Divorce records in Kentucky are public. The state’s courts operate under a presumption of openness, so a dissolution file becomes part of the public record unless a judge specifically orders it sealed. Anyone can review a divorce case at the courthouse where it was filed or look up basic case information online, though certain personal identifiers are redacted before the file reaches the public.
What You Can See and What Stays Private
Most of a Kentucky divorce file is open. That includes the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, motions filed by either spouse, orders the judge issues along the way, and the final Decree of Dissolution. Because Kentucky law requires the court to resolve custody, child support, spousal maintenance, and property division before entering the decree, all of those final terms sit in the public file.1Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 403.140 – Marriage, Court May Enter Decree of Dissolution or Separation
Certain identifiers are stripped out before filing. Under Civil Rule 7.03, only the last four digits of a Social Security or taxpayer ID number may appear, only the year of a birth date is shown, and financial account numbers are removed entirely.2New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. CR 7.03 Privacy Protection for Filings Made with the Court
When children are involved, Family Court Rule 607 seals more. Medical records introduced as evidence for any party or child are sealed, and so are the educational records of a minor child. Neither can be released to anyone other than a party or attorney without a court order. If the divorce case overlaps with a juvenile court matter, that portion of the file is sealed as well.3New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Rule 607 Sealed Records The custody terms themselves — who the children live with, the visitation schedule, the support amount — stay public. What’s sealed is the underlying evidence: therapy notes, school evaluations, juvenile files.
How to Look Up a Kentucky Divorce Record
At the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
The most complete way to review a divorce file is to visit the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Bring the full names of both spouses and, if you have it, the case number or the approximate year the case was finalized. The clerk will pull the physical file for you to read on-site. Photocopies typically run about $0.25 per page, and a certified copy usually adds a fee of around $5.00.4Kenton County Circuit Court. Fee Schedule Fees can vary from county to county.
Online Through KYeCourts
Kentucky offers a free public search through KYeCourts. The guest login shows basic case information — party names, case numbers, filing dates, and docket entries — for courts across the Commonwealth.5Kentucky Court of Justice. KYeCourts Guest Login It’s enough to confirm that a divorce was filed and when it closed. It will not show you the text of the petition, motions, or final decree. For those documents you’ll need to go to the courthouse or order copies from the clerk.
Through the Office of Vital Statistics
If you only need proof that a divorce happened, the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics holds divorce records from June 1958 to the present.6Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Marriage and Divorce Certificates A vital statistics certificate confirms the names of the parties, the date, and the county. It doesn’t include the terms of the divorce. This is the right route when you need an official document for a name change, remarriage, or a benefits application.
Older Cases
Courthouses only hold case files locally for a limited period. After roughly 15 years, files are transferred to the State Records Center and eventually to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. If the divorce you’re looking for is older than that, you’ll likely need to request the file from one of those facilities rather than the clerk’s office.
Can a Kentucky Divorce Record Be Sealed?
Sealing is possible but rare. Under the standard set by the Kentucky Supreme Court, the person asking to seal a record must identify a specific fundamental right that outweighs public access so completely that “in no other way can justice be served” except by closure. They must also show that less restrictive alternatives, such as redacting particular pages, won’t protect the interest at stake. If the judge grants closure, the order has to include written findings explaining why it was necessary.
A general wish for privacy or to avoid embarrassment doesn’t meet that standard. Sealing succeeds most often where protections already exist by rule, such as the automatic sealing of children’s medical and educational records under Rule 607.3New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Rule 607 Sealed Records Beyond those built-in protections, sealing an entire divorce file generally requires evidence of a concrete threat, like a documented safety risk or the exposure of confidential business information that would cause real economic harm. For most Kentucky divorces, the file stays public.