Boyd County Court Records
What Is Boyd County Court Records
Court records in Boyd County, Kentucky, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts of proceedings, exhibits admitted into evidence, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: docket sheets provide a chronological index of all filings in a case, while judgments and orders reflect the court's final or interim rulings.
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained in Boyd County. Property records, for example, are held by the Boyd County Property Valuation Administrator and the County Clerk's office, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered through 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 following courts in Boyd County currently maintain official court records:
- Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $5,000, and family law matters
- District Court — handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, juvenile matters, and probate proceedings
- Family Court — a division of Circuit Court with primary jurisdiction over domestic relations and child welfare matters
Records maintained across these courts cover civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and juvenile matters. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 26A.200, the Supreme Court of Kentucky has authority to establish rules governing the maintenance and accessibility of court records throughout the Commonwealth.
Are Court Records Public In Boyd County
Court records in Boyd 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 judicial offices. Additionally, the principle of open courts is embedded in Section 14 of the Kentucky Constitution, which affirms that justice shall be administered openly.
The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Final judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets and hearing schedules
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
- Probate filings, including wills admitted to record
Members of the public should note that federal court records for cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky are governed by federal rules and are accessible through the federal PACER system, which is separate from the state court system. State court records in Boyd County are managed by the Kentucky Court of Justice, which administers all state trial and appellate courts.
Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under current law. These include juvenile records, records sealed by court order, certain mental health and dependency proceedings, and identifying information of victims in specific case types. The Supreme Court of Kentucky has promulgated rules through the Administrative Office of the Courts governing the scope of these exemptions.
How To Find Court Records in Boyd County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Boyd County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of trial court records is the Circuit Court Clerk's office, located at the Boyd County Judicial Center.
In-Person Access:
- Visit the Boyd County Judicial Center at 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 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.
- Request inspection of the file or submit a written request for certified copies.
- Pay any applicable copying or certification fees at the time of pickup.
By Mail:
- Address a written request to the Boyd County Circuit Court Clerk, PO Box 688, Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688.
- Include the full name of the parties, approximate filing date, and case number if known.
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable fees.
Online:
Members of the public may search case information through the Kentucky Court of Justice's online portal without visiting the courthouse in person. Detailed steps are provided in the section below.
How To Look Up Court Records in Boyd County Online?
The Kentucky Court of Justice provides online access to court case information through its CourtNet and eCourt Public Portal systems. These platforms allow members of the public to search for case records across all Kentucky counties, including Boyd County.
Steps to search online:
- Navigate to the Kentucky Court of Justice website at kycourts.gov.
- Select the "Case Information" or public portal option from the main navigation menu.
- Enter the party's name, case number, or attorney name in the designated search fields.
- Filter results by county (Boyd) and court type (Circuit or District) as needed.
- Review the case summary, docket entries, and available documents displayed in the results.
The online portal currently includes:
- Circuit Court records — felony criminal cases, civil cases, and family court matters filed in Boyd County
- District Court records — misdemeanor cases, traffic citations, small claims, and juvenile matters (non-confidential)
- Appellate records — decisions and orders from the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
Certain sealed, expunged, or confidential records are not accessible through the public portal. The Administrative Office of the Courts oversees the technical administration of these systems and provides guidance on record expungement procedures.
How To Search Boyd County Court Records for Free?
Kentucky law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect court records at no charge. Under KRS § 61.874, public agencies may charge fees only for the actual cost of reproducing records; inspection itself is free. Accordingly, any person may review court files in person at the Boyd County Judicial Center without incurring a fee.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- Kentucky Court of Justice public portal — free case searches by name or case number for all Boyd County courts
- In-person inspection at the Circuit Court Clerk's office — no fee to view original case files
- Docket sheet review — available at the clerk's counter without charge
Fees apply when requesting certified copies, paper reproductions, or electronic copies of specific documents. The Circuit Court Clerk's office posts the current fee schedule at the public counter and on the court's official page within the Boyd County court information section of the Kentucky Court of Justice website.
