Daviess County Public Records /Daviess County Court Records

Daviess County Court Records

What Is Daviess County Court Records

Court records in Daviess County, Kentucky, are the official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. 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 and proceedings in a case, while pleadings and motions reflect the arguments submitted by parties, and judgments and orders represent the court's official rulings.

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained in Daviess County. Property records, for example, are held by the Daviess County Property Valuation Administrator and the County Clerk's office, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are maintained by the clerks of the respective courts.

The courts currently maintaining records in Daviess County include:

Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $5,000, and family law matters
Family Court — a division of Circuit Court with primary jurisdiction over domestic relations, child custody, and juvenile dependency matters
District Court — handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, probate of small estates, and juvenile matters
Small Claims Court — a division of District Court for civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts

Records maintained by these courts cover civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statutes § 26A.200, the Supreme Court of Kentucky has authority to establish rules governing the maintenance and accessibility of court records statewide. The Kentucky Court of Justice oversees all state court operations, including those in Daviess County.

Are Court Records Public In Daviess County

Court records in Daviess County are presumptively open to the public under Kentucky law. The Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS § 61.870 et seq., establishes the right of any person to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies, including court-related offices. Additionally, the Kentucky Supreme Court's Rules of the Supreme Court (SCR) affirm the principle of open access to judicial records, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

Records that are currently available for public inspection include:

Most civil case files following the filing of a complaint
Criminal case files after formal charges have been filed
Judgments and court orders
Docket sheets and hearing schedules
Sentencing records in criminal matters
Probate filings and estate inventories

It is important to note the distinction between state and federal court records. Records from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, which has jurisdiction over federal matters arising in Daviess County, are maintained separately through the federal PACER system and are governed by federal law rather than Kentucky's open records statutes. State court records in Daviess County are governed exclusively by Kentucky law and Supreme Court administrative rules. Members of the public may request court records through the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

How To Find Court Records in Daviess County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Daviess County may access them through several official channels. The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk serves as the primary custodian of records for both Circuit Court and District Court proceedings in the county.

To obtain records in person:

Visit the Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk's office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Provide the case number, party name, or other identifying information to the clerk
Submit a written request if copies are required; fees may apply per page as established by court schedule
Present valid government-issued identification when requesting sealed or restricted records

To request records by mail:

Prepare a written request identifying the case by name, number, and approximate filing date
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable copy fees
Mail the request to the Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk's office

To request records online, members of the public may use the Kentucky Court of Justice's eCourts portal, where available case information is accessible without a formal written request. The Daviess County court information page maintained by the Kentucky Court of Justice provides direct contact information and guidance for record requests specific to this county.

How To Look Up Court Records in Daviess County Online?

The Kentucky Court of Justice currently provides online access to court case information through its statewide electronic systems. Members of the public may search for Daviess County court records using the following portals:

Kentucky eCourts CourtNet 2.0 — This is the primary online case management system for Kentucky state courts. It allows users to search by party name, case number, or attorney name across Circuit and District Court records statewide, including Daviess County.

To conduct an online search:

Navigate to the Kentucky Court of Justice website at kycourts.gov
Select the "Case Information" or eCourts portal option
Enter the county (Daviess), case number, or party name in the designated search fields
Review the returned docket entries, case status, and available documents
Note that some documents may require an in-person visit or formal request to obtain full copies

Circuit Court Records — Civil and felony criminal case information for Daviess County is accessible through the Circuit Court section of the Kentucky Court of Justice website.

District Court Records — Misdemeanor, traffic, and small claims case information is accessible through the District Court portal. District Court handles matters of limited jurisdiction and maintains separate dockets from Circuit Court.

Federal court records for cases heard in the Western District of Kentucky are accessible through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at pacer.gov, which requires a registered account.

How To Search Daviess County Court Records for Free?

Kentucky law currently guarantees the right of public inspection of court records at no charge. Under KRS § 61.874, agencies may charge fees for copies of records but may not charge for the act of inspection itself. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's office without incurring a fee.

Free online search options currently available include:

Kentucky eCourts CourtNet 2.0 — Basic case information, docket entries, and case status are searchable at no cost through the Kentucky Court of Justice's online portal
Daviess County Court Information Page — The Kentucky Court of Justice maintains a county-specific information page for Daviess that provides free access to contact information and general case lookup guidance
In-person inspection — No fee is assessed for reviewing physical case files at the clerk's office counter during public hours

Fees are assessed only when certified copies or printed reproductions of documents are requested. The current fee schedule is established by the Kentucky Court of Justice and is subject to periodic revision.

