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How to Find Public Records in Whitley County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information related to public records through official county and state resources, as well as through directory platforms such as WhitleyRecords.org. Whitley County maintains a range of government-generated documents that may be accessible to the public under Kentucky's open records framework. The types of records that may be available include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings)
Property records (deeds, mortgages, and liens)
Vital records (marriage licenses, divorce decrees)
Tax and assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement records (where permitted by law)
Land use and zoning documents
Building permits and construction records

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

Online Access:

The Whitley County Clerk's records portal provides online access to certain property and land records. The Kentucky Court of Justice also maintains an online case information system for court records. Members of the public may search available documents without registration for basic lookups, though some databases may require account creation for full document retrieval.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Whitley County Clerk's Office in person to inspect or request copies of records. The office is located at 200 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should be prepared to provide the name of the subject, approximate date range, and record type when submitting a request at the public counter.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Whitley County Clerk's Office at 200 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769. 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 an open records request within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email:

The Whitley County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (606) 549-6002. Contact information for specific departments is available through the county's official website.

What Are Public Records in Whitley County?

Public records in Whitley County are defined under Kentucky law as 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 record types are among those maintained by county offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and accessible through the Whitley County Court of Justice
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfers are recorded and maintained by the Whitley County Clerk
Vital records — Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the County Clerk; certified copies of birth and death certificates are available through the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
Business records — Fictitious name registrations and certain business licenses are filed with the County Clerk
Tax records — Property tax assessments and delinquent tax records are maintained by the County Clerk and the Property Valuation Administrator
Voting and election records — Maintained by the County Clerk's elections division
Meeting minutes and agendas — County commission and board records are available through the County Clerk
Building permits — Construction and HVAC permits may be accessed through the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports are maintained by the Whitley County Sheriff's Office and Williamsburg Police Department, subject to applicable exemptions

Is Whitley County an Open Records County?

Whitley County operates in full compliance with Kentucky's open records laws. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870 through § 61.884, commonly known as the Kentucky Open Records Act, all public agencies in the Commonwealth are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The Act establishes that the fundamental right of access to public records is a matter of public policy.

As stated in the Kentucky Open Records Act, "The General Assembly finds an essential vitality in open government that makes possible a free society." This principle governs the operations of all Whitley County public offices.

The Whitley County Clerk's Office maintains a formal open records policy that outlines the procedures for submitting requests, applicable fees, and the timeline for agency responses. County agencies are required to designate an official records custodian and to respond to requests within five business days. Denials must be made in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Whitley County is governed by the Kentucky Open Records Act and applicable county fee schedules. Standard fees include:

Record Type	Fee
Paper copies (standard)	$0.10 per page
Certified copies of recorded documents	$5.00 per document
Recording fees (deeds, mortgages)	Varies by document type
Electronic copies	Varies by record type

Inspection fees: No fee is charged for the inspection of public records at the office
Copy fees: Copies of standard documents are assessed at $0.10 per page under the Kentucky Open Records Act
Certification fees: Certified copies of recorded instruments carry a separate certification fee
Search fees: A reasonable fee may be charged when a request requires staff to conduct an extensive search

Accepted payment methods at the Whitley County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Under KRS § 61.874, fees charged for copies may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waiver provisions may apply in cases where the requester demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest and that the requester lacks the financial means to pay.

Does Whitley County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at the Whitley County Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Members of the public may review documents in person at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources provide free access to certain records:

The Whitley County Clerk's records portal provides online access to certain property and land records at no cost
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a public case search tool for court records through its online portal
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics provides informational access to vital records indexes, though certified copies carry a fee
Property assessment data maintained by the Whitley County Property Valuation Administrator is available for public inspection without charge

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while the law guarantees the right to inspect records at no cost, reproduction of those records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Whitley County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Whitley County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, public agencies may not require a requestor to identify themselves or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving records that are subject to restricted access.

Residency: Not required; non-residents retain full rights to request public records
Identification: Not required for most records; may be required for records with restricted access
Purpose: Not required to be stated for standard public records requests
Restrictions: Certain record types, such as sealed court records, juvenile records, and records containing protected personal information, are subject to additional access requirements regardless of who is requesting them

Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal court filings or property records, follow the same process as any other requestor. Requests for records pertaining to another individual are subject to the same open records procedures, with applicable exemptions applied as required by law.

What Records Are Confidential in Whitley County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Kentucky law. The Kentucky Open Records Act and related statutes identify the following as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors in the court system are protected under state law
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar information are redacted from publicly released documents
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 — Maintained as confidential by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Personnel records — Employee records are exempt with limited exceptions for public employees' names, positions, and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Exempt when disclosure would cause competitive harm
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Withheld to protect public safety

As stated in the Kentucky Open Records Act, "The exceptions to disclosure provided in this section shall be strictly construed, even though their application may result in the withholding of information." Agencies applying an exemption must identify the specific provision relied upon and explain how it applies to the records at issue.

Whitley County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Whitley County Clerk's Office
200 Main Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769
(606) 549-6002
Whitley County Clerk

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

Whitley County Circuit Court Clerk
100 Main Street, Suite 203
Williamsburg, KY 40769
(606) 549-6004
Whitley County Court of Justice

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
(502) 564-4212
Kentucky Vital Statistics – Marriage and Divorce Certificates

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
101 Sea Hero Road, Suite 100
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 573-0365
Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction