Spencer County Court Records Search

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    Spencer County, Kentucky sits at the heart of the Bluegrass State's 53rd Judicial District, a small but fully functional court system anchored in the city of Taylorsville. When residents, attorneys, or researchers need documentation of legal proceedings — from a felony conviction to a probate filing from years past — those records flow through a single, centralized office: the Spencer County Circuit Court Clerk. Understanding how that system is organized, where records are stored, and which resources allow remote access will save considerable time regardless of the record type you need.

    Court records in Spencer County span a broad range of case types, including criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family dissolution proceedings, juvenile matters, and estate probate. Official documentation within any of these categories may include pleadings, motions, exhibits, court orders, transcripts, and final judgments. Each document is part of the official court file maintained under the custody of the Circuit Court Clerk.

    Residents looking to start a records search in Kentucky can use KentuckyCourts.us to understand how the state's court system is structured and what online resources are available. The Kentucky Court of Justice maintains public-facing tools and county-specific pages that identify the correct clerk's office, court schedules, and online access options for each county.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Spencer County?

    The primary gateway for locating Spencer County court records is the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk, which serves as the official custodian for all Circuit, District, and Family Court case files in the county. The clerk's office is led by Circuit Court Clerk Becky M. Robinson and is located at the Spencer County Courthouse Annex.

    Spencer County Circuit Court Clerk
    Address: 27 East Main Street, P.O. Box 282, Taylorsville, KY 40071
    Phone: (502) 477-3220
    Fax: (502) 477-9368
    Email: beckyrobinson@kycourts.net

    DayHours
    Monday – Friday7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed noon–1:00 p.m.)
    Saturday – SundayClosed

    The clerk's office accepts payment in cash, local personal check, cashier's check, money order, and credit or debit cards (a processing fee applies for cards). Online payments are available through KYeCourts ePay.

    There are three primary methods for searching or requesting Spencer County court records:

    • In person: Visit the clerk's office at the Courthouse Annex during business hours. Bring identifying information about the case — the party's name, case number, or approximate filing date. The building is elevator-accessible and offers designated parking for individuals with disability permits.
    • Online: The KYeCourts guest login provides free public access to basic case information for Circuit, District, and Family court cases across the state, including Spencer County. Attorneys and registered users can access more detailed case history through CourtNet 2.0.
    • By mail: Written requests can be submitted to the clerk's office at the address above. Include the case name or number, the type of record requested, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or instructions for return delivery.

    For guidance on what records can be obtained and how to request them statewide, the Request Court Records page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website provides a complete procedural overview.

    Retention and older records: Spencer County courts retain case records for the first 15 years after case closure. Records between 15 and 35 years old are transferred to the Kentucky State Records Center (SRC), managed by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Records older than 35 years are housed at the KDLA Archives in Frankfort. To request archived records, submit a completed request form to state.records@ky.gov or call (502) 564-3617. In-state requestors are charged a $20.00 non-refundable search and copy fee; out-of-state requestors pay $25.00.

    Are Court Records Public in Spencer County?

    Kentucky law treats most court case records as open to public inspection. Any person — regardless of whether they are a party to the case — may examine or copy court records from Spencer County's courts unless a specific statutory provision or court order has restricted access.

    It's worth understanding a key distinction in Kentucky: the state's Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) governs access to administrative records held by public agencies, but it does not directly apply to the judicial branch or to court case records. Court record access is instead governed by the Kentucky Court of Justice's own policies and by applicable statutes.

    The following categories of records are treated as confidential and are not available for general public inspection:

    • Adoption records — sealed by statute to protect the privacy of all parties
    • Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors are confidential under Kentucky law
    • Personally identifying information (PII) — certain identifying data, such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth, may be redacted from publicly available documents under KRS 26A.200
    • Attorney-client communications — privileged communications are protected regardless of whether they appear in a court file
    • Mental health and medical records — incorporated into case files but protected from general disclosure
    • Records sealed by court order — any record sealed upon motion or by judicial discretion

    Even when a record is technically public, some portions may be redacted before release. The clerk's office will identify which portions of a document are available for public viewing when you submit a request.

    Spencer County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Spencer County are prosecuted in either Circuit Court (for felonies and serious offenses) or District Court (for misdemeanors, violations, and preliminary felony hearings). The Circuit Court handles Class A, B, C, and D felony prosecutions, while the District Court processes Class A and B misdemeanors, traffic violations, and conducts preliminary hearings for felony charges before grand jury indictment.

    Criminal court records in Spencer County include indictments, arrest warrants, criminal complaints, pretrial motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation or parole documentation. These records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's office and are accessible through the methods described above.

    For those searching for recent arrest information, the Spencer County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search tool that allows users to look up current jail roster information. The Sheriff's Office is also the primary law enforcement repository for booking records and arrest reports.

    Spencer County Sheriff's Office
    Address: 18 E. Main St., P.O. Box 475, Taylorsville, KY 40071
    Phone: (502) 477-3200

    Criminal history background checks — which go beyond individual case records to aggregate a person's statewide criminal record — are not issued by the Circuit Court Clerk. For official statewide background check services, the Kentucky Court of Justice Background Check portal explains the available options, including the Administrative Office of the Courts' (AOC) criminal history database. Background checks obtained through the AOC reflect only Kentucky court records and do not include federal records or information from other states.

