Kentucky Public Records Laws and Regulations

Learn more about which agencies control and provide access to KY public records

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.
   

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

• 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.

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