Kenton County
Kenton County was established in 1840 from part of Campbell County. It is located in the northern part of the state, sharing borders with the Ohio River and the state of Ohio. The county has a population of about 169,066 people, making it one of Kentucky's most populous counties. Covington, the county's largest city and an important urban hub for Northern Kentucky serves as the county seat.
Kenton County's judiciary consists of District and Circuit Courts. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, such as felonies, lesser-included offenses, general civil claims exceeding $5,000, and uncontested probate cases. It also hears family law matters, including divorces, termination of parental rights, adoption, paternity, and child custody. It also reviews administrative agencies' decisions. The District Court handles certain criminal cases, such as most misdemeanors, city ordinance violations, felony preliminary hearings, and certain civil cases, typically involving disputes under $5,000. It has specialized divisions, including the Small Claims Court division, which hears most general civil claims less than $2,500, and the Juvenile Court division, which deals with juvenile matters such as juvenile delinquency cases, children in need of care, neglect, and abuse cases.
Kenton County court records are open for public viewing under Kentucky's Open Records Act to uphold public trust in the county's legal system. These records include legal documents related to:
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Traffic Records
- Family Records
Court records are legal documents generated during various case proceedings and maintained as public records. They serve as an important reference for setting legal precedence for future court cases. The County Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining, filing, indexing, and granting access to these records. To access public court records in Kenton County, individuals can contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, located at:
Kenton County Justice Center
230 Madison Avenue,
Covington, KY 41011
Phone: (859) 292-6523
Kenton County's court records can also be accessed online through the state-maintained Case Search Portal. Viewing public records online is free for limited access, but obtaining physical copies costs $0.25 per page, while certification costs $5 for each case.
