What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual’s criminal record, employment history, driving record, education, finances, or other aspects of their personal history.
Background checks are often performed by an organization or company in order to screen a subject before a significant financial or legal agreement. However, individuals regularly perform background checks on themselves to make sure that the public information on them matches their personal records.
For more general information on background checks, consult our Background Checks FAQS page.
How do I run a criminal background check in Kentucky?
Kentucky criminal record reports are available online through the Kentucky Court of Justice, Administrative Office of the Courts web portal AOCFastCheck.
Although they do not contain arrest records, the criminal record reports do contain felony convictions dating back to 1978 and misdemeanor and traffic violations from at least 5 years back.
Here’s some key information on AOCFastCheck:
- The service is available to the public, including individuals, companies, and government agencies.
- Individuals must register to use the service.
- AOCFastCheck can be used to request the record of any person in the database.
- The AOCFastCheck records come from CourtNet 2.0, the statewide database which contains records from 120 Kentucky counties.
- The fee for viewing one criminal record is $25. Payment can be made using a major credit or debit card. Expect to pay an additional $2 charge to the credit card vendor per transaction.
- Requests are processed in the order they are received. Once your request is processed, you will receive an alert email and will be able to view the record for 30 days after the release of the report.
If you have any questions about reports delivered using AOCFastCheck, you can contact the AOC Records Unit at 800-928-6381.
How do I order a Kentucky Criminal Record Report through the mail?
To make a single criminal record request in Kentucky, individuals may use One-Time Request.
Simply put in your personal information, as well as the request information (if it’s not the same person as the requester). Then, click “Submit Request” and pay the fee. Unfortunately, you cannot check the status of the request once it’s been submitted. Kentucky criminal record reports are available online through the Kentucky Court of Justice, Administrative Office of the Courts web portal AOCFastCheck.
Although they do not contain arrest records, the criminal record reports do contain felony convictions dating back to 1978 and misdemeanor and traffic violations from at least 5 years back.
Here’s some key information on AOCFastCheck:
- The service is available to the public, including individuals, companies, and government agencies.
- Individuals must register to use the service.
- AOCFastCheck can be used to request the record of any person in the database.
- The AOCFastCheck records come from CourtNet 2.0, the statewide database which contains records from 120 Kentucky counties.
- The fee for viewing one criminal record is $25. Payment can be made using a major credit or debit card. Expect to pay an additional $2 charge to the credit card vendor per transaction.
- Requests are processed in the order they are received. Once your request is processed, you will receive an alert email and will be able to view the record for 30 days after the release of the report.
If you have any questions about reports delivered using AOCFastCheck, you can contact the AOC Records Unit at 800-928-6381.
How do I order a Kentucky Criminal Record Report through the mail?
To make a single criminal record request in Kentucky, individuals may use One-Time Request.
Simply put in your personal information, as well as the request information (if it’s not the same person as the requester). Then, click “Submit Request” and pay the fee. Unfortunately, you cannot check the status of the request once it’s been submitted.
What can I do if my Kentucky criminal history record has incomplete or inaccurate information?
If there’s incomplete or inaccurate information on your Kentucky criminal record report, the first step should be to contact the AOC Records Unit at 800-928-6381. Consult with a representative on how to correct the issue.
You may be able to resolve the issue through this agency, however, fixing the mistake may also require contacting the local Office of Circuit Court Clerk where the case was filed.
How do I search for Kentucky court records?
Individuals can search public Kentucky court records online using a search tool provided by the Kentucky Court of Justice. The search is open to the public and allows users to search by the following fields:
- Search by case
- Search by person or business
- Search by citation
If you cannot find the record you are searching for, you may be able to access it by submitting a request to the clerk of court in the county where the case originated. Click here for the contact information of all Kentucky county courts.
Where can I find Kentucky driving records online?
Three-year Kentucky Driving History Records (DHR) are available online from the Kentucky Division of Driver Licensing. The price is $5.50 for one record and you can purchase the 3-year DHR of any person, although it will not contain a person’s address or any personal information. Payment can be done using a major debit or credit card.
A Full Driving History Record can be obtained in person for $3 at any DDR Regional Field Office or by mail request. In order to request the full DHR of another person, you must have either a subpoena or notarized release from the person.
To order a full DDR by mail, send the following items to the address below:
- A written request with your name, social security number or driver’s license number, date of birth and current address
- A certified check or money order for $3 payable to “Kentucky State Treasurer”
Mail the items to:
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Division of Driver Licensing
Attn: Driver History Records / Fees Section
200 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40622
How do I look up Kentucky vital records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses?
Vital records are records of important life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that are kept by government agencies and accessible upon request.
Vital records are not public records that can be viewed by anyone, but the subject(s) of the record and authorized family members can view them in-person or order copies through a number of means. Additionally, one or more vital records may be required to complete a background check.
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics enlists the services of the third-party vendor Vital Chek to enable individuals to order copies of vital records online. The government-endorsed service offers vital records from 50 U.S. states and territories.
Available vital records include:
- birth certificates
- death certificates
- marriage records
- divorce records
Click here to place an order with Vital Chek.
For more information, contact the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics Office of the Ombudsman at 1-800-372-2973 or send a message here.
How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Kentucky?
Those convicted of sex-related crimes or certain crimes against children in Kentucky are required by law to register as sex offenders. Additionally, offenders in the registry are required to notify law enforcement as soon as possible in the case of a physical address change or email address change, or they will be labeled “non-compliant”.
The Kentucky State Police makes the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry available online to the general public in the interest of public safety. Users may search by name, city, or area. However, certain low-risk offenders may not be viewable in the online database.
Click here to perform a search of the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry. It’s important to stay informed about potential threats in your neighborhood in order to take the necessary precautions.
How do I perform a credit history background check in Kentucky?
Performing a credit check in Kentucky follows the same process as in other states. A federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants every American one free annual credit report each from the three main U.S. credit bureaus:
In order to obtain your free credit report from one of these three bureaus, you must provide the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