What's Included in a Daviess County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary depending on the type of case and the court in which it was filed. The following components are typically included:

Civil Court Records:

Complaint and summons
Answers and counterclaims
Motions and supporting memoranda
Court orders and rulings
Final judgment
Notices of appeal

Criminal Court Records:

Arrest warrant or citation
Indictment or information
Arraignment records
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts
Sentencing orders and probation terms
Expungement orders (where applicable)

Family Court Records:

Petitions for dissolution of marriage
Child custody and visitation orders
Child support orders and modifications
Domestic violence protective orders
Adoption decrees

Probate Records:

Will filings and testamentary documents
Inventory of estate assets
Letters testamentary or of administration
Final settlement orders

Traffic and Misdemeanor Records:

Citation or charging document
Plea and disposition records
Fine and court cost assessments
License suspension orders

How Long Does Daviess County Keep Court Records?

Court record retention in Kentucky is governed by 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 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 due to ongoing enforceability
Probate records — Retained permanently
Traffic violation records — Retained for a minimum of 3 to 5 years depending on offense severity
Juvenile records — Subject to confidentiality provisions and specific retention schedules under KRS Chapter 610

The Kentucky Court of Justice and KDLA jointly publish records retention schedules applicable to all Circuit and District Court clerks statewide. These schedules are binding on the Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk's office and are updated periodically to reflect changes in state law or administrative policy.

Types of Courts In Daviess County

Daviess County's court system operates within the unified judicial structure established by the Kentucky Constitution and administered by the Kentucky Court of Justice. The court hierarchy proceeds from District Court at the trial level through Circuit Court, then to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and finally to the Kentucky Supreme Court as the court of last resort.

Daviess County Circuit Court (38th Judicial Circuit)

Daviess County Justice Center 100 E. Second St., Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 687-7270 Daviess County Court Information — Kentucky Court of Justice Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction in Kentucky and handles the most serious civil and criminal matters. Family Court operates as a division of Circuit Court in Daviess County and has primary jurisdiction over domestic relations and child welfare cases.

Daviess County District Court

Daviess County Justice Center 100 E. Second St., Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 687-7270 District Court — Kentucky Court of Justice Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

District Court is the court of limited jurisdiction and serves as the entry point for most criminal and civil matters in Daviess County. It handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, juvenile matters, and city and county ordinance violations.

Kentucky Court of Appeals 360 Democrat Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 573-7920 Kentucky Court of Justice

Kentucky Supreme Court 700 Capitol Ave., Suite 300, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-5444 Kentucky Court of Justice

What Types of Cases Do Daviess County Courts Hear?

Each court within Daviess County's judicial structure handles a defined category of cases based on subject matter and jurisdictional limits.

Daviess County Circuit Court hears:

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000
Appeals from District Court decisions
Equity matters, including injunctions
Workers' compensation appeals

Daviess County Family Court (division of Circuit Court) hears:

Divorce and legal separation proceedings
Child custody and visitation disputes
Child support establishment and modification
Domestic violence petitions
Termination of parental rights
Adoption proceedings
Juvenile dependency and neglect cases

Daviess County District Court hears:

Misdemeanor criminal offenses
Traffic violations and infractions
City and county ordinance violations
Small claims civil disputes (currently up to $2,500)
Juvenile status offenses and delinquency matters
Probate of small estates
Voluntary and involuntary commitment proceedings
Arraignments and preliminary hearings in felony cases

How To Find a Court Docket In Daviess 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 Daviess County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Search:

Visit the Kentucky Court of Justice website
Access the eCourts CourtNet 2.0 case search portal
Select Daviess County from the county dropdown menu
Enter the party name, case number, or attorney name
Review the docket entries displayed for the selected case

In-Person Search:

Visit the Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk's office at 100 E. Second St., Owensboro, KY 42303
Request access to the public case index terminals available at the clerk's counter
Provide the case number or party name to retrieve the relevant docket

By Telephone: Members of the public may call the Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk's office at (270) 687-7270 to inquire about case status and scheduled hearing dates.

Docket information for federal cases involving Daviess County parties is available through the PACER system, which is separate from the Kentucky state court system and requires a registered user account.

Which Courts in Daviess County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented, preserved, and subject to appellate review. Under Kentucky law, courts of record maintain a verbatim transcript or electronic recording of proceedings, and their judgments carry full legal effect as precedent and enforceable orders.

Pursuant to Kentucky Constitution § 112 and related statutory provisions, both Circuit Court and District Court in Kentucky are designated as courts of record. This means that all proceedings in Daviess County Circuit Court and District Court are officially documented and subject to appellate review by the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Kentucky Supreme Court.

At present, Daviess County does not maintain a separate municipal court or justice of the peace court operating outside the unified state court system. Kentucky abolished its former system of quarterly courts and justice of the peace courts through constitutional amendment, consolidating all trial court functions into the current Circuit and District Court structure. As a result, there are currently no courts operating in Daviess County that are formally designated as courts not of record. Administrative hearings conducted by county or city agencies, while quasi-judicial in nature, are not courts of record and their proceedings are not maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.