Jefferson County
Jefferson County was established in 1780 as one of the first three counties formed out of the original Kentucky County under Virginia. The county was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who concurrently held the position of governor of Virginia at the time the county was established. Presently, Jefferson County boasts a population exceeding 770,000 and covers a total area of 398 square miles, comprising 380 square miles of land and 17 square miles of water.
The judicial system in Jefferson County comprises the Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court. The Circuit Court, which holds general jurisdiction, presides over civil matters involving more than $5,000, capital offenses and felonies, land dispute title cases, and contested probate cases. Meanwhile, the District Court, with limited jurisdiction, handles juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills, small claims involving $2,500 or less, and civil cases involving $5,000 or less. Family Court in Jefferson County is responsible for overseeing cases related to child custody, support, and visitation, as well as matters of paternity, adoption, domestic violence, dependency, and child abuse.
The Jefferson County public court records contain case information from courts within the county. The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk (OCCC) in Jefferson County maintains records from District, Circuit, and Family courts and manages fees, fines, and court costs. These records can be accessed online through the statewide case information portal. You can search for public court records in Jefferson County using the case number or party name. The statewide case information does not include criminal records.
If you need criminal records in Jefferson County, you can use FastCheck, an online service maintained by the Kentucky Court of Justice. You can register to request and retrieve a criminal record or make a one-time request. By making a one-time request, you can conveniently place an order and have the record delivered to you by mail. Both options attract service fees. For more information about requesting public court records in Jefferson County, please contact the OCCC's Archives and Records Department at (502) 595-3042.
