Kentucky public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as criminal background, immigration status and vital records. These laws also apply to government records such as meeting minutes and voting records.

Kentucky public records laws may be grouped according to the aspect of public records that they address. These include the following three general areas:

1. Laws on KY court records that regulate the manner in which public information may be accessed. These laws may specify issues such as the length of time the state has to respond to information requests, any fees an agency is allowed to charge and whether the requestor must provide a reason for wanting the information.
2. Laws that define what information on an individual may be considered public. These laws control the personal information that may be accessed by an individual or party designated by the individual.
3. Laws that specify what government records may be accessible to the public. These laws are usually intended to permit journalists to perform a Kentucky court case search or to allow private citizens to provide input on government decisions.
   

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Review the procedures for accessing Kentucky public records

Access to Kentucky court records and public records covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Kentucky is typically handled by the Attorney General. County and municipal courts may also allow a KY court record search.

I recommend: The Kentucky Press Association provides the Kentucky Open Records law that allows access to public records in Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Kentucky discusses the laws on electronic access of Kentucky public records.

Learn about the laws regulating access of Kentucky public records for individuals

Public records for individuals are typically used for such purposes as performing a Kentucky background check, searching for bankruptcy records in KY and finding Kentucky marriage records. Individuals may only be able to access their own Kentucky birth certificate.

I recommend: The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services describes the laws on accessing vital records in Kentucky. The Lexington Public Library discusses the laws on making older vital records accessible to the public.

Look for Kentucky public records laws on government records

Government records may include meeting minutes, budget reports and real estate sales. Some government departments provide many different types of government records, while others may be dedicated to a specific type of record.

I recommend: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives provides an extended discussion on the laws that allow access to government records in Kentucky. The Office of the Attorney General summarizes the open meetings laws in Kentucky that control the release of records, such as meeting minutes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Kentucky public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996 which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access Kentucky public records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by federal, state and local governments, who in turn determine their availability. Although the state of Kentucky public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online. When researching KY public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a Kentucky background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information not just in KY public records, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure that the Kentucky official records you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching Kentucky public records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

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Search free Kentucky public records to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Kentucky county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking KY court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Kentucky Bureau of Investigation offers Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL), an online resource that helps you get a Kentucky criminal background check. Additionally, public access to Kentucky court records is available at the Kentucky Court of Justice.

Track down anyone with a Kentucky public records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find Kentucky marriage records, or records of divorce, birth and death at the Kentucky Department of Public Health. People Search can help you track someone down using a variety of information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as Kentucky bankruptcy records, is collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on records of arrest and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

People require access to Kentucky court records for various reasons. For example, an employer may want to complete a criminal background check before hiring a prospective employee; a lawyer may be looking for birth, death, or marriage certificates pertaining to a particular case; or a landlord may want to review bankruptcy records in KY before leasing an apartment or home to a tenant.

Fortunately, a wide range of tools is available online to help you find free Kentucky public records. These tools allow you search for various certificates, court records, and other documents. As you search, keep the following in mind:

1. While many searches for records are free, you may need to pay to purchase a copy of the record.

2. Record availability may depend on the date of certificate issuance or the date of a particular proceeding.

3. Large databases maintain a multitude of Kentucky public records.

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Complete a Kentucky background check before hiring a new employee

Today, many companies perform background checks on their employees. Ultimately, this protects the company and current employees from potential problems down the road.

I recommend: The Kentucky Department of Corrections offers an offender online look-up system that allows you to enter a person's name and see whether they have committed any crimes. The Kentucky State Police offer a method by which you can search the sex offender database online.

Find birth, death, and marriage certificates through KY public records

If you're looking for Kentucky marriage records, Kentucky death records, or a Kentucky birth certificate, there are a few different options depending on the date of issuance.

I recommend: The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Human Services Office of Vital Statistics maintains various types of vital records. You can get birth and death certificates from 1911 and thereafter. Marriage and divorce certificates are available from 1958 and thereafter. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives has birth and death records for certain cities, including Louisville, Lexington, Covington, and Newport.

Use comprehensive databases that maintain a collection of Kentucky public records

Comprehensive databases provide records for many states, including Kentucky. These databases are excellent tools for one-stop searches of a multitude of different records, including KY court records, jail and inmate records, sex offender records, land records and deeds, business licenses, and contractor licenses.

I recommend: Online Searches offers an interactive tool that allows you to search Kentucky public records by the person's name and type of record. Search Systems.net allows you to break your search down into categories, such as counties, cities, and regions.

The amount of information can be overwhelming when you start a Kentucky public records search, especially if you aren't sure exactly where to look or what you are looking for. Learning a few basic terms that you'll come in contact with can save you a lot of time and effort.

Find out which records are public and which can be found by searching online databases, such as vital statistics and other Kentucky public record information. Knowing terms you'll come in contact with can help you find the information you need a lot faster.

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Online Vehicle Information System

The Kentucky Online Vehicle Information System (OVIS) is a database of vehicle titles, registrations and lien information accessible to authorized users who pay an annual fee. The government has to approve you or your business as an authorized user.

I recommend: Find out more about the Kentucky Online Vehicle Information System at the state of Kentucky website.

Marriage index file

Kentucky vital records can be found in an online database hosted by the University of Kentucky. These include marriage, divorce, birth and death records. The marriage index file is a collection of the state's marriage licenses from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

I recommend: Read about the marriage index file on the University of Kentucky website.

Criminal case record request

A criminal case record request can be submitted through the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. The request includes an online form to fill out including all your contact information and case information. The record will be mailed to you for a fee.

I recommend: Read about the criminal case record request, or start your request online, at the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives website.

Sex offender registry

The Kentucky Sex Offender Registry is provided by the state police as a way to allow the public to become aware of any offenders in their area. The registry is a database of all offenders and can be searched by name or location.

I recommend: Connect to the Kentucky State Police Sex Offender Registry to find out more about the database or search for offenders.

Friends of Kentucky Public Archives

The Friends of Kentucky Public Archives is a citizen's group dedicated to helping maintain public access to records. The group was formed to help the division of public records keep as many records public and available as possible.

I recommend: Read about the Friends of Kentucky Public Archives at the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives website.

Unclaimed property

Unclaimed property is personal property the Kentucky government has temporarily taken ownership of, because it has been abandoned. Property can be in monetary form, such as savings or insurance claims that went unclaimed, or possessions like jewellery, coins and other items left in safe deposit boxes.

I recommend: Read about unclaimed property and search the state's database of unclaimed property at the Kentucky Office of the Treasury.