Kenton County, Kentucky State Court Records
Kenton County court records are documents and instruments generated during a legal proceeding on a case within the county. Court records serve as the official account of a legal case and are valuable to both the government and the general populace. For example, law enforcement uses them to enforce orders and maintain public safety, while researchers can use them to figure out historical trends in the county's legal system.
Court records interact with public records from other branches of government. They often contain information from an arrest report and sometimes lay the foundation for generating vital and property records.
Are Kenton County Court Records Public?
Yes. Kenton County court records are generally open to the public for inspection and copying. While one may assume that the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA) is the governing law for court records in Kenton County, the Kentucky Supreme Court has established that judicial records are excluded from KORA. Instead, access to court records is governed by common law and judicial policies.
Kenton County court records are presumed public under common law and judicial policies; however, specific records and sensitive information are withheld or redacted before public disclosure. These records and information include
- Adoption records
- Child custody records
- Medical information
- Personal financial information and sensitive identifiers
- Sealed records
What Information is Available in Kenton County Court Records?
A public court record in Kenton County contains pertinent information about a case, including
- Case number
- Filing date
- Court hearing schedules
- The names of parties and their legal representation
- Docket sheets
- Case status
- Exhibits
- Subpoenas
- Court orders
Kenton County Court Records Search
Kenton County court records can generally be accessed online, in person at the courthouse, or by mailing a request to the Clerk of Court's Office. Each option is explored in detail below.
Online Access
Members of the public can access a Kenton County court record online through the Kentucky Court of Justice CourtNet portal. The portal is a statewide court record access portal and contains case information from all courts in the state. However, researchers can localize their search to Kenton County using the "County" dropdown menu. Users need to input a last name plus date of birth, a last name plus first name, driver's license number, case number, or business name to initiate a search.
Individuals can request copies of a court record by completing the Kenton County Circuit Clerk's online Request for Copy Work form. The clerk typically processes requests between 7 and 14 days. Requesters who submit the form will have to pay a fee.
Note: Protected court records may not be available through the CourtNet portal or provided via the Request for Copy Work form even if the requester is a party to the record.
In-Person Access
If a physical copy of a court record is needed, then individuals may visit the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk at the Kenton County Justice Center. The Circuit Clerk's Office maintains all court records from the Circuit Court, District Court, Family Court, and Business Court. Requesters will be asked to provide details about the record, such as the party names, case number, and filing date. The clerk will also require a fee to provide copies of the record.
Mail and Phone Requests
Mail-in requests are an alternative to in-person requests for individuals who want to obtain a copy of a record. Individuals should write a clear request, specifying the type of record, the name of the parties involved in the case, the case number, and any other known details about the record. The written request should then be mailed alongside payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Circuit Clerk's Office.
Fees for Court Records in Kenton County
The fees for obtaining court records in Kenton County are established in the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (CR 3.02 and 3.03). Online searches for records via the Kentucky Court of Justice CourtNet portal are free, but physical or mail requests for copies of a record follow the fee schedule below.
- Plain Copies: 25 cents per page
- Email or Fax Transmission: $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page
- Certified Copy: $5 plus per-page fee
- Attestation: 50 cents plus per-page fee
- Audio/Video Copies of a Court Hearing: $25 per disc
Kenton County Courthouse Locations
Kenton County operates under a unified state court system managed by the Kentucky Court of Justice. This unified system means that there are no independent municipal or city courts in the county, as is the situation in some counties in other states. The trial court system in the county consists of a District Court, Circuit Court, Family Court, and Business Court. The Family Court and Business Courts are divisions of the Circuit Court. Below is the address of the county's courthouse.
Kenton County Justice Center
230 Madison Avenue
Covington, KY 41011
Phone: (859) 292-6521
Criminal Records Access in Kenton County
Kenton County criminal records are files that document the criminal history of persons in the county. A criminal record tracks a person's arrests, criminal trials, convictions, sentences, and prison time. Documents, such as arrests, jail, and prison records, are primarily law enforcement records, while judicial dispositions, including convictions and sentences, are primarily court documents.
The information contained in all these documents is summarized into one document known as a criminal record report in the state. The report contains traffic, misdemeanor, felony, and Circuit Criminal cases. Members of the public can obtain this report by conducting a Background Check through the Kentucky Administrative Office of Courts.
To view the documents generated and submitted during a criminal trial, researchers may visit the Kenton County Circuit Clerk's Office or submit the online Request for Copy Work form.
Kenton County Probate Records
Kenton County probate records document the judicial process of administering the estate of a deceased person. Probate records include wills, petitions, letters testamentary, trusts, estate records, and property appraisals. Probate cases in Kenton County are handled by the Probate Division of the District Court.
The Kenton County Circuit Court Clerk maintains all probate files in the county. Members of the public can obtain a probate record in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office at the Kenton County Justice Center or submit the online Request for Copy Work form.
Kenton County Family Court Records
Family court records are court records covering legal proceedings on family-related matters. These include divorces, adoptions, paternity cases, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and juvenile dependency. Kenton County has a Family Court dedicated to handling these matters.
Family court records are viewed as public records in Kenton County; however, only basic information is available to the public. Details disclosing the identity of children, financial information, or private personal information are redacted from public family court records. Individuals may visit the Kenton County Circuit Clerk's Office to inspect and obtain copies of a record.
Federal Court Records in Kenton County
Federal court records are case documents generated during legal proceedings that fall under federal jurisdiction. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky is the federal court with jurisdiction over any federal case arising out of Kenton County and eight other counties.
This courthouse has a physical building in Kenton County, located in Covington. Researchers can visit the courthouse to inspect federal court records. Alternatively, the record can be looked up on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system. Each search costs a fee.
