Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County is Kentucky's 34th county, created from neighboring counties Logan and Christian in 1798. It is nestled between the valleys and hills of western Kentucky's coalfield region and has a population of 30,568. It comprises a total land area of 1,230 kilometers and 12 kilometers of water.
Muhlenberg County residents are served by two trial courts, namely the District Court and Circuit Court. The Muhlenberg Circuit Court is a general jurisdiction court that holds hearings for capital offenses, land title disputes, contested probate cases, and civil cases involving amounts exceeding $5,000. Additionally, it has the authority to issue writs of mandamus, injunctions, and writs of prohibition.
Within the Circuit Court is a Family Division that retains primary jurisdiction in cases involving the equitable distribution of property in dissolution cases, child custody, spousal maintenance and support, adoption, and termination of parental rights. Also, this division has concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court over neglect and abuse cases, domestic violence proceedings, juvenile status offenses, and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.
The Muhlenberg District Court handles a wide spectrum of legal matters, including the probate of wills, small claims, traffic offenses, city and county ordinance violations, and certain juvenile matters. This court also conducts arraignments and determines if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with felony charges.
Public court records in Muhlenberg County include documents, discs, papers, and other forms of documentation created and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk about court cases. Electronically stored court records available to the public can be accessed through the KYeCourts website. Additionally, the public may request court records regardless of their age. Record seekers can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office to review or request copies of court records generated within the past 15 years. To obtain records between 15 to 35 years old, interested parties must submit a record request form to the State Records Center.
However, records older than 36 years are stored in the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and can be requested by emailing kdla.archives@ky.gov. In addition, the public can access docket information for Muhlenberg County courts online by selecting Muhlenberg County, the desired date, and court division.
