Jessamine County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Jessamine County?

Public records in Jessamine County are defined under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, electronic records, and other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that are prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public agency in the course of its official functions. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these materials subject to the exemptions established by state law.

The following categories of records are currently maintained by various Jessamine County offices and agencies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Jessamine Circuit Court Clerk. The Kentucky Court of Justice provides statewide access guidance for court-related documents.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the Jessamine County Clerk. Members of the public may access recordings and deeds through the County Clerk's office, where all public records and indices thereof are available for inspection.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Marriage licenses are filed with the Jessamine County Clerk. Divorce decrees are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and occupational permits are processed through the County Clerk and applicable municipal offices.
Tax records — Property tax bills and assessment records are maintained by the Jessamine County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) and the County Sheriff's office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Jessamine County Clerk in accordance with state election law.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Jessamine County Fiscal Court meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings are maintained by the County Judge/Executive's office.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are available through the Jessamine County government. The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet also maintains statewide financial transparency resources.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, may be requested through the Jessamine County Sheriff's Office or the Nicholasville Police Department.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and planning documents are maintained by the Jessamine County Planning and Zoning Commission.

Is Jessamine County an Open Records County?

Jessamine County fully complies with Kentucky's Open Records Act, which governs public access to government documents throughout the Commonwealth. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.872, all public agencies are required to make public records available for inspection by any person during regular office hours. The Act establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure, placing the burden on the agency to justify any denial of access.

Key provisions of the Kentucky Open Records Act applicable to Jessamine County include:

Public agencies must respond to a written request for records within five business days of receipt.
Agencies must either provide the requested records, deny the request in writing with a specific statutory basis, or notify the requester that additional time is needed.
Any person whose request is denied may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General, whose office issues binding decisions on open records disputes.

Jessamine County government currently maintains an official open records policy consistent with state law. Members of the public may submit requests through the county's designated open records coordinator. The county's open records request portal provides current procedural guidance and contact information for submitting requests to county agencies. Kentucky's Open Meetings Act, codified at KRS § 61.800 et seq., further requires that meetings of public agencies be conducted openly and that agendas and minutes be made available to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Jessamine County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Jessamine County public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for submitting a records request:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency holds the records being sought. Property and land records are held by the County Clerk; court records by the Circuit Court Clerk; law enforcement records by the applicable police or sheriff's agency.
Complete the official request form. Jessamine County provides a standardized open records request form available for download on the county website. The form may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to info@jessamineky.gov.
Submit the request to the appropriate office. Requests directed to Jessamine County government should be sent to 101 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY 40356. Requests for court records should be directed to the Jessamine Circuit Court Clerk at the Jessamine County Justice Center.
Await agency response. Under current law, the agency must respond within five business days. If the records are voluminous or require extensive retrieval, the agency may notify the requester of a reasonable extension.
Access records online where available. The Jessamine County Clerk currently offers online land records through the eCCLIX system, allowing registered users to view and print property documents remotely.
Request law enforcement records separately. Requests for Kentucky State Police records must be submitted directly through the Kentucky State Police open records process.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Jessamine County, consistent with the fee schedule established under Kentucky law. Under KRS § 61.874, public agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies, not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction, and may not charge fees that discourage the exercise of the right to inspect records.

Current standard fees include:

Paper copies: Agencies typically charge $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies, though fees may vary by office.
Certified copies: Certified copies of recorded documents, such as deeds or marriage licenses, carry additional fees set by the County Clerk's fee schedule.
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees are generally limited to the cost of the medium used.
Deed and instrument recording fees: The Jessamine County Clerk charges statutory recording fees for instruments submitted for recording, as established by KRS § 64.012.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting payment. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, particularly where disclosure is determined to be in the primary interest of the general public and the requester does not have a commercial interest in the records.

Does Jessamine County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled under current Kentucky law to inspect public records free of charge during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies are requested, not for in-person inspection. The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Jessamine County Clerk's office, the Circuit Court Clerk's office, and other custodial agencies — no fee is charged for viewing records on-site.
Online land records — The Jessamine County Clerk provides access to property records through the eCCLIX online land records system, which allows registered users to search and view documents.
Court case information — Basic case information for Jessamine County courts is accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal at no charge.
State records management resources — The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives provides guidance on accessing state and local government records, including retention schedules and records management policies.

Who Can Request Public Records in Jessamine County?

Any person may request public records from Jessamine County agencies under the Kentucky Open Records Act, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Act does not require requesters to be Kentucky residents or to explain why they are seeking records. Specific eligibility provisions include:

No residency requirement: Non-residents of Jessamine County and non-Kentucky residents retain the same right of access as local residents.
No identification requirement for most records: Agencies generally may not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types.
No purpose requirement: Requesters are not obligated to state the reason for their request for most categories of public records.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as their own criminal history or personnel file, follow the same general process but may be required to provide identification to verify identity.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to authorized parties as defined by statute.

Members of the public seeking records from state-level agencies, including the Kentucky Attorney General's office, may submit requests through the Attorney General's open records process.

What Records Are Confidential in Jessamine County?

Not all government records in Jessamine County are subject to public disclosure. Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.878 exempts the following categories of records from mandatory public inspection:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Kentucky law.
Ongoing investigation records — Records compiled in the course of an active law enforcement investigation, where premature disclosure would harm the investigation, are exempt.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Health and medical records are protected under both state exemptions and federal HIPAA regulations.
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only to authorized parties pursuant to court order.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to public employees' official duties and compensation.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records containing information that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure are withheld from public access.

When an agency denies a request based on one or more of these exemptions, it must provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory basis for the denial. Requesters who believe a denial is improper may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General for an advisory opinion.

Jessamine County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Jessamine County Clerk serves as the primary recorder of official documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, and other instruments. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains court records for all cases filed in Jessamine County.

Jessamine County Clerk 101 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 885-4161 Jessamine County Clerk Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Jessamine Circuit Court Clerk 120 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 885-4161 Jessamine – Kentucky Court of Justice Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Jessamine County Government (Open Records Requests) 101 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 885-5281 Jessamine County Open Records Email: info@jessamineky.gov

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives 300 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-8300 Records Management – Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives