Perry County Court Records

Perry County court records are legal documents and other materials filed with or generated by the county court system regarding cases it handles. They contain crucial facts and timelines of what transpired during legal proceedings, such as case details, motions, judgments, and orders.

Generally, Perry court records ensure that local cases are well documented, which improves judicial transparency and fosters public trust in the judicial system. They are also valuable for legal research and serve as educational materials that members of the public can review to learn about how their local judicial system operates.

Are Court Records Public in Perry County?

Yes. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, codified in KRS 61.870 to 61.884, court records are generally part of Perry County public records, unless they fall under any of the Act’s exemptions. As a result, anyone can access or obtain copies of most Perry County court records by querying their custodians or using the online resources they provide.

However, records subject to any of the exemptions in the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.878) or other state and federal laws are deemed confidential and unavailable to the general public. Some examples of these records include, but are not limited to:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Expunged records
• Confidential court orders
• Preliminary drafts and notes

Perry County Court Records Search

Interested persons can search for Perry County court records through any of the following places:

• The Perry County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
• Kentucky’s Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) CourtNet portal.
• The Kentucky State Records Center (for court records 15-35 years old)
• The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) (for court records 36+ years old)

Perry County Courts

Perry County has two types of courts: a Circuit Court and a District Court. The addresses and contact information for these courts are outlined below:

Perry County Circuit Court
Perry County Hall of Justice
545 Main Street, P.O. Box 7433,
Hazard, KY 41702
Phone: (606) 435-6000
Fax: (606) 435-6143

Perry County District Court
Perry County Hall of Justice
545 Main Street, P.O. Box 7433,
Hazard, KY 41702
Phone: (606) 435-6002
Fax: (606) 435-6143

Perry County Criminal and Civil Records

Perry County criminal records are accessible through criminal justice agencies in the county, such as local law enforcement agencies and courts. Local law enforcement agencies generate and maintain certain types of criminal records, including Perry County arrest records.

Interested individuals can obtain a Perry arrest record by querying the local law enforcement agency that generated it. Different local law enforcement agencies operate within Perry County, including the County Sheriff’s Office and several municipal police departments, any of which may carry out arrests and generate arrest records. Most agencies provide a dedicated record request form that individuals can use to request the records they maintain. Examples include the Perry County Sheriff's Office Open Records Request form and the Hazard Police Department Open Records Request form.

Criminal justice agencies in Perry County and across Kentucky also report most criminal records they generate to the Kentucky State Police (KSP). In turn, the KSP compiles these records into statewide criminal history records on individuals. Eligible persons and entities can request criminal background checks through the KSP for a fee to obtain these records.

On the otherhand, interested individuals can access court records and information about recent civil and criminal cases handled by Perry County courts online through the AOC CourtNet portal. Users can create an account or log in as a guest to access the portal, and searches can be conducted by case number, party name, or citation number.

Alternatively, record seekers can visit the Perry County Circuit Court Clerk's office and use the available public terminal to check for court records of civil and criminal cases. They can also obtain copies of court records at 0.25 cents per page.

For older court records (between 15 and 35 years old), requesters can complete this form and submit it to the Kentucky State Records Center at state.records@ky.gov. Meanwhile, court records of cases over 36 years old are obtainable from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

Perry County Marriage and Divorce Records

Kentucky’s Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) serves as the custodian of Perry County vital records, including marriage and divorce records from June 1958 to the present day. In contrast, marriage and divorce records before June 1958 are maintained at the county level by the County Clerk’s office and the Circuit Court Clerk’s office, respectively.

OVS charges individuals a $6 fee for each requested Perry County marriage certificate or divorce certificate. Eligible individuals can order these certificates from the OVS using the VS-230 Marriage and Divorce Application form (also available in Spanish). They may complete the application form and submit it in person, via drop box, or by mail.

In-person requests can be made by visiting OVS during its hours of operation, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A drop box for applications is installed at the visitor entrance of the OVS. For mail-in requests, individuals can send their completed application form, the required fee payment (via check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer), and other necessary documents to:

Office of Vital Statistics
275 E. Main St., 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621

The processing time for orders received by mail or via the OVS drop box is five (5) to seven (7) business days. However, it may take significantly longer (up to 30 days) in some cases. Meanwhile, orders submitted in person are typically processed on the same day.

On the other hand, Perry County marriage records prior to June 1958 are available through the Perry County Clerk. Record seekers can inspect these records in person at the Clerk’s Office recording rooms between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday:

481 Main Street, Suite 102
Hazard, KY 41701
Phone: (606) 436-4614
Fax: (606) 439-0557

Meanwhile, record seekers can request divorce records that were recorded before June 1958 by contacting the Perry County Circuit Clerk's office at:

Perry County Hall of Justice
545 Main St. P.O. Box 7433
Hazard, KY 41702
Phone: (606) 435-6000

Perry County Birth and Death Records

The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) maintains Perry County birth records and death records dating from 1911 to the present. Under state laws, these records are considered confidential. Consequently, they are only released to specific eligible persons, such as the record’s subject, their immediate family members, or legal representatives.

Eligible individuals can request Perry County birth and death certificates using the dedicated application forms that the OVS provides. These include the Birth Application form (also available in Spanish) and the Death Application form (also available in Spanish). Note that the OVS charges $10 per certificate for a Perry County birth certificate and $6 for a death certificate.

Eligible requesters can complete the appropriate application form and submit it in person, via drop box, or by mail to the OVS along with the required fees and any other necessary documents.

Perry County Probate Court Records

The Perry County Circuit Clerk’s Office is the custodian of probate court records. These records contain details about wills, the administration of a decedent’s estate, trustees, settlement orders, and other probate matters handled by the Perry County District and Circuit courts.

Interested individuals can access or obtain copies of probate records by querying or visiting the Circuit Clerk’s Office. A public terminal is available in the Circuit Clerk’s Office that individuals can use to search for probate cases. They can also request copies of probate records through the terminal at 0.25 cents per page.

Perry County Property Records

Perry County property records are maintained by the County Clerk’s Office and the Property Valuation Administrator’s (P.V.A.) Office. The County Clerk’s Office records all housing and legal land documents, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, etc. Meanwhile, the P.V.A. Office assesses all properties within Perry County.

Record seekers can access property records held by the Perry County Clerk’s office through its Online Land Records Search portal. To use the portal, they must register for an account and pay a subscription fee. Alternatively, they can request property records by using the Request to Inspect Public Records form or visiting the clerk’s Deed and Recordings rooms during regular business hours (8:00 am – 4:00 pm) to inspect land records in person.

A completed Request to Inspect Public Records form must be either mailed or brought in person to:

Perry County Clerk
481 Main Street, Suite 102
P.O. Box 150
Hazard, KY 41702

Meanwhile, property assessment records are available through the P.V.A. Office’s Property Search Website.

Perry County Court Records Online

Perry County court records are accessible online through third-party websites like Kentuckycourtrecords.us. These websites offer several advantages, including requiring minimal information to conduct a search (i.e., case number or party’s name), convenient online access to court records, and user-friendly search tools. However, there are some limitations to using third-party websites. For instance, searches conducted through these websites are usually subject to a fee, and the records they provide may contain outdated or fragmented information.