Christian County Court Records

Christian County court records are official documents that contain information about legal proceedings. They are created by court clerks in civil and criminal cases for documentation purposes and may exist in various formats, including CDs, paper, and images. Christian County court records include all documents that bear relevant information about cases filed at or created by the court clerk's office, such as docket information, exhibits, orders, dispositions, pleadings, and summonses.

Members of the public peruse these records for various purposes, including genealogical research, academic research, background checks, and historical research. The preservation of these records also serves several judicial functions, e.g., the preservation of legal history and the establishment of legal precedence. More importantly, it promotes transparency and accountability in the justice system.

Are Court Records Public in Christian County?

Yes. Under the Kentucky Open Records Law (KRS 61.870 - 61.844), the general public has the right to obtain and inspect records created and maintained by public agencies, except for records exempt by law. By this law, courts and other public agencies are mandated to make reasonable provisions for citizens of the Commonwealth to exercise their right to know.

Despite the provisions in the aforementioned law, certain information whose disclosure may warrant avoidable jeopardy of privacy or security is exempt from public disclosure and may not be obtained during a request (KRS 61.878). General exemptions include:

• Personal information that could infringe upon an individual's privacy, security, or well-being
• Mental health records
• Communications between clients and attorneys that are protected by attorney-client privilege
• Information disclosed to an entity in confidence
• Identifying information about confidential witnesses or informants
• Juvenile information.

Christian County Court Records Search

The following are the various ways interested parties can obtain Christian County court records:

• At the clerk's office of the courthouse where a case was handled
• By mail
• Online on court-operated and third-party websites
• Kentucky Department of Library and Archives
• At the State Record Center.

Christian County Courts

The Christian County court system comprises a circuit court and a district court. The Circuit Court has superior jurisdiction and presides over all case types. At the same time, the District Court has limited jurisdiction and hears case types with less severity. District courts handle cases involving amounts less than $5,000. In contrast, circuit courts handle cases involving larger amounts.

Christian County Circuit Court
Christian County Justice Center
100 Justice Way
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Phone: (270) 889-6539
Fax: (270) 889-6029

Christian County District Court
Christian County Justice Center
100 Justice Way
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Phone: (270) 889-6539
Fax: (270) 889-6029

Christian County Criminal Records

The general public may conduct background checks on residents of Christian County with the Kentucky State Police. This office's criminal histories are only available to the individual named on the record. Third parties can only obtain a person's criminal history with the permission of the record searcher. Inquiries can be made by mail or in person at the KSP's office location:

Kentucky State Police Headquarters
919 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 782-1800

Walk-in inquiries can be completed the same day, while mail-in inquiries typically take up to 10 business days. Mail requests involve completing a criminal history request form and submitting it by mail to the office. Background checks with the Kentucky State Police cost a $20.00 fee payable by money order or check to the Kentucky State Treasurer.

Alternatively, record seekers may use the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) website provided by the Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC). Checks on this website are free and are name-based. This website offers advanced search filters like DOC number, crime date, conviction date, supervision status, and detention location.

Get Christian County Civil Court Records

Civil court cases are handled by Christian County's circuit and district courts. The county clerk maintains records for all such cases and provides information about non-confidential civil cases to requesters at the courthouse. Researchers may also request records from the State Records Center, a repository of court records covering all counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Requesters are required to complete a record request form and submit it to state.records@ky.gov. Requests for civil court records that are older than 36 years should be directed to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Case numbers are required for these searches. They can be obtained from the office of the originating court's clerk.

Christian County Marriage Records

The Christian County circuit and district court issues marriage licenses and certificates for unions consummated in the county. These courts also maintain records for all marriages in them and may facilitate public search. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics also maintains records for marriages conducted in Christian County from 1958 to date.

To request copies of marriage records from OVS, a researcher must apply with the full name of the marriage participants, the marriage date, and the county where the marriage occurred. Envelopes containing applications must also contain the required $6.00 search fee (payable by money order). Request options include drop box, mail, online, and by phone. Requests are typically processed between five and seven working days for drop-box requests and 30 business days for mail and online requests.

Christian County Divorce Records

The clerk of the court where the divorce decree was granted maintains records for divorces granted in Christian County. The Christian County Circuit Court handles divorces in the county, and its clerk is responsible for maintaining all associated records and facilitating public searches. The Office of Vital Statistics also keeps these records on file for divorces from June 1958 to the present day.

Submit a request to any of the named agencies, specifying the full names of both parties in the marriage, the county in which the divorce decree was granted, and the date of the divorce. Record requests or applications must be submitted along with any applicable fees.

Christian Birth and Death Records

The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) maintains a record repository for every birth or death in the state, including records for Christian County. The public may request Christian County birth records and death certificates for all births and deaths from 1911 to the present.

To obtain a Christian County birth certificate, a person must complete an application form and submit it with the required search fee of $10.00 per certificate. Death certificates cost $6.00 per search. Note that these fees are payable by check or money order and are non-refundable if the sought records are not found.

Records can be requested online, in person, or by fax. Inquirers are required to visit the OVS to fill out and submit an application form. Requestors must possess the full birth name of the person on the record, the county of birth or death, the maiden name of the record subject's mother, the name of the record subject's father, and the date of birth or death. Parents' names are only required for birth certificates. Blank applications may be obtained from the drop box at the visitor's entrance of the office at

Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street
Suite 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621.

Record seekers may also request records by phone at (866) 283-7477. Payments for online requests are made via credit card. Note that additional fees apply for orders that request delivery by UPS. Online orders are only delivered to the individual who made the request or a third party with proof of the order at pick up.

Christian County Probate Court Records

The Christian County Circuit Court adjudicates all matters of probate in the county, including the administration of a deceased's estate, will contests, guardianship and conservatorship, and trust administration. Interested parties may query the office of the court clerk for records. Probate matters are primarily confidential, and disclosure of associated records may be subject to strict regulations. Records that contain information about minors and incapacitated persons, a deceased person's medical records, and confidential financial information are not available to third parties.

Christian County Property Records

Property records are legal instruments that provide tax, location, size, ownership, and valuation information about real estate. The Christian County Legal Records Division is responsible for all property documents filed from 1979 to the present as public records. The Christian County Clerk oversees this division. This office maintains a repository of property records where interested parties can search for deeds, tax liens, leases, mortgages, and other related documents. For phone inquiries, call (270) 887-4109.

Records are available on a searchable online portal. Users must create an account and subscribe to paid plans to access records. The plans, which are subject to a 5% service fee, are:

1. Single day (24 hours): $15.00 plus $0.50 printing cost
2. Monthly (30 days): $60.00
3. Quarterly (90 days): $180.00
4. 6-month (120 days): $360.00
5. Yearly (365 days): $ 720.00.

Christian County Court Records Online

Third-party websites offer convenient alternatives for court record searches. They are managed by private entities that aggregate data from court clerk offices. Websites like Kentuckycourtrecords.us offer convenient user interfaces and extra functionalities to make searches easier. In addition, third-party websites typically cover several jurisdictions and may offer statewide or nationwide searches.

These websites operate independently despite gathering information from official sources. As such, inquirers should verify the authenticity of any obtained information with the appropriate court clerk's office.