Boone County Court Records
What Is Boone County Court Records
Court records in Boone County, Kentucky, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: docket sheets provide a chronological index of all filings in a case, while pleadings and motions reflect the arguments submitted by parties, and orders and judgments represent the court's official rulings.
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, vital records (such as birth and death certificates), and voter registration data are generally held by the Boone County Clerk's Office rather than the judiciary. Court records, by contrast, are created and maintained exclusively within the judicial branch.
The following courts in Boone County generate and maintain official court records:
- Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding jurisdictional thresholds, and family law matters
- District Court — handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, juvenile matters, and city/county ordinance violations
- Family Court — a division of Circuit Court with primary jurisdiction over domestic relations, child custody, and dependency cases
- Probate matters — handled within the District Court division in Kentucky
Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870–61.884, public agency records — including court-generated documents — are broadly defined to include any writing, recording, or data compilation prepared, owned, or retained by a public agency in the course of its official functions.
Are Court Records Public In Boone County
The majority of court records in Boone County are open to public inspection under Kentucky law. The Kentucky Open Records Act, codified at KRS § 61.870 et seq., establishes a presumption of openness for records held by public agencies, including courts. Members of the public may inspect most civil case files, criminal case files following the filing of formal charges, docket sheets, hearing schedules, final judgments, and court orders without demonstrating a specific need or interest.
The following categories of records are generally accessible to the public:
- Civil case filings and associated pleadings
- Criminal case files after charges have been formally filed
- Final judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets and case indexes
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
- Probate filings and estate inventories
Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under Kentucky law. These include juvenile records, adoption proceedings, mental health commitment records, and cases sealed by judicial order. It is important to note that Boone County Circuit and District Courts are state courts; federal court records for cases arising in this region are maintained separately through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and are accessible via the federal PACER system, which operates independently of state court access rules.
The Kentucky Court of Justice currently administers statewide policies governing public access to court records, including rules promulgated by the Kentucky Supreme Court under SCR 1.000 et seq.
How To Find Court Records in Boone County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Boone County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of Circuit and District Court records is the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, located at the Boone County Justice Center.
In-Person Access:
- Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 6025 Rogers Lane, Room 141, Burlington, KY 41005 during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
- Provide the case number, party name, or approximate filing date to the clerk.
- Request inspection of the case file or submit a written request for certified copies.
- Pay applicable copy fees as established by the court.
By Mail:
- Address a written request to the Boone County Circuit Court Clerk, specifying the case number or party names, the type of record sought, and the preferred format (paper copies or certified documents).
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable fees.
- Mail the request to: 6025 Rogers Lane, Room 141, Burlington, KY 41005.
Online:
Members of the public may search case information through the Kentucky Court of Justice's online portal. Detailed instructions are provided in the section below.
How To Look Up Court Records in Boone County Online?
The Kentucky Court of Justice provides an online case information portal that allows members of the public to search court records statewide, including those originating in Boone County.
CourtNet / eCourt Public Access Portal:
- Navigate to the Kentucky Court of Justice website at kycourts.gov.
- Select the "Request Court Records" or public case search option from the main navigation.
- Enter search criteria, including party name, case number, or attorney name.
- Filter results by county (select "Boone") and court type (Circuit or District).
- Review case summaries, docket entries, and available documents.
The portal currently provides access to civil, criminal, family, and traffic case information for both Circuit Court and District Court proceedings. Certain sealed, expunged, or juvenile records are not available through the public portal in accordance with applicable court rules and statutory exemptions.
For records not available online, members of the public are directed to contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office directly or submit a formal records request in writing.
How To Search Boone County Court Records for Free?
Kentucky law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect public records, including court records, at no charge. Under KRS § 61.874, a public agency may not charge a fee for the mere inspection of records; fees are permissible only when copies are requested.
The following options are currently available for free record searches in Boone County:
- Kentucky Court of Justice Online Portal — The public case search function on the Kentucky Court of Justice website is available at no cost and provides access to case summaries, docket entries, and basic party information for Circuit and District Court cases.
- In-Person Inspection — Members of the public may visit the Boone County Circuit Court Clerk's Office and inspect physical case files without charge during regular business hours.
- Boone County Clerk's Office Online Search — The Boone County Clerk's Office provides a free online records search (ecclix) for property-related and other county-maintained records.
Fees apply when certified copies, exemplified copies, or paper reproductions are requested. The current fee schedule is established by the Kentucky Court of Justice and is available at the clerk's counter.
What's Included in a Boone County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint or petition initiating the action
- Summons and proof of service
- Defendant's answer and counterclaims
- Motions, responses, and supporting memoranda
- Discovery orders and scheduling orders
- Final judgment and any post-judgment motions
Criminal Case Records:
- Arrest warrant or citation
- Indictment, information, or complaint
- Arraignment and plea records
- Pretrial motions and rulings
- Trial transcripts (where applicable)
- Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Family Court Records:
- Petition for dissolution of marriage or custody
- Temporary and final orders regarding custody, visitation, and support
- Domestic violence orders
- Adoption decrees (generally sealed)
Probate Records:
- Petition for probate of will
- Inventory of estate assets
- Creditor claims and distributions
- Final settlement orders
Traffic and Misdemeanor Records:
- Citation or charging document
- Plea and disposition records
- Fine and court cost assessments
How Long Does Boone County Keep Court Records?
Kentucky courts are subject to records retention schedules established by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) in coordination with the Kentucky Court of Justice. Retention periods vary by record type and court level.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Felony criminal case files — Retained permanently
- Misdemeanor and violation case files — Retained for a minimum of 5 years following case closure
- Civil case files — Retained for a minimum of 5 years; cases involving real property may be retained permanently
- Family Court orders (custody, support) — Retained permanently
- Probate records — Retained permanently
- Traffic case records — Retained for a minimum of 3–5 years depending on offense classification
- Juvenile records — Subject to special retention and confidentiality rules; generally retained until the subject reaches age 24
The Kentucky Court of Justice and KDLA jointly publish records retention schedules applicable to all state courts. Members of the public seeking information about specific retention periods may contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office directly.
Types of Courts In Boone County
Boone County is served by two principal trial courts within the Kentucky Court of Justice system. The court hierarchy in Kentucky proceeds from District Court (limited jurisdiction) to Circuit Court (general jurisdiction), then to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and finally to the Kentucky Supreme Court as the court of last resort.
Boone County Circuit Court / District Court Boone County Justice Center 6025 Rogers Lane, Room 141 Burlington, KY 41005 Phone: (859) 334-2240 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Boone County Court Information – Kentucky Court of Justice
Boone County Clerk's Office 2950 Washington Street Burlington, KY 41005 Phone: (859) 334-2108 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Boone County Clerk's Office
The Circuit Court exercises general jurisdiction over felony criminal matters, civil cases, and family law proceedings. The District Court, as a court of limited jurisdiction, handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, juvenile matters, and ordinance violations. Family Court operates as a division of Circuit Court in Boone County and has primary jurisdiction over domestic relations and child welfare matters, consistent with the structure described by the Kentucky Circuit Court system.
What Types of Cases Do Boone County Courts Hear?
Each court within Boone County's judicial structure handles a defined category of matters.
Circuit Court:
- Felony criminal prosecutions
- Civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000
- Appeals from District Court decisions
- Equity matters
Family Court (Division of Circuit Court):
- Dissolution of marriage and legal separation
- Child custody, visitation, and support
- Domestic violence protective orders
- Termination of parental rights
- Adoption proceedings
District Court:
- Misdemeanor criminal offenses
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Small claims (currently up to $2,500)
- Juvenile delinquency and status offenses
- City and county ordinance violations
- Probate of small estates and guardianship matters
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
The Kentucky District Court system handles the highest volume of cases statewide, including the majority of traffic and misdemeanor matters originating in Boone County.
How To Find a Court Docket In Boone County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a specific case. Members of the public may access Boone County court dockets through the following methods:
Online:
- Visit the Kentucky Court of Justice website at kycourts.gov.
- Use the public case search or eCourt portal to locate a specific case by party name or case number.
- Select the case to view the full docket, including filing dates, document types, and scheduled hearing dates.
In Person:
- Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the Boone County Justice Center, 6025 Rogers Lane, Room 141, Burlington, KY 41005.
- Request access to the case docket by providing the case number or party name.
- Clerks are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., to assist with docket inquiries.
By Telephone:
- Contact the Boone County Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 334-2240 to inquire about specific case docket information during regular business hours.
Docket information for sealed, expunged, or juvenile cases is not available through public channels and requires a court order or demonstration of authorized access.
Which Courts in Boone County Are Not Courts of Record?
A "court of record" is a court whose proceedings are officially documented, preserved, and capable of being reviewed on appeal. Under Kentucky law, courts of record maintain a verbatim or certified record of their proceedings, and their judgments carry full legal effect subject to appellate review.
In Kentucky, both Circuit Court and District Court are designated as courts of record under KRS § 23A.010 and KRS § 24A.010, respectively. At present, there are no courts operating within Boone County that are formally classified as courts not of record under the Kentucky Constitution or applicable statutes. Certain administrative hearings and quasi-judicial proceedings conducted by county or municipal agencies do not constitute courts of record, as they are not part of the judicial branch and their proceedings are not maintained under the same standards as judicial court records. Appeals from such administrative proceedings are generally directed to the District or Circuit Court for de novo review or review on the administrative record, depending on the applicable statute.