The Franklin County Courthouse at 222 St. Clair St. remains closed as flood remediation continues. No court business is taking place at that location.
The Franklin County Office of Circuit Court Clerk will accept in-person filings of pleadings, motions and other case-related materials at 669 Chamberlin Ave. provided they are not required to be electronically filed. A marked drop box is available outside the public entrance for court filings. Some fines may be eligible for online payment at kycourts.gov.
Although the office has temporarily relocated, the mailing address remains the same: Franklin Circuit Court Clerk at 222 St. Clair St., Frankfort, KY 40601.
The circuit court clerk’s office is mailing notices to parties about rescheduled proceedings. People who may have outdated addresses on file with the office should call to provide an updated address at 502-564-7013.
As flood recovery efforts progress, court operations and procedures may be adjusted to reflect changing conditions. Check back here for up-to-date information.
COURT SCHEDULES
The Franklin County courts adopted a
temporary protocol
for court proceedings effective April 21 while operating out of these
alternate locations. Parties should review the temporary local protocol
as dates, times and locations for court proceedings may have changed.
Circuit Court- Civil cases will be conducted remotely via Zoom with some in-person proceedings at Chamberlin Avenue. Civil motion hour will take place via Zoom at 9 a.m. EDT Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Criminal motion hour will be conducted in person at 9 a.m. EDT for Division 1 and 10:30 a.m. EDT for Division 2 Fridays at the jail.
- Drug Court will be held in person at noon EDT Wednesdays at the jail.
Family Court
- Hearings will be conducted remotely via Zoom Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and as needed on Tuesdays and Fridays, with some in-person proceedings at Chamberlin Avenue.
District Court
- Probate Court will be held in person at 9 a.m. EDT Mondays at Chamberlin Avenue.
- The district civil and forcible detainer docket will be held in person at 10 a.m. EDT Mondays at Chamberlin Avenue.
- Criminal cases will be held in person Tuesdays at the jail gym, including 10 a.m. EDT jail arraignments.
- Traffic Court will be held in person Thursdays at Chamberlin Avenue. The 9 a.m. EDT arraignment docket is divided by last name. A-L should report at 9 a.m. EDT, and M-Z should report at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The 1 p.m. EDT trial docket is in person.
- Disability hearings will be held in person at 9 a.m. EDT the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Chamberlin Avenue.
- Small Claims Court will be held in person at 1 p.m. EDT the third Wednesdays of the month at Chamberlin Avenue.
- Juvenile Court will be held in person at 1 p.m. EDT the second and third Mondays of the month at Chamberlin Avenue.
- Jail arraignments will be conducted remotely via Zoom at 10 a.m. EDT Mondays and Thursdays.
- District Court trials are canceled through May.
The temporary procedures are authorized by the Supreme Court as reflected in Amended Emergency Order 2025-13 and align with Franklin County General Order 25-46 issued by Chief Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate.
Public access
Due to space constraints and security reasons, attendance at non-confidential proceedings at Chamberlin Avenue and the jail may be limited. During busy dockets, such as Traffic Court, only named parties may be allowed into the facilities. Parties under the age of 18 can be accompanied by an adult.
When attendance is limited, alternative access to non-confidential proceedings will be provided. Proceedings at Chamberlin Avenue will be livestreamed
here. Audio recordings of proceedings held at the Franklin County Regional Jail will be available after the hearings through the circuit court clerk’s office.
The public can search for court records and dockets on the Kentucky Court of Justice website with a free CourtNet account
here. To view physical court records, contact the circuit clerk’s office at 502-564-7013. The public may experience delays in getting court records due to the flood.
Driver's Licensing: Effective July 1, 2022, all driver’s license services have moved from the Offices of Circuit Court Clerk to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. More at drive.ky.gov.
Payment options: Cash, personal check, postal money order. No personal checks for probation and parole fees or cold-check payments. Send self-addressed stamped envelope for receipt. Payments accepted by mail at address above and online here. Bonds under $10,000.00 may be posted at the Franklin County Regional Jail, cash only. Bonds that are over $10,000.00 must be posted at the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk during regular operating hours, cash only.
Accessibility: Designated parking in front of building for those with disability parking permit.
Requesting Older Court Records
15-35 years old: Request records from the State Records Center by submitting this form to state.records@ky.gov. Case and locator numbers must be provided; request those from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was handled. For contact information, click here and scroll down to Find a Court/Circuit Court Clerk by County.
36+ years old: Request records from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives here. For cases filed on or after Jan. 1, 1978, case and locator numbers must be provided; request those from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was handled. For contact information, click here and scroll down to Find a Court/Circuit Court Clerk by County.