Court records in Boone County, Kentucky are maintained by the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. BooneKYCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Boone County. You can also request records directly through the Boone County page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website, visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Boone County Justice Center, or use statewide government databases to locate case details and related documents.
Boone Court System Overview
Boone County is part of Kentucky's 54th Judicial Circuit and the 6th Judicial District. The county's courts operate out of the Boone County Justice Center in Burlington. Kentucky's unified court system means that both Circuit Court and District Court serve the county, with the Circuit Court handling general jurisdiction cases and the District Court handling limited jurisdiction matters. The Circuit Court Clerk, David S. Martin, serves as the custodian of court records for both courts in Boone County. Boone County also has a Family Court division, which is a specialized division of Circuit Court with jurisdiction over family and children's matters.
Courts Serving Boone County
Boone Circuit Court
Boone District Court
Boone Family Court (Division of Circuit Court)
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky (Covington Division)
Boone County falls within the Eastern District of Kentucky. Federal civil and criminal cases are handled through the Covington division.
Municipal Courts
Several cities in Boone County operate municipal courts that handle city ordinance violations. The City of Florence, one of the largest municipalities in the county, processes open records requests through its city offices. Contact individual city halls for municipal court schedules and contact information.
What Types of Cases Boone County Courts Hear
Courts in Boone County handle a wide range of case types across Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court. Here is an overview of the categories:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, violations, DUI
- Traffic: Moving violations, parking citations, license-related offenses
- Civil litigation: Contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes (Circuit Court for claims above $5,000; District Court for claims at or below $5,000)
- Small claims: Civil disputes up to $2,500
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence protective orders
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency, dependency, neglect, abuse, status offenses
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
- City and county ordinance violations
District Court Cases in Boone County
Boone District Court is the court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, city and county ordinance cases, small claims, and civil cases involving amounts up to $5,000. District Court judges also conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases before those cases are bound over to Circuit Court. Juvenile matters — including delinquency, dependency, neglect, and abuse cases — are heard in District Court as well.
Cases typically begin with the filing of a complaint or citation. A District Court judge is assigned, and the defendant appears for arraignment. From there, the case moves through pre-trial motions, possible plea negotiations, and either resolution or trial. Appeals from District Court go to Circuit Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Boone County
Kentucky does not use a separate magistrate court system in the same way some other states do. In Kentucky, District Court judges handle the functions that magistrate courts perform elsewhere — including preliminary felony hearings, misdemeanor trials, small claims, and traffic cases. Small claims in Kentucky District Court are limited to disputes of $2,500 or less. Civil jurisdiction in District Court covers claims up to $5,000.
DUI arraignments and hearings, infractions, and violations are all processed through Boone District Court. If caseload requires it, multiple District Court judges may be assigned to specific dockets such as traffic or juvenile matters.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Boone County
Family Law
Boone County has a Family Court division, which is part of Circuit Court. Family Court handles divorce, custody, child support, visitation, paternity, civil domestic violence protective orders, and termination of parental rights. Divorce decrees issued in Boone County can be obtained through the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Certified copies of divorce certificates are also available from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Vital Statistics Branch.
Probate
Probate cases — including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes — are handled by Boone District Court. To open a probate case or request records related to an estate, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Justice Center.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases in Boone County are heard in District Court and include proceedings under the Kentucky Unified Juvenile Code, covering delinquency, status offenses, dependency, neglect, and abuse. Juvenile court records are confidential under Kentucky law and are not available to the general public. Access is limited to parties, attorneys, and authorized agencies.
How Cases Move Through the Boone County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins with a criminal complaint, citation, civil complaint, or petition filed with the Circuit Court Clerk.
- Assignment: The case is assigned to a judge — Circuit, District, or Family Court — based on the case type and jurisdiction.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment; civil cases receive a scheduling conference or initial case management order.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and engage in plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil).
- Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved by plea agreement, bench trial, jury trial, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments or appeals. Appeals from District Court go to Circuit Court; appeals from Circuit Court go to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Boone County
Courts in Boone County are administered under the Kentucky Court of Justice, a unified state court system overseen by the Supreme Court of Kentucky and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The administrative district judge for the judicial district and a trial court administrator coordinate day-to-day operations at the Justice Center.
Local rules for the 54th Judicial Circuit and the 6th Judicial District can be found through the Kentucky Court of Justice website. These rules govern filing procedures, motion practice, and scheduling specific to Boone County courts.
Public Access to Court Records
- Most court records in Kentucky are open to the public under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) and court administrative rules.
- Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed records, adoption records, and certain mental health proceedings.
- To request copies of court records, contact the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk in Boone County. You can call, visit in person, or submit a written request.
- The AOC offers criminal background check reports through its CourtNet system for individuals, businesses, and licensing agencies.
Attending Hearings
Court hearings in Boone County are generally open to the public, with exceptions for juvenile and certain family proceedings. Some hearings may be conducted by video. Contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office to confirm whether a specific hearing is in person or remote.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Boone County
- Court records requests: Start with the Boone County Circuit Court Clerk's office to request case records, certified copies, or docket information for Circuit, District, and Family Court cases.
- Criminal background checks: The AOC background check service provides criminal record reports from Kentucky courts. The Kentucky State Police also offers adult criminal history checks for a $20 fee.
- Offender lookup: The Kentucky Online Offender Lookup (KOOL) allows you to search for individuals currently or formerly incarcerated in the Kentucky corrections system, including those booked at Boone County Jail.
- Land and property records: The Boone County Clerk's land records are searchable online through the eCCLIX system. You can also search online records for deeds, liens, and other recorded documents.
- Property assessments: The Boone County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) maintains property assessment data searchable by address or parcel ID.
- Marriage and divorce certificates: Marriage licenses are issued by the Boone County Clerk's office. Divorce certificates can be requested from the Circuit Court Clerk or the Kentucky Vital Statistics Branch.
- Self-help resources: The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a Self-Help Portal with court forms, legal information, and guidance for people representing themselves.
- Kentucky sex offender registry: Searchable through the Kentucky State Police website at kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov.