Carter County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Carter County in 2026

CarterCountyRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Carter County, Kentucky. Members of the public may use this resource to locate records that may include court filings, property documents, vital records, and other materials created or held by county and state agencies. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Records in Carter County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Carter County government portal provides access to county department information and elected official contacts.
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers an online case search tool for court records statewide, including Carter County.
Property assessment data may be available through the Carter County Property Valuation Administrator's online portal.
No registration is required to search most publicly available court records through the Kentucky Court of Justice online system.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Carter County Clerk's Office or the Circuit Court Clerk's Office to inspect records in person. Requestors should bring a valid photo identification and be prepared to complete a written request form if required by the office. Staff will direct requestors to the appropriate records or public access terminal.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.880, a public agency must respond to a written open records request within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email:

Carter County Clerk: (606) 474-5188
Carter County Circuit Court Clerk: (606) 474-4420

What Are Public Records in Carter County?

Public records in Carter County are documents, data, and other materials created or received by a public agency in the course of its official duties and subject to public inspection under Kentucky law. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870, "public record" means all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, recordings, software, or other documentation regardless of physical form or characteristics, which are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of or retained by a public agency.

The following categories of records are maintained by Carter County agencies:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family): Maintained by the Carter County Circuit Court Clerk, which serves as the starting point for requesting copies of court records from cases filed in the county.
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments): Maintained by the Carter County Clerk and the Property Valuation Administrator.
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates): Marriage records are filed with the Carter County Clerk; birth and death certificates are maintained by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious names): Filed with the Carter County Clerk and relevant state agencies.
Tax records (property tax, assessment records): Maintained by the Carter County Sheriff's Office and the Property Valuation Administrator.
Voting and election records: Maintained by the Carter County Clerk.
Meeting minutes and agendas: Maintained by the Carter County government for fiscal court and board meetings.
Budget and financial documents: Available through the Carter County Judge/Executive's Office.
Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports where permitted): Maintained by the Carter County Sheriff's Office and Grayson Police Department.
Land use and zoning records: Maintained by the Carter County Planning and Zoning Office.
Environmental records: The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet open records portal handles requests related to environmental permits and inspections affecting Carter County, including matters related to Carter Caves State Park and nature preserves.

Is Carter County an Open Records County?

Carter County fully complies with the Kentucky Open Records Act, which mandates public access to government records across all counties in the Commonwealth. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.871, "free and open examination of public records is in the public interest." This provision establishes that the right of inspection is a fundamental principle of democratic governance in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Open Records Act applies to all public agencies operating within Carter County, including the fiscal court, elected offices, law enforcement agencies, and boards or commissions receiving public funds. As stated in the Kentucky Attorney General's guidance on open records, "the exceptions to the general rule of inspection shall be strictly construed," meaning that agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a record falls within a recognized exemption before withholding it.

The Carter County Attorney's office handles legal proceedings and filings at the county level and may be consulted regarding the legal framework governing records access. Carter County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the Kentucky Open Records Act governs all requests uniformly.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Carter County?

The current fee structure for public records in Carter County is governed by the Kentucky Open Records Act and applicable administrative regulations. Fees vary by record type and the office maintaining the record.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.10 per page
Certification of records	Varies by office
Electronic copies	Actual cost of duplication
Inspection of records	No charge

Inspection fees: Members of the public may inspect public records at no charge during regular business hours.
Copy fees: The standard fee for paper copies is $0.10 per page for documents up to letter or legal size, as established under Kentucky administrative regulations.
Certification fees: Fees for certified copies of court records, deeds, and vital records vary by office and document type.
Electronic format fees: Agencies may charge the actual cost of producing records in electronic format, which may include the cost of storage media.
Search fees: Kentucky law does not permit agencies to charge a separate search fee for locating records.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order payable to the respective county office. Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by the Kentucky Open Records Act, though agencies retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances.

Does Carter County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Carter County. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, any person has the right to inspect public records at no cost during the regular business hours of the maintaining agency. The right to inspect does not extend to the right to receive free copies.

The following resources provide free access to certain public records:

The Kentucky Court of Justice online case search tool allows members of the public to search court records statewide at no charge.
The Carter County government website provides free access to meeting agendas, minutes, and budget documents posted online.
Public access terminals located at the Carter County Clerk's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk's Office allow in-person inspection of records at no charge.
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet provides free online inspection of environmental records through its open records portal.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies of records is subject to the applicable fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Carter County?

Any person may request public records in Carter County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Kentucky Open Records Act does not restrict access to Kentucky residents, and non-residents retain the same rights of inspection as residents of the Commonwealth.

Requestors are not required to:

Be a resident of Carter County or Kentucky
Provide identification for most records requests (though identification may be required for certain sensitive records)
State the purpose of the request

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. Requests for records containing personal identifying information, sealed court records, or records subject to statutory exemptions may require the requestor to demonstrate a legal basis for access or to be the subject of the record. Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal court filings or property records, follow the same process as any other requestor.

Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public all hold equal standing under the Kentucky Open Records Act. Requests submitted on behalf of an organization or business are treated the same as individual requests.

What Records Are Confidential in Carter County?

Certain records maintained by Carter County agencies are exempt from public inspection under the Kentucky Open Records Act. The following categories of records are currently withheld from public access:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Kentucky law.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in the course of an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released records.
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Kentucky child protection statutes.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to public employees' official duties.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Records containing information that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure are withheld.

Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.878 enumerates the specific categories of records exempt from the Open Records Act. Agencies invoking an exemption must cite the specific provision and explain how it applies to the records at issue. A balancing test applies in certain circumstances, particularly where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the agency's interest in confidentiality.

Carter County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Carter County Clerk
300 W Main St, Grayson, KY 41143
(606) 474-5188
Carter County government portal

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Carter County Circuit Court Clerk
300 W Main St, Grayson, KY 41143
(606) 474-4420
Carter County Circuit Court information

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

As noted by the Kentucky Court of Justice, "the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in each county is the starting point for requesting copies of court records from cases in that county." Members of the public may call or visit the office directly to initiate a records request.

Carter County Attorney's Office
300 W Main St, Grayson, KY 41143
(606) 474-5191
Carter County elected officials

The Carter County Attorney's office handles the filing of legal documents and proceedings, small claims, probates, payment of court costs and fines, and related matters.

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet – Open Records
300 Sower Blvd, Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-3350
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet open records portal

Environmental records requests affecting Carter County, including those related to Carter Caves State Park and nature preserves, may be submitted to EEC.KORA@ky.gov or through the Cabinet's online request form.