Laurel County Court Records

Laurel County court records are generated for all cases filed with the county's courts. Their maintenance serves several judicial functions, e.g., preserving legal history and establishing legal precedent for future cases. They also foster accountability in the court system, as these records are public, and court judgments are subject to public scrutiny.

Court records exist in various formats, including paper, CD, images, and recordings, and they encompass various legal documents, such as petitions, motions, exhibits, pleadings, transcripts, judgments, and orders.

Are Court Records Public in Laurel County?

Yes, per the Kentucky Open Records Law (KRS 61.870–61.844), also referred to as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). According to the parameters of this law, court records are classified as Laurel County public records, meaning that the general public may access and copy them upon fulfilling request requirements applicable to record custodians. Court records, as captured within the scope of this law, include records about a court's administrative records and case records.

However, certain case records are legally classified as non-public (KRS 61.878). General parameters that may warrant a record's classification are whether their disclosure poses a safety or security risk or violates a record subject's privacy rights. Confidential records include:

• Juvenile records
• Documents that reveal the identity of confidential informants or witnesses, domestic abuse victims, and rape victims
• Adoption and dependency records
• Sensitive personal information like SSNs
• Mental health records
• Sealed records
• Client-attorney communication
• Records on a court's adjudicative functions.

Laurel County Court Records Search

Eligible individuals with case numbers, party names, dates of birth, and any other information relevant to the identification and retrieval of court records may

• Visit the court clerk's office where a particular case was filed and request the record
• Use the statewide case search index
• Request records by mail
• Peruse records online through third-party websites.

Laurel County Courts

Laurel County has two courts: a circuit court and a district court. The Laurel County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. This court has several divisions responsible for handling specific cases, such as family, criminal, and civil cases. The district court handles criminal and civil cases but is limited to misdemeanors, probate, and civil cases involving amounts not exceeding $5,000. Below is a directory of these courts.

Laurel County Circuit Court
Laurel County Judicial Center
305 South Main Street,
P.O. Box 1798,
London, KY 40741
Phone: (606) 330-2079
Fax: (606) 330-2084

Laurel County District Court
Laurel County Judicial Center
305 South Main Street,
P.O. Box 1798,
London, KY 40741
Phone: (606) 330-2055
Fax: (606) 330-2084

Laurel County Criminal Records

During background checks, Laurel County criminal records are perused for various reasons, primarily by landlords and employers. They contain vital details about a person's criminal history, including information about arrests, trials, court disposition, incarceration, and parole. A person's Laurel County arrest records also make up their criminal history.

Criminal information is available on the Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) platform. This website, provided by the state's Department of Corrections, gives individuals free statewide access to criminal records. Searches are name-based and can be refined using filters like crime date, conviction date, DOC number, detention center, and supervision status.

Record subjects and authorized parties with the Kentucky State Police may conduct official background checks. Inquiries can be made by mail or in person for a $20.00 fee payable by check or money order. In-person requests are finalized within a day, whereas mail-in requests require up to 10 business days for processing. Both request methods require completing a criminal history request form and submitting it to the agency at

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

Get Laurel County Civil Court Records

The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) provides an online index for court record searches. Although searches on this website are statewide, a user can limit their search results to cases filed in Laurel County. To do this, navigate to the drop-down menu under the "County" tab and select "Laurel" among the options. Since this website also covers information about traffic and criminal cases, users should select "Civil" under the "Case Category" tab.

The website features a "Party Category" filter that allows people to search for a case using an attorney's name. To find a case, enter the case party's name, their date of birth, and a DLN in the appropriate fields, then click the "Search" button. People can also search by case, business, and citation data on this website.

Interested parties can also request records in person at the circuit or district court, depending on where a particular case was filed. They must submit a case number and party name to the appropriate court clerk's office to do this. Records from 15-35 years old may be obtained from the State's Record Center. Request them by completing the request form and emailing it to state.records@ky.gov.

For older records (over 36 years old), submit a request to the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Requesters at this office are required to provide case and locator numbers to ease the search.

Laurel County Marriage Records

The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics files Laurel County marriage records for marriages that took place from June 1958 to the present. Interested parties may request records by filling out and mailing an application with the applicable search fee to the office. Note that fees are non-refundable even if a search does not return any results.

This office only issues certified record copies. The following information is required for a record request: full names of the married parties, the marriage date, the county where the marriage license was issued, and the requester's full name, address (where the certificate should be mailed), and phone number. The fee for each requested certificate is $6.00, payable by money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer.

Laurel County Divorce Records

Laurel County divorce records are kept on file at the state's Office of Vital Statistics and are public. Interested individuals should complete the request application and mail it to the office with a $6.00 search fee. Note that this fee is for each requested record copy and is payable by money order to the Kentucky State Treasurer. A requester must know the names of the divorcees named on the record and the date and county the divorce decree was issued.

Laurel County Birth and Death Records

Laurel County birth and death records are on file at the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. To get a birth certificate from this office, visit the Laurel County Department of Health and obtain a birth certificate application. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Complete the form and mail it to the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. Copies of a person's Laurel County birth certificate are required for ID applications and school enrollment.

The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics also issues copies of death certificates for residents of Laurel County. Obtain the death certificate application from the county's health department and submit it by mail to the vital statistics office.

To order a certificate by phone, call (800) 248322. Death certificates cost $6.00 per certified copy, while birth certificates cost $10.00. Certificates of stillbirth cost $6.00. Records seekers can visit the state's vital statistics office at 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, Ky. 40621. The local health department can be contacted at

Laurel County Health Department
525 Whitley Street
London, KY 40741
Phone: (606) 864-5187 or (606) 878-7754
Fax: (606) 864-8295
Email: laurelcountyhealthdepartment@gmail.com.

Laurel County Probate Court Records

Probate cases are filed with the Laurel County District Court. Different case types are classified as probate, including, guardianship and conservatorship, trust administration, adoption, and estate administration. Although court records are generally assumed public, those related to certain probate cases are confidential, e.g., adoption and guardianship.

Confidential probate records can only be released by the court to record subjects, their designees, and legally authorized third parties with a legitimate interest in the case. Public probate records may be obtained upon completing a record request at the court clerk's office. Note that certain fees are typically required for searches.

Laurel County Property Records

Laurel property records include various document types, such as deeds, mortgages, maps, leases, liens, and other miscellaneous instruments. These documents record important information about real estate in the county. The Laurel County Court Clerk's Office files property records for the county and maintains an online index on the eCCLIX (County Clerk Indexing) platform for public access.

Non-subscribers may visit the Laurel County Clerk's Office in Person to inspect records.

305 South Main Street, London, KY 40741
Phone: (606) 864-5158
FAX: (606) 864-7369
Email: tony.brown@ky.gov.

Laurel County Court Records Online

Many third-party websites exist for court record searches, e.g., kentuckycourtrecords.us. These websites are easy to use; their primary search criteria are case numbers and party names. Users enjoy additional convenience, as many of these databases cover entire states while featuring extra search filters for improved user experience.

Note that these websites cannot replace official sources, as they are provided for research and informational purposes. More so, keep in mind that these websites charge fees that may be higher than those required by court websites and clerk offices. More importantly, all information obtained should be verified against official sources, as online information may not reflect recent changes in ongoing litigation records.