| Circuit Court Clerk | Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, Suite 2008, 600 W. Jefferson St., Louisville, KY 40202 |
| Phone | (502) 595-3055 (Administrative Office); (502) 595-3042 (Archives & Records); (502) 595-3007 (Circuit Civil); (502) 595-3009 (Circuit Criminal); (502) 595-3060 (District Criminal/Traffic); (502) 595-3025 (Family Court); (502) 595-4434 (Probate) |
| Hours | Most divisions: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays; the District/Criminal/Traffic & Domestic Violence Center operates 24 hours |
| Earliest records noted | 1978 |
| Plain copy fee | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 per certification (AOC Form-060), plus $0.25 per page for the copies; $0.50 for an attestation |
Jefferson County is Kentucky's most populous county and includes Louisville. A single Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk — an elected office, currently David L. Nicholson — is the custodian of record for Circuit Court (felonies, civil suits over $5,000, and Family Court divorces and custody cases), and District Court (misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, and civil cases up to $5,000).
The office is spread across the Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice and the Jefferson County Judicial Center in downtown Louisville, with separate divisions for civil, criminal, family, and traffic matters, and its own website at JeffersonKyCourtClerk.com for docket information and general guidance.
Records from January 1, 1978, forward are generally available through the clerk's office; older files may need to be requested from the State Records Center or the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Do not confuse this office with the separately elected Jefferson County Clerk, which handles deeds, marriage licenses, and elections rather than court case files.
Search Jefferson County court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free to search the docket online; fees apply for copies and certification at the clerk's office
- Coverage
- All Circuit Court (felony, civil, family) and District Court (misdemeanor, traffic, small claims) cases filed in Jefferson County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
The office maintains multiple divisions across the Brandeis Hall of Justice and the Judicial Center; check the website for which building and division handles a given case type before visiting in person.
What is available online
The clerk's website (JeffersonKyCourtClerk.com) provides docket and case information and general guidance on requesting records, but full case search and document access for Circuit and District Court cases statewide, including Jefferson County, runs through the Kentucky Court of Justice's CourtNet 2.0 and the free KYeCourts guest login, not through a county-specific search tool. The clerk's Contact Us page lists a direct phone number for every division; the Archives & Records division (502-595-3042) handles requests for older and closed files.
Which clerk has your record
In Kentucky, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Kentucky page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Felonies and capital offenses; Civil cases over $5,000; Divorce, custody, and other family-division cases | Circuit Court Clerk of the county |
| District Court | Misdemeanors, violations, and traffic offenses; Civil claims of $5,000 or less and small claims up to $2,500; Juvenile matters | Circuit Court Clerk of the county (same office keeps both Circuit and District Court records) |
Request records in person or by mail
Jefferson County clerk offices
Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, Suite 2008, 600 W. Jefferson St., Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 595-3055 (Administrative Office); (502) 595-3042 (Archives & Records); (502) 595-3007 (Circuit Civil); (502) 595-3009 (Circuit Criminal); (502) 595-3060 (District Criminal/Traffic); (502) 595-3025 (Family Court); (502) 595-4434 (Probate)
Hours: Most divisions: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays; the District/Criminal/Traffic & Domestic Violence Center operates 24 hours
In person. Visit the appropriate division at the Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice (civil, family, probate) or the Jefferson County Judicial Center (criminal, traffic) — the clerk's website lists which building handles which case type. Bring the case number if you have it, or the party names and approximate filing year.
By mail or online. The clerk's website, JeffersonKyCourtClerk.com, lists current mailing addresses by division and any online request options. Specify whether you need a plain or certified copy, since certified copies cost more and may take longer to process.
Case search. Use the free KYeCourts guest login or a CourtNet 2.0 subscription for docket information; the clerk's office is still required for certified copies and for documents not published online.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per certification (AOC Form-060), plus $0.25 per page for the copies; $0.50 for an attestation |
Statewide rates set by the Administrative Office of the Courts in the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks' Accounting Manual (Miscellaneous Fees, "Charges for Services": copy of a document $0.25 per page; preparing a certification $5.00 under CR 3.02(2); preparing an attestation $0.50). The same schedule applies in every county's circuit court clerk office. The Commonwealth and parties granted in forma pauperis status are exempt. Confirm the page count with the clerk before mailing payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Kentucky court records are generally open to the public, but several categories are removed from public search:
The Kentucky guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Which office keeps Jefferson County (Louisville) court records?
The Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk keeps all Circuit and District Court records for Jefferson County, including felonies, civil suits, family cases, misdemeanors, and traffic citations. The separately elected Jefferson County Clerk handles deeds and elections, not court cases.
How far back do Jefferson County court records go online?
Records from January 1, 1978 forward are generally accessible through the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Older files may require a request to the State Records Center or the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
Where do I go for a Jefferson County divorce or custody case?
Family Court is a division of Circuit Court in Jefferson County, and the Circuit Court Clerk's office keeps the file. Check the clerk's website for which building and division handles family matters.
Is the Jefferson District/Criminal/Traffic Center open 24 hours?
Yes, the District/Criminal/Traffic & Domestic Violence Center operates 24 hours a day, unlike most other divisions of the clerk's office, which keep standard weekday business hours.
Sources
- Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk — https://www.jeffersonkycourtclerk.com/
- Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk — Contact Us (division phone numbers) — https://www.jeffersonkycourtclerk.com/contact-us/
- Kentucky Court of Justice — Jefferson County Information — https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Jefferson/Pages/Jefferson.aspx
- Kentucky Court of Justice — About the Courts — https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/pages/default.aspx
- Kentucky Court of Justice — Request Court Records — https://www.kycourts.gov/Pages/Request-Court-Records.aspx
- Kentucky Court of Justice — Circuit Court Clerks (county directory) — https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/default.aspx
- KYeCourts / CourtNet 2.0 login — https://kcoj.kycourts.net/kyecourts/Login
- C-Track Public Access (appellate case search) — https://appellatepublic.kycourts.net/
- Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks' Accounting Manual (AOC) — fee schedule — https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Documents/CCCAcctManual.pdf
- Kentucky Court of Justice — Background Checks (AOC Records Unit) — https://www.kycourts.gov/AOC/Information-and-Technology/Pages/Background-Checks.aspx
- Kentucky Court of Justice — Expungement Certification Process — https://www.kycourts.gov/AOC/Information-and-Technology/Pages/Expungement.aspx
- KRS 431.076 — Expungement of Criminal Records for Certain Acquittals/Dismissals — https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=50191
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky — https://www.kyed.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky — https://www.kywd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Kentucky counties.