Yes. Divorce records are public in Kentucky under the Kentucky Open Records Act (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.870–61.884). Court files, decrees, and case dockets are presumptively open to any person. Certain identifying details are redacted, and parties may petition a court to seal all or part of a file for safety or privacy reasons.
Kentucky treats dissolution-of-marriage cases like other civil litigation: the presumption is openness, not secrecy. Anyone — a resident, a journalist, an employer, or an out-of-state party — may inspect divorce filings unless a judge has sealed them. Below is a complete 2026 walkthrough of what is public, what is protected, how to search records, and how to request that a file be made confidential.
Key Facts: Kentucky Divorce at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee | ~$148–$150 (ranges $113–$250 by county). As of March 2026. Verify with your local clerk. |
| Waiting Period | 60 days after filing (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.170) |
| Residency Requirement | 180 days in Kentucky before filing (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.140) |
| Grounds | No-fault only: marriage "irretrievably broken" |
| Property Division Type | Equitable distribution (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.190) |
| Records Access Law | Kentucky Open Records Act (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.870–61.884) |
| Court of Record | Circuit Court (Family Court division) |
Are Divorce Records Public in Kentucky?
Divorce records are public in Kentucky. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.870–61.884, almost all records maintained by government agencies — including Circuit Court divorce files — are open to inspection by any person. The public-divorce-filings presumption applies whether or not you are a Kentucky resident, and no reason for the request is required.
The Open Records Act was enacted to guarantee broad public access to government records, and Kentucky courts apply that presumption to civil case files, which include dissolution-of-marriage actions. A divorce case docket, the petition, motions, orders, and the final decree are all part of the public court record by default. The question "are divorce records public Kentucky" therefore has a clear default answer: yes, unless a court has ordered otherwise. Access can be restricted only through a specific statutory exemption or a judge's sealing order. This openness reflects a policy judgment that court proceedings should be transparent and accountable to the public.
What Information Appears in a Kentucky Divorce Record?
A Kentucky divorce record typically contains the names of both spouses, the case number, filing and decree dates, grounds (marriage irretrievably broken), and the terms of the judgment. Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.140, the decree also reflects any court-approved provisions for custody, child support, maintenance, and property division.
The divorce decree is the substantive record. It is issued only when the judge finalizes the case and memorializes the settlement or trial outcome. A typical Kentucky decree of dissolution addresses several categories of terms: division of marital assets and debts under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.190, maintenance (alimony) under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.200, child custody and timesharing, and child support obligations. The public court file also holds the petition, the response, financial affidavits, and procedural motions. However, Kentucky separates sensitive identifiers from the public file: dissolution petition Form AOC-252A includes an unredacted "Form A" containing Social Security numbers and dates of birth that is kept confidential, and a redacted "Form B" that becomes part of the public court record. This structure preserves divorce records privacy for the most sensitive personal identifiers while keeping the substance of the case open.
How Do I Search for Divorce Records in Kentucky?
You search for Kentucky divorce records through the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was filed, or through the statewide CourtNet system operated by the Administrative Office of the Courts. There is no free, central public website displaying full divorce files; certified copies come from the county clerk. Basic civil case information is searchable at no charge.
Kentucky offers several avenues for a divorce records search:
- Circuit Court Clerk: The clerk in the county where the case was heard holds the official file and issues certified copies of the decree. Procedures and copy fees vary by county, so contact that specific clerk.
- CourtNet (Kentucky Court of Justice): CourtNet allows searching Circuit and District civil court records statewide at no charge for the search itself. Copying records incurs a per-page fee under the Kentucky Circuit Clerks' Accounting Manual.
- In-person inspection: The most direct free option is to inspect records in person at the custodian's office during regular business hours, authorized under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.872(3)(a).
- Office of Vital Statistics: For a certified divorce certificate (rather than the full court file), the Cabinet for Health and Family Services holds records from June 1958 to present.
Because divorce files are county-specific, knowing where the case was filed — generally where either spouse resided under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 452.470 — dramatically speeds any public divorce filings search.
Divorce Court Records vs. Divorce Certificates in Kentucky
Kentucky maintains two distinct types of divorce records. Court records — including the full case file and the decree — are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in the filing county. Divorce certificates, which are one-page vital records confirming that a divorce occurred, are held by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics for divorces from June 1958 to the present.
