McCracken County Public Records

What Are Public Records in McCracken County?

Public records in McCracken County are defined under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, electronic records, and other materials 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 McCracken County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the McCracken County Circuit Court Clerk, accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are filed with the McCracken County Clerk's Office
Vital records — marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the County Clerk; birth and death certificates are administered at the state level through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Business records — fictitious name registrations, assumed name filings, and related business documents are recorded with the County Clerk
Tax records — property tax assessments and valuation data are maintained by the McCracken County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA)
Voting and election records — voter registration rolls, election results, and related documents are managed by the McCracken County Clerk, who serves as the county's chief election officer
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of county commission meetings, fiscal court sessions, and board proceedings are retained by the county government
Budget and financial documents — appropriations, expenditure reports, and audit records are public documents available through the county fiscal court
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports are maintained by the Paducah Police Department and McCracken County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — permits, zoning decisions, and planning documents are held by the McCracken County Planning Commission

Is McCracken County an Open Records County?

McCracken County fully complies with Kentucky's Open Records Act, which establishes the public's right of access to government documents. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.872, any person may inspect public records of any public agency during regular office hours or receive copies upon written request. The Act affirms that free and open examination of public records is in the public interest, and that the exceptions to disclosure are to be strictly construed. Kentucky's Open Meetings Act, codified at KRS § 61.800 et seq., further ensures that deliberations of public bodies are conducted in open session, with meeting minutes and agendas available to the public. McCracken County agencies are required to respond to open records requests within five business days of receipt, either by providing the requested documents, denying access with a written explanation citing the applicable statutory exemption, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed. No county-specific ordinance currently restricts access beyond the limitations established by state statute.

How to Find Public Records in McCracken County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain McCracken County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency maintains the record — the County Clerk for property, vital, and election records; the Circuit Court Clerk for court filings; or the PVA for assessment data.
Submit a written open records request. Requests must be submitted in writing, either in person, by mail, or by email, to the designated open records coordinator of the relevant agency. No specific form is mandated by state law, but the request must identify the records sought with sufficient specificity.
Use online portals where available. The McCracken County Clerk's Office provides access to recorded documents through the eCCLIX system, which allows users to view and print county records archived online. Property valuation and assessment data are searchable through the McCracken County PVA website.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the applicable office without submitting a formal written request in all cases.
Request certified copies if needed. Certified copies of recorded instruments, marriage licenses, or court documents require a separate fee and must be requested directly from the custodial office.
Appeal a denial. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office within 30 days of the denial, pursuant to KRS § 61.880.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in McCracken County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under Kentucky law. Current fees include:

Paper copies: $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white reproductions, as established under KRS § 61.874
Certified copies: Fees vary by document type; certified copies of recorded instruments from the County Clerk's Office are subject to a per-page certification fee
Electronic records: Agencies may charge the actual cost of producing electronic copies, including staff time for retrieval and formatting where applicable
Court records: The Circuit Court Clerk's Office assesses fees in accordance with the schedule established by the Kentucky Court of Justice
Property records: Copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments obtained through the County Clerk are subject to the standard per-page fee

Accepted payment methods at the McCracken County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers are not broadly established by statute for standard public records requests, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest. Fees for indigent requesters in court proceedings may be addressed separately under applicable court rules.

Does McCracken County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Kentucky's Open Records Act, which guarantees the right to examine records in person at no charge during regular office hours. The following government resources currently provide free access to McCracken County records:

In-person inspection at the McCracken County Clerk's Office allows any person to review recorded instruments, election records, and related documents without charge
The eCCLIX online portal, accessible through the McCracken County Clerk's records page, provides free online viewing of many recorded documents filed with the County Clerk
The McCracken County PVA website offers free public access to property assessment data, ownership information, and valuation records for all parcels within the county
The Kentucky Court of Justice provides online access to certain case information through its public portal at no cost to the user

Who Can Request Public Records in McCracken County?

Any person may request public records from McCracken 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 the reason for their request. Specific eligibility provisions include:

No residency requirement: Non-residents of McCracken County and Kentucky retain the same right of access as residents
No identification requirement for inspection: Members of the public are not required to present identification solely to inspect public records, though identification may be required for certain certified documents
No purpose requirement: Agencies may not condition access on the requester's disclosure of the intended use of the records, except in limited circumstances involving commercial use of bulk data
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or court authorization
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as personal court filings or property records, follow the same process as any other requester, though additional verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal information

What Records Are Confidential in McCracken County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Kentucky law. KRS § 61.878 enumerates the specific exemptions applicable to public agency records, and agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a withheld record falls within a recognized exemption. The following record types are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors in dependency, neglect, abuse, or delinquency proceedings are confidential under Kentucky law
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in the course of an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from otherwise public documents
Medical records — health information protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is exempt from disclosure
Adoption records — records pertaining to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only pursuant to court order
Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency is protected from disclosure
Security plans and infrastructure details — records containing information that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure are withheld under applicable exemptions

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the agency is required to separate and release the non-exempt portions rather than withhold the document in its entirety.

McCracken County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The McCracken County Clerk's Office serves as the primary repository for recorded public documents in the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, and election records. The office is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

McCracken County Clerk's Office 301 South 6th Street, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 444-4700 McCracken County Clerk's Office

McCracken County Circuit Court Clerk 301 South 6th Street, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 575-7290 Kentucky Court of Justice – McCracken County

McCracken County Property Valuation Administrator 621 Washington Street, Paducah, KY 42003 (270) 444-4712 McCracken County PVA

Public counter hours for the County Clerk's Office are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Members of the public seeking to inspect records in person are advised to arrive prior to closing time to allow sufficient time for document retrieval. Written open records requests may also be submitted by mail or by email to Jamie.huskey@ky.gov.