Simpson County Court Records Search

    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.

    Simpson County, Kentucky, is a small but active jurisdiction in south-central Kentucky, with its county seat located in Franklin. The county's courts generate a steady volume of records across criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. These records — which can include case dockets, judgments, orders, motions, charging documents, and sentencing materials — serve practical purposes for attorneys, researchers, property buyers, employers, and members of the public alike. Knowing which office holds the records you need and what procedures to follow is the most direct path to accessing them efficiently.

    Locating Court Records in Kentucky:

    Court case records in Kentucky are maintained at the local level by elected Circuit Court Clerks, not by the state's administrative office. People searching for Simpson County case information can start with the clerk's office in Franklin, use the Kentucky Court of Justice's online case search tool, or consult public access terminals at the courthouse. KentuckyCourts.us may also assist users in navigating publicly available court information for Simpson County and other Kentucky counties.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Simpson County?

    The Simpson County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is the central repository for all court case records from the Circuit, District, Family, and Business Courts that operate within the county. Circuit Court Clerk Beth Anne Fiss oversees this office, which is located at the Simpson County Justice Center in Franklin.

    Simpson County Justice Center / Circuit Court Clerk
    Address: 101 N. Court Street, Franklin, KY 42134
    Phone: (270) 586-4241 or (270) 586-8910
    Fax: (270) 586-0265
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    Methods for requesting or searching records:

    • In person: Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Justice Center during business hours. Staff can pull physical case files and assist with document retrieval.
    • By phone: Call (270) 586-4241 or (270) 586-8910 to inquire about specific cases before making a trip.
    • Online via KYeCourts: The Kentucky Court of Justice provides guest access to CourtNet for basic case lookups, including docket information and court dates for Circuit, Family, and District Court cases.
    • Online payments: Filing fees and court costs can be paid through the ePay system linked through the KYeCourts portal.
    • Archived records: Cases older than those stored at the clerk's office may be held at the Kentucky State Records Center. Requests for archived records must be submitted using the records request form sent to state.records@ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-3617. The case and file locator numbers — obtained from the clerk — must accompany all archived requests.
    • Historical records: Very old court records may be held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, which also accepts in-state written research requests.

    Payment at the clerk's office is accepted in cash, cashier's check, money order, and credit or debit card (a processing fee applies for card payments).

    Are Court Records Public in Simpson County?

    Most court records maintained by the Simpson County Circuit Court Clerk are accessible to the public. The Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) governs access to public agency records broadly, though the judicial branch operates under its own access policies. As a matter of practice, the Kentucky Court of Justice treats the majority of court case records as open to public inspection, consistent with the general principle that court proceedings are public.

    Certain categories of records are restricted or sealed, including:

    • Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors are confidential under Kentucky statutes
    • Adoption records — sealed to protect all parties involved
    • Mental health proceedings — limited access to protect individuals' private health information
    • Domestic violence cases — some filings may be restricted to protect victims
    • Sealed court orders — restricted by specific judicial action in individual cases
    • Expunged records — legally removed from public view upon court order

    Records may also contain redacted personal identifiers, and older records may have been destroyed according to the Kentucky Court of Justice's record retention schedules. If a case file is no longer at the clerk's office, the clerk can provide the locator numbers needed to access archived materials through the appropriate state facility. The Request Court Records page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website outlines the process for obtaining case records at each level of the court system.

    Simpson County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Simpson County are handled at two court levels. Felony offenses — including violent crimes, drug trafficking, and other serious charges — are prosecuted in the Circuit Court. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings. Both courts sit at the Simpson County Justice Center, and the Circuit Court Clerk manages records for both.

    Criminal case files typically contain arrest records, charging documents (indictments or informations), arraignment records, evidence submissions, plea agreements, trial transcripts, verdicts, sentencing orders, and appeal filings.

    How to access criminal court records:

    • Contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office at (270) 586-4241 and provide the defendant's full name and approximate case year.
    • Use the KYeCourts guest access portal for basic online case lookups.
    • Visit the Justice Center in person to review physical case files or request certified copies.

    For arrest information and inmate custody data not yet reflected in court case filings, contact the Simpson County Sheriff's Office or the Detention Center:

    Simpson County Sheriff's Office
    Address: 203 E. Kentucky Avenue, Franklin, KY 42134
    Phone: (270) 586-7425
    Fax: (270) 586-9505
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Website: simpsoncountysheriffky.org

    Simpson County Detention Center
    Address: 217 E. Kentucky Avenue, Franklin, KY 42134
    Phone: (270) 586-5351
    Email: info@simpsoncojail.org
    Website: simpsoncojail.org

    The Detention Center's website provides current inmate listings with charges and bond information. The Sheriff's Office website also links to the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry and VINELink for victim notification services.

    Simpson County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Simpson County — covering contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disagreements, small claims, and other non-criminal matters — is divided between the Circuit Court and District Court based on the dollar amount at issue. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil matters exceeding $5,000, while the District Court hears civil cases valued under $5,000.

    Civil case files can include complaints, answers, motions, discovery orders, judgments, and appellate filings. All records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Simpson County Justice Center.

    To obtain civil court records:

    • In person: Visit the clerk's office at 101 N. Court Street, Franklin, KY 42134, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring party names and an approximate filing year.
    • Online: Search basic civil case information through KYeCourts guest access.
    • By mail: Send a written request to the Circuit Court Clerk with the names of all parties and any known case number.

    Fees for copying records are charged per page, and certified copies carry an additional fee. Certified copies cost approximately $5.00 per document plus per-page copy costs of approximately $0.25 per page. The clerk's office can confirm exact current fees at the time of the request. Payment is accepted in cash, cashier's check, money order, and credit or debit card (a processing fee applies for card transactions).

    Simpson County Family Court Records

    Simpson County has a dedicated Family Court, which operates as a division of the Circuit Court. The Family Court handles matters including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, paternity, domestic violence protective orders, juvenile cases, and related proceedings. Records from Family Court proceedings are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.

    Divorce records: Divorce decrees and case files are held by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Justice Center. Copies may be requested in person, by mail, or by phone. Certified copies cost approximately $5.00 per document, plus per-page copy fees of approximately $0.25 per page.

    For certified divorce certificates from June 1958 to the present, the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) is an additional option. Requests can be submitted using the marriage and divorce application form at a cost of $6.00 per certified copy.

    Marriage records: The Simpson County Clerk's Office maintains marriage records in the county dating from 1852 forward. Certified copies are available at a standard non-commercial fee of $0.50 per copy for records held at the County Clerk. The County Clerk accepts in-person, written, mailed, or faxed requests.

    Simpson County Clerk's Office
    Address: 105 East Kentucky Street, Franklin, KY 42134
    Mailing: P.O. Box 268, Franklin, KY 42135-0268
    Phone: (270) 586-8161
    Email: austin.johnson@ky.gov

    Certified copies of marriages from June 1958 forward are also obtainable from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics:

    Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
    Address: 275 East Main Street, Suite 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621
    Phone: (502) 564-4212 or (800) 241-8322
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Fee: $6.00 per certified copy

    Birth records: Birth certificates for Simpson County are maintained by the OVS from 1911 to the present. Certified copies cost $10.00 each and are restricted for 100 years — accessible only to the registrant, parents, spouse, children, or legal representatives. Applications can be submitted in person, by mail, or online using the birth certificate application.

    Death records: Death certificates held by the OVS carry a 50-year restriction limiting access to immediate family members, funeral directors, and those with a demonstrable legal interest. Certified copies cost $6.00 each and can be requested through the OVS death records page.

    Simpson County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Simpson County — including estate administration, will probates, guardianships, conservatorships, and related proceedings — are handled by the District Court, which sits at the Simpson County Justice Center. The Circuit Court Clerk is the official custodian of probate case records.

    Probate records are generally open to the public and are valuable for genealogical research, inheritance disputes, property title searches, and verifying estate distributions.

    How to access probate records:

    • Through the Circuit Court Clerk: Contact the clerk's office at (270) 586-4241 or visit in person at 101 N. Court Street, Franklin, KY 42134. Provide the decedent's full name and approximate date of death or case filing year.
    • Online: Basic probate case docket information may be available through the KYeCourts guest access portal.
    • Archived cases (older than 15 years): Query the Kentucky State Records Center by submitting the records request form with the case and file locator numbers provided by the clerk.
    • Historical probate documents: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives holds older probate materials and accepts written research requests. In-state research requests carry a $20.00 non-refundable search and copy fee payable by check or money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer.

    Probate records involving minors or individuals under guardianship may be subject to access restrictions. If you have questions about sealed or restricted probate filings, contact the clerk directly or seek legal counsel.