Understanding the difference prevents wasted requests. The court record is the comprehensive file: it contains the petition, financial disclosures, custody arrangements, and the judge's full decree with all settlement terms. If you need proof of the actual property division or support order, you need the court record from the county clerk. The divorce certificate, by contrast, is a summary vital record — it confirms the names, the date, and the place of the divorce, and is typically what you need for a name change, remarriage, or updating a beneficiary. The Office of Vital Statistics provides certificates by mail, phone, or in person for divorces occurring from June 1958 onward. For divorces before June 1958, you must contact the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was heard, because vital-record centralization began that year.
| Record Type | Custodian | Coverage | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce court record / decree | Circuit Court Clerk (filing county) | All years | Full file: petition, orders, custody, support, property terms |
| Divorce certificate | Office of Vital Statistics (CHFS) | June 1958–present | Summary: names, date, place of divorce |
| Pre-1958 certificate | County / circuit court clerk | Before June 1958 | Varies by county |
Can You Seal Divorce Records in Kentucky?
Yes, but sealing is not automatic. A party may petition the Family Court to seal all or part of a divorce file, and a judge decides based on whether privacy or safety interests outweigh the public's right of access. When a Kentucky civil record is sealed, it is removed from public CourtNet access and available only to approved parties or those holding a valid court order.
Kentucky's default is openness, so to seal divorce records you must overcome the strong presumption of public access built into the Kentucky Open Records Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.870–61.884. The person seeking confidentiality files a motion asking the court to restrict some or all of the file, and must show a compelling reason — commonly the protection of a domestic-violence survivor, minor children, sensitive financial data, or trade-secret information. The judge weighs that interest against the general public benefit of open courts and issues an individualized ruling. If granted, the sealing order restricts the file: it is no longer visible in public searches, and only parties, their attorneys, or those with a court order may view it. Because outcomes turn on the specific facts, many petitioners consult a Kentucky attorney before filing a motion to seal, and the court retains discretion to deny requests that do not clearly outweigh the public interest.
Domestic Violence and Divorce Records Privacy in Kentucky
Kentucky provides enhanced privacy protections when domestic violence is involved in a divorce. Under federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 2265(d)(3), courts may not publish online any information likely to reveal a protected party's identity or location. Kentucky dissolution forms also keep a survivor's address and children's information confidential, and protective-order records may qualify for expungement.
Domestic violence changes how divorce records privacy is handled. Kentucky recognizes two protective-order types: Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs) for family or household members and Interpersonal Protective Orders (IPOs) for dating relationships. When a petitioner in a divorce or protective-order case fears for their safety, several layers of confidentiality apply. Court clerks are directed to keep the petitioner's address confidential, and where the parties share children, the children's addresses and dates of birth are shielded. The federal Violence Against Women Act protections at 18 U.S.C. § 2265(d)(3) bar courts nationwide from posting identifying or location information about a protected person online. Kentucky's dissolution petition Form AOC-252A includes a dedicated section certifying current and past protective orders. Additionally, Kentucky law permits expungement of certain protective-order records, offering survivors a route to remove those filings from public visibility entirely. Anyone in this situation should tell the clerk about safety concerns so the extra steps are taken.
How Much Does It Cost to Access Kentucky Divorce Records?
Searching Kentucky civil court records through CourtNet is free, and in-person inspection at a clerk's office is also free under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.872(3)(a). Obtaining certified copies costs a per-page fee set by the Kentucky Circuit Clerks' Accounting Manual, and certified divorce certificates from the Office of Vital Statistics carry their own standard fee. As of March 2026, verify exact amounts with your local clerk.
Cost depends on what you need. If you simply want to confirm that a case exists or view basic docket information, the CourtNet search and in-person inspection cost nothing beyond your time. The expense arises when you request certified copies of the decree or file, because clerks charge per page under the statewide accounting manual, and rates vary modestly by office. A certified divorce certificate from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Vital Statistics carries a separate fixed fee. These charges are distinct from the divorce filing fee itself — which runs roughly $148 to $150 in most Kentucky counties (with a documented range of $113 to $250 depending on the circuit) as of March 2026. Because both filing fees and copy fees are set locally and change periodically, always confirm the current figure with the specific Circuit Court Clerk before mailing a request or check.
Who Can Access Kentucky Divorce Records?
Any person can access non-sealed Kentucky divorce records. The Kentucky Open Records Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.870–61.884, grants inspection rights to any requester regardless of residency, citizenship, or purpose. Sealed records are the exception: only the parties, their attorneys, and individuals holding a valid court order may view a file that a judge has ordered confidential.
Kentucky imposes no eligibility test for viewing public divorce filings. Unlike some states that restrict certain vital records to family members, Kentucky's open-records framework allows a stranger to inspect a public divorce court file without proving any relationship or stating a reason. This broad access supports transparency but is bounded by the redaction and sealing rules already described. When an agency or clerk denies a request, the Open Records Act supplies a remedy: the custodian must respond within three business days under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 61.880, and a denied requester may appeal to the Attorney General, who issues a written decision within 20 business days, or seek review in circuit court. Certified divorce certificates from the Office of Vital Statistics may have somewhat narrower request procedures, so confirm the identification requirements with that office before submitting.