Fayette County Divorce Records

We are glad you came here for help. We aim to give you the best guide for your Fayette County Divorce Records search. Our goal is to make your task easy and clear. We will show you where to look and what you need.

If you need to start your search right now, a good place to begin exploring options for Fayette County Divorce Records is available. You can visit https://kentuckyofficialrecords.com/fayette-county-divorce-records/ to see how you might access these files. This resource, along with others like https://kentuckypublicrecords.com/, can provide pathways. They help people find public record data across the state, which can include vital records like divorce filings filed within specific counties such as Fayette County. Knowing where to start is key for a quick search.

Find Divorce Decrees at the Fayette Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk's Role

The main place for divorce papers is the court. The Fayette County Office of Circuit Court Clerk holds these records. A divorce case starts and ends here. The final paper is the divorce decree. This court office keeps that file. You must go to the clerk for a full copy of the decree. This is the only place to get the full legal court order. It shows all the details of the split.

Office Location and Hours

You can find the clerk in downtown Lexington. The office is in the main court building.

• Courthouse: Robert F. Stephens Circuit Courthouse

• Address: 120 N. Limestone, Suite C-33 (Circuit Court Appeals & Records), Lexington, KY 40507

• Phone (Civil Division): (859) 246-2147

• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Days: Monday through Friday

Call the Civil Division first. They handle divorce cases. Ask about the best way to get your record. They can tell you what you need. They are open most work days. Plan your visit during these times.

Getting Recent Divorce Records (Up to 15 Years Old)

You can get records in person. Go to the Circuit Court Clerk's office. You might need the names on the case. The case number helps a lot. If you do not have it, names can work. They have public search spots there. You can look up case details on site. Bring your photo ID just in case. Ask the staff for help if you need it. They can guide you to the right files. There is a cost for copies. Ask how much per page. Ask if you need a certified copy. This type has an official stamp. It costs more than a plain copy. Be ready to pay the fee when you ask. They take cash or checks usually.

Mail requests might be an option. Call the clerk's office first. Ask if they take mail requests for copies. Find out what info they need. Ask where to send your request. You will need to send payment too. Ask what kind of payment they take. It could be a check or money order. Mail takes more time than going in person. Plan for some wait time for the copies to arrive. Make sure you give them a clear return address. Getting records this way needs planning. Call first to get all the steps right.

State Divorce Records: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS)

What OVS Has

The state keeps some divorce information. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) has records. These are not the full divorce decrees. They are index records or certificates. They prove a divorce took place in KY. OVS has these records from June 1958 to now. If the divorce was before June 1958, OVS does not have it. For those old records, you must ask the Fayette Circuit Court Clerk. OVS records show basic facts only. They list names, date, and the county. This is good if you just need proof of divorce.

OVS Contact Details

The OVS office is in Frankfort, KY.

• Office: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics

• Address: 275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621

• Phone: (502) 564-4212

• Toll-Free: (800) 241-8322

• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST

• Days: Monday through Friday

You can call them with questions. Their hours are standard work hours. They are closed on state holidays. You can visit them in person too.

How to Request from OVS

You need certain facts for OVS requests. You must give the full names of both people. You need the exact date: month, day, and year. You must state Fayette County as the place. Tell them your name and mail address. Give a phone number too. Say how many copies you want. There is an application form you can use. You can likely find it on the OVS website linked below. You must pay a fee. The cost is $6.00 for each copy. This fee pays for the search. You do not get money back if they find no record. Make a check or money order out to the Kentucky State Treasurer.

You can ask by mail. Send the form and payment to the OVS address. Mail can take time. It might be 5 days or up to 30 days. Be sure your return address is clear. You can also go in person. Visit the Frankfort office during work hours. Bring your info and payment. In-person might be faster if you are near Frankfort. Remember, OVS cannot search without the form and fee.

• OVS Marriage/Divorce Info: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Pages/marriage-divorce.aspx

Finding Older Fayette County Divorce Files

Records Aged 15-35 Years

Old court files move from the court house. Records between 15 and 35 years old are not at the Clerk's office. They are kept at the Kentucky State Records Center. You cannot just search by name there. You must have the case number. You also need the locator number. Get these numbers from the Fayette Circuit Court Clerk first. Then, fill out a special form. Send the form to the State Records Center.

• Contact: [email address removed]

• Phone: (502) 564-3617

• Form: Look for the "records request form" link on the KCOJ Request Court Records page: https://www.kycourts.gov/Pages/open-records-request.aspx

This takes some extra steps. First, contact the Fayette Clerk for the numbers. Then, contact the State Records Center. This ensures they can find the old case file you need. Plan for extra time for this process. The clerk can tell you if your case falls in this age range. They know where old files go.

Very Old Records (36+ Years)

Even older records move again. Files that are 36 years old or more go to archives. They are held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). This is for very old, historic cases. You need to contact the KDLA Reference Desk. Again, having case details helps. Ask them how to request these old court records.

• Contact: [email address removed]

• Phone: (502) 564-1787 or (502) 564-1770

• KDLA Website: https://kdla.ky.gov/

For divorces before June 1958, you start at the Fayette Circuit Court Clerk. They can tell you if the record exists and where it might be stored, possibly at KDLA if it is very old. The OVS state office will not have these pre-1958 records. Researching very old records takes time and care. Be patient.

Online Search Options

Official Court Websites

The Kentucky Court of Justice runs the courts. Their website has lots of info. You can find court addresses and phone numbers. They have some forms online too. Check https://www.kycourts.gov/. They are moving to a new online system. It is called Tyler Technologies Enterprise Justice. This includes eFiling for lawyers. Public access to view full case files online may be limited. Often, you can see case dockets or summaries. These show case status and filings. But they might not show the full divorce decree document. The best way to search might still be at the court house. They have public computer stations. You can use these terminals at the Fayette Circuit Court Clerk's office. This lets you search their case index directly.

Other County Sites

The Fayette County Clerk runs a site too. This is at https://www.fayettecountyclerk.com/. But this clerk deals with land deeds, car tags, and votes. Their FAQ page states clearly: divorce records are not here. They confirm you must go to the Fayette County Circuit Court Clerk. Do not confuse the County Clerk with the Circuit Court Clerk. They handle different types of records. For divorce papers, always use the Circuit Court Clerk. Their land records site, fayettedeeds.com, is not for divorce searches.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

Divorce Decree Details

A divorce decree is the court's final order. It legally ends the marriage. This is a key court record. It has many pages. It lists all the terms agreed on or ordered. This includes who gets what property. It covers child custody and support. It might list alimony details too. This is the official legal document from the case. You get this only from the Fayette County Circuit Court Clerk. It is part of the court case file. You need this decree for legal proof of terms.

Divorce Certificate Facts

A divorce certificate is different. It is a vital record from the state. It proves a divorce happened. It shows the names of the two people. It shows the date of the divorce. It shows the county where it was granted. It is usually just one page. It does not list all the details like the decree. You get this from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS). This is for divorces after June 1958. It is useful for simple proof of divorce. For example, changing your name might need this. But it lacks the full legal terms found in the decree. Know which type you need before you ask.