    Sex offender registry searches for Spencer County residents can be conducted through the Kentucky State Police Sex Offender Registry, accessible via the Kentucky State Police website.

    Spencer County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Spencer County are divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court based primarily on the dollar amount in controversy and the nature of the claim. Circuit Court handles civil claims exceeding $5,000, while the District Court has jurisdiction over civil matters up to $5,000, including small claims.

    Civil court records generated in Spencer County include complaints and petitions, answers and counterclaims, summonses, motions and memoranda, discovery-related filings, judgment orders, and any appeals filed within the county court system. Each document is indexed and stored in the case file, managed by the clerk's office from filing through archival retention.

    To look up an existing civil case, the public can use the KYeCourts guest access portal, which allows free searches by party name or case number. The portal returns basic docketing information, including filing dates, case type, and case status. Attorneys and authorized users who need more detailed case data — including document images in certain counties — can subscribe to CourtNet 2.0 through the Kentucky Bar Association.

    When requesting copies of civil case documents in person, the clerk's office can produce plain copies or certified copies. Fees are set by the Kentucky Court of Justice and must be paid at the time of the request. Payment options accepted at the Spencer County clerk's window include cash, check, money order, and debit or credit card.

    For property-related civil records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and releases — those instruments are recorded with the Spencer County Clerk's Office (a separate office from the Circuit Court Clerk) rather than with the court system. The County Clerk's online records system covers instruments dating back to January 1795.

    Spencer County Clerk's Office (Property and Vital Records)
    Address: Spencer County Courthouse, 2 West Main, P.O. Box 544, Taylorsville, KY 40071
    Phone: (502) 477-3215
    Fax: (502) 477-3216
    Website: Spencer County Clerk

    Property assessment values and ownership information are maintained separately by the Spencer County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA), whose official website includes a free public property search tool.

    Spencer County Family Court Records

    Spencer County is served by a designated Family Court, which operates as part of the 53rd Judicial District under the jurisdiction established by KRS 23A.100 and KRS 23A.110. The Family Court handles the full range of domestic matters, with Judge Marie Hellard presiding.

    Family Court jurisdiction in Spencer County covers the following case types:

    • Dissolution of marriage (divorce)
    • Division of marital property and spousal support
    • Child custody and visitation
    • Child support establishment and modification
    • Paternity proceedings
    • Adoption
    • Domestic violence petitions and protective orders
    • Dependency, neglect, and abuse cases (DNA)
    • Juvenile status offense matters (truancy, beyond parental control)
    • Guardianship of minors

    Family court case records are maintained by the Spencer County Circuit Court Clerk. Because many family matters involve minors or sensitive personal circumstances, some records — particularly those involving adoptions, juvenile proceedings, and abuse cases — are sealed or access-restricted by statute.

    Divorce records: Dissolution case files and divorce decrees are maintained by the clerk's office and are accessible in person or online via KYeCourts. Certified divorce certificates, which are official abstracts of divorce information issued by the state, are available through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS). Requestors must submit a completed Divorce Application form and pay a $6.00 fee per certified copy. The OVS maintains divorce records from June 1958 forward; earlier records may be found at the County Clerk's Office or the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

    Marriage licenses and records: Marriage licenses are issued by the Spencer County Clerk's Office. Marriage certificates issued by the OVS cost $6.00 per copy. Pre-1958 marriage records may be available through the County Clerk or Kentucky Historical Society.

    Birth and death records related to family matters are handled by the Kentucky OVS. Birth certificates cost $10.00 per certified copy and are restricted until 100 years after the date of birth under KRS 213.131. Death certificates cost $6.00 per copy and are restricted for 50 years from the date of death. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or online through the OVS's approved vendor portal.

    Spencer County Probate Court Records

    In Kentucky, probate jurisdiction is shared between the District Court and the Circuit Court depending on the nature of the proceeding. The District Court oversees the probate of wills and routine estate administration, while the Circuit Court handles contested probate matters, such as will challenges or disputes among heirs. Both types of proceedings generate case files maintained by the Spencer County Circuit Court Clerk.

    Probate records typically contain the following documents:

    • The original will (and any codicils)
    • Petition for probate or administration
    • Letters testamentary or letters of administration
    • Inventory and appraisal of estate assets
    • Claims of creditors and orders of payment
    • Final settlement and distribution orders
    • Guardianship or conservatorship filings when a minor or incapacitated person inherits

    To search for a Spencer County probate case, visit the clerk's office at the Courthouse Annex in Taylorsville or use the KYeCourts public case search portal to look up case status by party name or case number. The probate clerk can be reached directly at (502) 477-3220.

    For older probate records no longer held at the courthouse, the retention timeline applies: records between 15 and 35 years old are at the State Records Center, and those older than 35 years reside at the KDLA. To request archived probate records, submit the KDLA records request form to state.records@ky.gov along with the case and file locator numbers provided by the clerk's office. The KDLA also publishes a dedicated Probate Records guide that outlines what types of historical estate documents are available and how to access them.

    For genealogical research, Spencer County probate records extend back to the county's establishment and represent a valuable historical resource. The Kentucky Historical Society and the KDLA both assist researchers in locating pre-digital estate filings. The Spencer County Clerk's Records page also provides access to recorded real estate documents dating to 1795, which can supplement probate research involving inherited real property.