Bullitt County Court Records

Court records in Bullitt 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. BullittCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Bullitt County. You can also search records through the Kentucky Court of Justice website, visit the clerk's office at the Bullitt County Judicial Center, or contact other government agencies for related documents such as vital records and criminal background reports.

Bullitt County Court System Overview

Bullitt County is part of Kentucky's 55th Judicial Circuit and the 28th Judicial District. The county's trial courts — Circuit Court and District Court — operate out of the Bullitt County Judicial Center in Shepherdsville. Circuit Court handles felony cases, civil disputes above District Court limits, family law matters, and appeals from District Court. District Court covers misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, juvenile matters, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk, currently led by Clerk Paulette Keith, serves as the custodian of all court records at the trial level in Bullitt County.

Courts Serving Bullitt County

Bullitt County falls within the Kentucky Circuit Court and Kentucky District Court systems. Federal matters go to the Western District of Kentucky in Louisville.

What Types of Cases Bullitt County Courts Hear

Bullitt County's trial courts handle a broad range of case types across both Circuit and District Court divisions:

• Felonies and misdemeanors
• Traffic violations and infractions
• Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
• Small claims
• Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence protective orders
• Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
• Juvenile — delinquency, status offenses, dependency, neglect, abuse
• Adoption and termination of parental rights
• City and county ordinance violations

District Court Cases in Bullitt County

In Kentucky's unified court system, the term "District Court" refers to the court of limited jurisdiction — not the court of general jurisdiction. Bullitt District Court hears misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, city and county ordinance cases, small claims, civil cases up to $5,000, and juvenile matters. District Court judges also conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases before those cases are bound over to Circuit Court. Cases are initiated by citation, complaint, or petition and assigned to the sitting District Court judge. Arraignments, pretrial conferences, bench trials, and sentencing all take place at the Bullitt County Judicial Center.

Magistrate Court Cases in Bullitt County

Kentucky does not operate a separate magistrate court division in the same way some other states do. Instead, District Court judges handle the types of cases that magistrate courts hear elsewhere — misdemeanors, infractions, preliminary felony hearings, small claims, and lower-value civil disputes. Under Kentucky law (KRS 24A.230), small claims jurisdiction covers disputes up to $2,500. District Court civil jurisdiction extends to cases involving up to $5,000. DUI arraignments, traffic violations, and local ordinance cases are all heard in Bullitt District Court. If you are looking for what other states call "magistrate court," start with the Bullitt County District Court at the Judicial Center in Shepherdsville.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Bullitt County

Family Law

Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders (domestic violence orders or interpersonal protective orders), and termination of parental rights are handled by Bullitt Circuit Court. Petitions are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk at the Judicial Center. Marriage licenses are issued by the Bullitt County Clerk's office — not the court — and certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates can be ordered through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics or the clerk in the county where the event occurred.

Probate

Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust-related proceedings are filed in Bullitt District Court. Kentucky assigns probate jurisdiction to the District Court division. The Circuit Court Clerk's office maintains probate case files and can provide copies of wills, estate inventories, and related documents.

Juvenile

Juvenile cases — including delinquency, status offenses, dependency, neglect, and abuse — are heard in Bullitt District Court. Juvenile records are confidential under Kentucky law and are not available to the general public. Contact the Bullitt County Judicial Center for questions about juvenile court services.

How Cases Move Through the Bullitt County Court System

1. Filing / Initiation: A case begins with a criminal complaint, citation, civil complaint, or petition filed with the Circuit Court Clerk.
2. Assignment: The case is assigned to a Circuit or District Court judge depending on case type and jurisdiction.
3. Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and advised of charges. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or initial case management order.
4. Pretrial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and — in criminal cases — may negotiate plea agreements. Civil cases may involve mediation.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or are resolved by plea, settlement, dismissal, or default judgment.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing and possible appeal. Civil judgments may be enforced through garnishment, liens, or other collection methods. 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 Bullitt County

The courts in Bullitt County are administered under the direction of the Chief Circuit Judge for the 55th Judicial Circuit and the Chief District Judge for the 28th Judicial District. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) provides statewide support, including technology systems and court personnel management.

• Local rules: Local rules for the judicial circuit and district are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice website or by contacting the Bullitt County Judicial Center directly.
• Public access: Most court records in Kentucky are generally open to the public under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884) and Kentucky court administrative procedures. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile cases, adoption files, mental health proceedings, and records specifically restricted by statute or court order.
• Attending hearings: Hearings at the Bullitt County Judicial Center are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted by video. Contact the clerk's office to confirm whether a specific hearing will be held in person or remotely.
• Open records requests: You can submit requests to the Kentucky State Police for law enforcement records or to the Circuit Court Clerk for court documents.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Bullitt County

• Court record searches: The Bullitt County page on the Kentucky Court of Justice website is the starting point for requesting court records. The Kentucky AOC also provides online access to civil and criminal case information through its CourtNet system.
• Background checks: The AOC background check service provides criminal record reports to individuals, businesses, and licensing agencies.
• Court forms and self-help: Standardized Kentucky court forms — including criminal record request forms, expungement certification requests, and civil case forms — are available for download from the Court of Justice website.
• Circuit Court Clerks directory: The statewide Circuit Court Clerks page lists contact information for every county, including Bullitt County Clerk Paulette Keith.
• Inmate search: The Kentucky Department of Corrections offender lookup (KOOL) allows you to search for individuals in state custody, including those held at the Bullitt County Detention Center.
• Vital records: The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services handles certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. The divorce certificate web form is available for online submissions.
• Sheriff's Office: The Bullitt County Sheriff's Office handles civil process service, warrant service, and courthouse security at 300 Buckman St., Shepherdsville.
• Bullitt County government: General county government information is available through the Bullitt County page on Kentucky.gov.

For additional help locating Bullitt County court records, visit BullittCourt.us.