| Circuit Court Clerk | Kenton Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Kenton County Justice Center, 230 Madison Ave., 3rd Floor, Covington, KY 41011 |
| Phone | (859) 292-6521 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; bond refunds issued until 3:30 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| 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 |
Kenton County, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, is served by the elected Kenton Circuit Court Clerk, currently John C. Middleton, based at the Kenton County Justice Center in Covington. The office is the custodian of record for both Circuit Court (felonies, larger civil suits, and family cases) and District Court (misdemeanors, traffic, and small claims).
The clerk's office maintains its own informational website, KentonCourtClerk.org, in addition to the statewide CourtNet 2.0 / KYeCourts case-search system used for looking up docket information.
Kenton County has a separate County Clerk's office for deeds, marriage licenses, and elections; that office does not hold court case files and is not the right place to send a records request.
Search Kenton County court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Kenton Circuit Court Clerk
- Cost
- Fees apply for copies and certification at the clerk's office; the statewide CourtNet/KYeCourts case search is free to use
- Coverage
- All Circuit Court (felony, civil, family) and District Court (misdemeanor, traffic, small claims) cases filed in Kenton County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
Case lookups run through the statewide CourtNet 2.0 / KYeCourts system; the clerk's own website provides office information and guidance rather than a separate case-search tool.
What is available online
Records between roughly 15 and 35 years old are stored at the State Records Center and require advance requests for retrieval; records over about 35 years old are held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. For current case status, use the free KYeCourts guest login or a CourtNet 2.0 subscription; the clerk's office still handles copies, certification, and any documents not published online.
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
Kenton County clerk offices
Kenton County Justice Center, 230 Madison Ave., 3rd Floor, Covington, KY 41011
Phone: (859) 292-6521
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; bond refunds issued until 3:30 p.m.
In person. Visit the Kenton Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Kenton County Justice Center, 230 Madison Ave., 3rd Floor, Covington, during business hours. Bring the case number, or party names and an approximate filing year, and specify whether you need a plain or certified copy.
By mail. Check KentonCourtClerk.org for the current mailing address and accepted payment methods, and call ahead to confirm the fee for the documents you need.
Older records. If the case is more than about 15 years old, the clerk's office can provide the file locator information needed to request it from the State Records Center or, for older files, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
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 Kenton County court records?
The Kenton Circuit Court Clerk keeps all Circuit and District Court records for the county, including felonies, civil cases, family cases, and misdemeanors. The Kenton County Clerk is a separate office for deeds and elections, not court case files.
Can I search Kenton County court cases online?
Yes, through the free KYeCourts guest login or a CourtNet 2.0 subscription, the same statewide systems used for every Kentucky county. KentonCourtClerk.org provides office information but is not a separate case-search tool.
Where are older Kenton County court records kept?
Records roughly 15 to 35 years old move to the State Records Center in Frankfort, and records older than about 35 years go to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The circuit clerk's office can provide the locator information needed to request either.
What are the Kenton Circuit Court Clerk's office hours?
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with bond refunds issued only until 3:30 p.m.
Sources
- Kenton Circuit Court Clerk — https://kentoncourtclerk.org/
- Kentucky Court of Justice — Kenton County Information — https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Kenton.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.