What's Included in a Boyd County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but Boyd County court records generally include the following categories of documents:
Criminal Case Records:
- Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
- Charging documents (indictment, information, or complaint)
- Arraignment and plea records
- Pre-trial motions and rulings
- Trial transcripts and exhibit lists
- Verdict and judgment of conviction or acquittal
- Sentencing orders and conditions of supervision
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint and summons
- Defendant's answer and counterclaims
- Discovery motions and orders
- Summary judgment motions and rulings
- Final judgment and any post-judgment orders
- Execution and garnishment records
Family Court Records:
- Petitions for dissolution of marriage
- Child custody and visitation orders
- Child support orders and modification records
- Domestic violence orders (EPO/DVO)
- Adoption decrees (subject to confidentiality restrictions)
Probate Records:
- Petitions for administration of estates
- Wills admitted to probate
- Inventories and appraisements
- Final settlement orders
Traffic and Misdemeanor Records:
- Citation or uniform citation
- Plea and disposition records
- Fine and court cost payment records
How Long Does Boyd County Keep Court Records?
Boyd County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Supreme Court of Kentucky. Retention periods vary by record type and court level.
Current retention periods include:
- Felony criminal case files — permanent retention
- Misdemeanor and violation case files — minimum 5 years after final disposition
- Civil case files (general) — minimum 5 years after final judgment
- Domestic relations and family court orders — permanent retention for final decrees
- Probate records — permanent retention
- Traffic citation records — minimum 3 years
- Juvenile records — retained until the subject reaches age 24, subject to confidentiality rules
These schedules are established pursuant to authority granted under Kentucky Administrative Regulations and the policies of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Records designated for permanent retention are typically microfilmed or digitally preserved. Members of the public seeking records from older cases should contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office directly to confirm availability.
Types of Courts In Boyd County
Boyd County is served by a unified state court system administered by the Kentucky Court of Justice. The court hierarchy in Kentucky proceeds from District Court at the trial level, through Circuit Court, to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and finally to the Kentucky Supreme Court as the court of last resort.
Boyd County Judicial Center (Circuit and District Courts)
Boyd County Judicial Center 2805 Louisa Street, PO Box 688 Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688 Phone: (606) 739-4131 Boyd County Court of Justice Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Circuit Court is Kentucky's court of general jurisdiction and handles the most serious civil and criminal matters. The District Court is the court of limited jurisdiction and serves as the entry point for most criminal, traffic, and small claims matters.
Kentucky Court of Appeals 360 Democrat Drive Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 573-7920 Kentucky Court of Justice
Kentucky Supreme Court 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 300 Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 564-5444 Kentucky Court of Justice
What Types of Cases Do Boyd County Courts Hear?
Each court in Boyd County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by Kentucky statute and Supreme Court rules.
Boyd County Circuit Court:
- Felony criminal prosecutions
- Civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000
- Domestic relations matters (divorce, child custody, child support)
- Adoption proceedings
- Appeals from District Court decisions
Boyd County Family Court (Division of Circuit Court):
- Dissolution of marriage
- Child custody and visitation disputes
- Domestic violence petitions (EPO and DVO)
- Termination of parental rights
- Dependency, neglect, and abuse cases
Boyd County District Court:
- Misdemeanor criminal offenses
- Traffic violations and infractions
- City and county ordinance violations
- Small claims cases (disputes up to $2,500)
- Juvenile matters (delinquency and status offenses)
- Probate of small estates and will probate
- Mental health and involuntary commitment proceedings
How To Find a Court Docket In Boyd County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and orders entered in a specific case. Members of the public may access Boyd County court dockets through the following methods:
Online Search:
- Visit the Kentucky Court of Justice public portal through the Kentucky Court of Justice website.
- Select the case search function and enter the party name or case number.
- Select "Boyd" as the county and choose the applicable court type.
- The docket sheet will display all entries, including filing dates, document types, and scheduled hearing dates.
In-Person Search:
- Visit the Boyd County Judicial Center at 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129.
- Request access to the public case index terminals available in the clerk's office.
- Clerk staff are available to assist with case number lookups during regular business hours.
By Telephone: Members of the public may call the Boyd County Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 739-4131 to request basic docket information for a specific case.
Which Courts in Boyd County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented, preserved, and subject to review by a higher court. Under Kentucky law, courts not of record do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings, and appeals from such courts are heard as entirely new trials (de novo) rather than reviews of the lower court record.
Pursuant to KRS § 23A.010 and related provisions, Kentucky's Circuit Courts are designated as courts of record. District Courts in Kentucky are also courts of record under current law, as they maintain official dockets and case files subject to appellate review.
At present, there are no active courts in Boyd County that operate as courts not of record within the state court system. Historically, quarterly courts and justice of the peace courts operated as courts not of record in Kentucky, but these were abolished following the 1975 judicial reform that created the unified court system. Any quasi-judicial or administrative hearing bodies operating within Boyd County agencies do not constitute courts of record and their proceedings are not maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.