence records). The AOC Records Unit can be reached at (800) 928-6381, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) conducts separate name-based and fingerprint-based background checks. Name-based conviction record requests cost $20 by check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. KSP provides three purpose-specific request forms depending on the use case:

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Bobby Jones and located at 100 North Main Street, Somerset, KY 42502 (Phone: (606) 678-5145), also maintains criminal records and provides access to the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry. The Sheriff’s website links directly to the National Sex Offender Registry and handles driving history record checks, civilian collision reports, and concealed carry permit resources.

Pulaski County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Pulaski County are split by dollar amount between the two court tiers. The Circuit Court exercises jurisdiction over civil disputes involving amounts greater than $5,000, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, property litigation, and business matters. The District Court handles civil claims at or below $5,000, including small claims matters.

The Prothonotary function in Kentucky is carried out by the Circuit Court Clerk, who records all civil proceedings before the court and maintains the case files. Civil records can be accessed through the KYeCourts guest portal for electronically maintained cases, or in person at:

Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk
50 Public Square, P.O. Box 664
Somerset, KY 42502
Phone: (606) 677-4029
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Requests for copies of civil case documents should include the case name, case number, party names, and approximate filing date to help the clerk locate the correct file. Once located, the clerk will advise on applicable copy fees and estimated turnaround time.

Property-related civil records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and wills recorded as instruments affecting real estate — are maintained separately by the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office at:

Pulaski County Clerk
100 North Main Street, Somerset, KY 42501
Mailing: P.O. Box 739, Somerset, KY 42502
Phone: (606) 679-2042 | Fax: (606) 451-5727
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

The Clerk’s office maintains land records dating back to approximately 1799, with records indexed online from 1990 forward. Online access is available through the Pulaski County Clerk’s land records portal. Copy fees for these records are $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00. The Clerk accepts recording of deeds ($50.00), mortgages ($80.00), and related instruments according to the applicable fee schedule.

For property assessment and tax-related inquiries, the Pulaski County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) is located at 100 N. Main Street, Room 201, Somerset, KY 42501, and can be reached at (606) 679-1812. The PVA office maintains parcel-level assessment data and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Pulaski County Family Court Records

Family Court in Kentucky operates as a division of the Circuit Court and handles matters including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and termination of parental rights. In Pulaski County, Family Court case files are managed by the Circuit Court Clerk at 50 Public Square.

Divorce and dissolution of marriage records are not fully accessible to the general public — while the existence of a case and basic docket information may be searchable online, the substantive content of divorce proceedings is treated as sensitive under Kentucky law. Researchers requiring official certified copies of divorce decrees should contact the clerk’s office directly.

Certified copies of marriage and divorce records can also be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, which maintains these records from June 1958 to the present for divorces and from statewide registration for marriages. Requesters must complete the Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage/Divorce Certificate and submit the form with valid ID and payment to:

Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street, 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621

The fee for a certified copy of a marriage or divorce certificate is $6.00 per copy, payable by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer.

Marriage licenses in Pulaski County are issued by the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office on North Main Street. Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo ID. Original marriage license records — including those dating to the county’s founding — are maintained by the Clerk’s Office along with other vital and land records.

Birth and death certificates for Pulaski County residents are managed by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, with records available from 1911 to the present. The cost for a certified birth certificate is $10.00 per copy, and death certificates are $6.00 per copy. Requests are made using the Application for a Certified Copy of Birth Certificate or the equivalent death certificate application form, submitted with proof of eligibility, valid ID, and payment. Records can be requested by mail, in person at the Frankfort office, or through VitalChek online.

Adoption records in Pulaski County are sealed and held by the Circuit Court Clerk. Access requires a court order and is not available through the standard records request process.

Pulaski County Probate Court Records

Probate jurisdiction in Kentucky rests with the District Court, and Pulaski County follows this structure. The Pulaski District Court — operating out of the same Pulaski County Court of Justice building at 50 Public Square in Somerset — presides over estate administration, will validation, guardianship appointments, conservatorship proceedings, and related matters. The Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 677-4029 maintains all probate filings and serves as the point of contact for records requests.

Common probate record types maintained by the clerk include:

Petitions for probate of wills
Letters testamentary and letters of administration
Inventories and appraisements of estate assets
Guardian bonds and accountings
Conservatorship orders and status reports
Final settlement documents

Probate records that have been electronically filed may be accessible through the KYeCourts guest portal. Older historical probate files — including inventories, guardian bonds, and mortgage books dating back to the county’s earliest records — have been preserved and some are accessible through resources such as FamilySearch for genealogical purposes. Researchers studying historical estate matters may also find the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) useful for records that predate electronic filing systems.

For current probate matters, all requests — whether for certified copies of will documents, letters of administration, or case docket information — are directed to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office at 50 Public Square. The clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached at (606) 677-4029. Payments for copies and filings are accepted in cash, check, money order, or by credit/debit card through the ePay system, with a processing fee applied to card transactions.