Start with the Kentucky Court of Justice case search at kycourts.gov for statewide court records — Kentucky has a unified system covering all 120 counties. This is a strong centralized search. For criminal background checks, use the Kentucky State Police background check portal. For property, start with the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) — Kentucky's unique name for the assessor — then the County Clerk for deeds.
The SearchSystems.net team has tracked these portals since 1997.
Kentucky Counties — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
Official government databases.
Search Kentucky by Record Type
How to Search Kentucky Criminal Records
Start with kycourts.gov for criminal case records — the statewide court search covers Circuit Court (felonies) and District Court (misdemeanors) across all 120 counties. For a formal background check, use the Kentucky State Police online background check ($20 fee). For current state inmates, use the Kentucky DOC offender lookup. For county jail inmates, contact the county Jailer (Kentucky has elected Jailers, separate from the Sheriff).
How to Search Kentucky Court Records
Use kycourts.gov for everything — Circuit Court handles felonies, civil over $5,000, and family matters. District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic, civil under $5,000, small claims, and preliminary hearings. Kentucky has 120 counties — more than most states — but the unified court search covers them all.
How to Search Kentucky Property Records
Start with the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) — this is Kentucky's version of the County Assessor. Then go to the County Clerk for deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded documents. For tax bills, go to the County Sheriff (who collects property taxes in Kentucky — unusual). Fayette County (Lexington) and Jefferson County (Louisville) have the best online tools.
How to Get Kentucky Vital Records
For birth and death certificates, order from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Vital Statistics. For marriage licenses, go to the County Clerk. For divorce records, search kycourts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to find Kentucky records? ▼
Start with the court clerk for court and criminal case records — this is the main source for felony filings, civil cases, and dispositions. If the search returns empty, the record may be at the County Clerk instead — not all records are in the same place.
Where do I search for Kentucky public records? ▼
Kentucky records are spread across separate government offices. Court records, property records, and vital records are handled by different offices. Use the court clerk for cases, the County Clerk for ownership and valuations, and the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics or the local health department for birth, death, or marriage records.
Why does my Kentucky search return no results? ▼
Most searches fail because the wrong office is used. Each record type is maintained by a different department. If one system returns nothing, switch to the office that actually handles that record type.
Is there a single database for all Kentucky records? ▼
No. Records in Kentucky are decentralized across multiple agencies. You must identify the correct office first, then search that specific system.
Does Kentucky have a free statewide court search? ▼
Yes. Kentucky CourtNet at kcoj.kycourts.net provides free access to Circuit and District Court case records statewide across all 120 counties.
BBB A+ Rated