Jefferson County Circuit Court Case Search

Jefferson County Circuit Court case records are compilations of documents relating to trials within the Jefferson County Circuit Court. These documents provide insights into case prosecutions and ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness of judicial processes.

The Office of the Jefferson County Court Clerk manages and provides access to Jefferson County case records and makes them accessible to interested individuals if they are unsealed and non-confidential. Public members can access Jefferson County case records for legal proceedings, background checks, genealogical and family research, or to verify financial transactions.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in the Jefferson Circuit Court?

The Jefferson County Circuit Court has trial jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases above the authority of the Jefferson County District Court. These include:

• Felonies
• Capital crimes
• Civil claims
• Family law cases such as adoption, termination of parental rights, divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, child neglect, and domestic violence
• Probate cases
• Real estate disputes
• Review of administrative agency decisions.

The Circuit Court in Jefferson County has specialized divisions for various case types; this includes the:

• Circuit Civil/Criminal Division
• Family Court
• Domestic Violence Intake Center
• Mental Health Division
• Expungements and Information Processing (EIP).

Jefferson County Circuit Court

The Jefferson County Circuit Court is a county-level trial court with general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. It handles claim cases for amounts above $5,000.00 (exclusive of interest and costs). Furthermore, the Jefferson County Circuit Court (through its various divisions) oversees civil and criminal cases beyond the authority of the Jefferson County District Court.

The Circuit Court in Jefferson County sets legal precedents for the Jefferson County District Court, and its broad jurisdiction makes it an anchor for resolving various case types in Jefferson County. It also provides fair and impartial resolution to legal matters, protects residents’ rights, and enforces State and local laws.

Interested individuals can locate the Jefferson County Circuit Court at the following addresses:

The Jefferson County Judicial Center
700 W. Jefferson Street,
Louisville,
KY 40202
Phone: (502) 595-3007 (Civil), (502) 595-3009 (Criminal)
Fax: (502) 595-4128 (Civil), (502) 595-4128 (Criminal)

Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice
600 W. Jefferson Street,
Louisville,
KY 40202
Phone: (502) 595-3007 (civil), (502) 595-3009 (criminal).

Jefferson County Case Lookup

Record seekers can request Jefferson County case records through various methods. These documents are accessible online and through the Office of Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk.

The following steps outline how to access Jefferson County case records:

Log into the Kentucky Court of Justice Background Check Page:

• Scroll down and register through the FastCheck Registered Users or click the One-Time Request link
• Fill out the online request form and submit

For Jefferson County criminal, civil, and family court case records between 15 and 35 years old:

• Register or log into the Kentucky Court of Justice CourtNet Case Search Portal as a guest:

• Select the appropriate case type from the Case Category menu and Jefferson from the County menu
• Enter the party's first and last names into the text field and provide other necessary identifying information
• Click Search.

Alternatively, download a Record Request Form, complete and email it to the State Records Center at state.records@ky.gov

For Jefferson County case records older than 36 years:

• Log into the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) Records Ordering System and order Jefferson County case records online.

Also, requesters can email the KDLA at JeffersonOCCCrecords.archives@kycourts.net or request micrographic media of Circuit Civil cases from the 1700s to 1982 and Circuit Criminal cases from 1953 to 1985 from the Office of the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk Archives & Records at:

Old Jail Building
514 W. Liberty Street, Suite 100,
Louisville,
KY 40202.

Records of Jefferson County cases from January 1, 1978, to the present are accessible through the Office of Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. on weekdays (excluding public holidays). Alternatively, send mail requests to the Office of the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk Mailroom at:

The Judicial Center
700 W. Jefferson Street, 1st Floor, Room 146,
Louisville,
KY 40202.

Requesters should note that sealed and confidential Jefferson County case records are inaccessible online. Also, while online access to Jefferson County case records through the Kentucky Court of Justice Access Portal may be free, offline access through the various custodian agencies may attract payments. The following fees apply to copies of Jefferson County case records:

The Kentucky Department of Library and Archives

• Standard Copies - $0.25 per page
• Certification fee - $5.00 (if the request is for a copy, the certification fee is part of the postal service charges)
• Postal Service charges - $10.00

Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk

• Standard copies - $0.50 per page
• Certified copies - $0.50 per plus an additional $5.00 certification fee.

Payment options for copies of case records include:

The Kentucky Department of Library and Archives

• Cash
• Credit card (there is an additional $5.00 in-person 3rd party transaction fee, or 3% of total costs if remote payment)
• Debit card (this attracts an additional $2.25 in-person 3rd party transaction fee, or 3% of total costs if remote payment)
• Cashier/certified checks
• Money orders

Office of Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk

• Cash
• Cashier’s Checks
• Money Orders
• Credit/debit cards (there is a $2 convenience fee).

The wait time for copies of Jefferson County case records may depend on the availability of the documents onsite, the type of records, and the volume of requests through the custodian agency. However, it may take several business days to receive copies after payments.

Jefferson Circuit Court Case Search by Name

The Jefferson County Circuit Court records custodian agencies allow the public to perform name-based searches for case records online and through their offices. Name-based search entails using litigants’ names to look for documents and information.

For a name-based search for Jefferson County Circuit Court case records, log into any Jefferson County court records custodian agency's online case records access portals and look for specific documents using the subject’s names.

Also, the Office of Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk and the Kentucky Department of Library Archives accept name-based requests for copies of case records (if the case numbers are not available). Inquirers should note the need for additional identifying information and correct spellings to avoid errors in results due to name clashes. Requesters may also need to use filters to narrow search results.

Jefferson Circuit Court Docket Search

Jefferson County Circuit Court dockets are official details of case filings and trials within the Jefferson County Circuit Court. Interested individuals can track cases through docket information, which allows inquirers to find case information without needing to visit the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Generally, case dockets contain but are not limited to information such as:

• Case numbers
• Filing dates
• Party names
• Hearing dates
• Motions
• Orders
• Attorney names
• Rulings
• Case status.

Interested individuals seeking Jefferson County Circuit Court docket contents should:

• Log into the Kentucky Court of Justice Court Dockets Portal
  • Select Jefferson from the County options
  • Tic Circuit under the Division header
  • Click the Date, choose a date from the calendar, and submit
• Visit any of the Jefferson County Circuit Court branches to access case dockets through Public Access Terminals
• Request access to case dockets in person through the Office of Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk.

Lookup Jefferson County Circuit Court Online

Interested individuals can look for Jefferson County case records online through the Kentucky Court of Justice and the Kentucky Department of Library Archives Access Portals. In addition, Jefferson County case records are accessible through third-party websites like Kentuckycourtrecords.us. Third-party online repositories may provide a convenient alternative to traditional government sources for documents and information. These private platforms aggregate case records from various courts and make them available in one place through advanced search tools. Notwithstanding their advantages, users of non-government databases should note that the accuracy and authenticity of their documents and information are not guaranteed.

Supreme Court vs. Circuit Court

The Jefferson County Circuit Court and the Kentucky Supreme Court are two apex courts with different jurisdiction. In Kentucky, Circuit Courts are county-level judicial institutions in contrast to the state-wide authority of the Kentucky Supreme Court. In addition, there are other distinctions between the Jefferson County Circuit Court and the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Jurisdiction

The Jefferson County Circuit Court oversees cases within the Jefferson County geographical area. In contrast, the Kentucky Supreme Court handles cases from all Kentucky counties.

Role

The Jefferson Circuit Court conducts hearings, reviews evidence, and gives verdicts on civil and criminal cases. The Kentucky Supreme Court is an appellate court; it does not preside over trials but reviews the decisions of the other courts in Kentuck.y

Case types

The Jefferson County Circuit Court presides over:

• Civil and criminal cases
• Family law and Probate cases
• Appeals against the decisions of the Jefferson County District Court.

By comparison, the Kentucky Supreme Court handles appeals against the decisions of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, interprets and resolves issues relating to the Kentucky Constitution, oversees the administration of the Kentucky judicial system, and sets rules and procedures for the Kentucky judiciary.