Franklin County County Clerk
The Franklin County Clerk site identifies Jeff Hancock as County Clerk. The office is at 315 West Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601. The phone number is 502-875-8702 and the fax number is 502-875-8718. The clerk's current public site states office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This office is a separate elected county office, not the Circuit Court Clerk. It handles recorded instruments, marriage licenses, public terminals, land records, DD214s, subdivision restrictions, some recorded wills, plats, and County Clerk open-records requests. Court case records, certified divorce decrees, District Court probate case files, and criminal court records should be directed to the Circuit Court Clerk.
Franklin County Clerk
Clerk: Jeff Hancock
315 West Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-875-8702
Fax: 502-875-8718
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Franklin County Clerk Records
The County Clerk records page is unusually specific about older records. It says the office has deeds and mortgage records dating back to 1795, wills indexed back to 1795, liens and encumbrance indexing starting in January 1981, and computer records back to January 1981. The old Rolodex ends December 31, 2010, and anything after that must be searched on office computers. Public access terminals are located in the Deed Room.
- Deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, and lis pendens notices.
- Marriage licenses and related certified copies.
- Wills indexed back to 1795 and some probate-adjacent recorded documents.
- Plats, some surveys, fixture filings, powers of attorney, and subdivision restrictions.
- DD214 veteran discharges, which should be treated as sensitive records and not assumed open without clerk guidance.
Request Franklin County Clerk Records
The County Clerk's open-records policy requires a written request. Requests may be hand delivered, mailed, or faxed to 502-875-8718 during regular office hours. A determination will be made within three working days from receipt, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Commercial-purpose requests under KRS 61.874 require a certified statement of purpose and, if approved, a contract with the County Clerk covering labor and production costs.
| Field or required element | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requester name | Text | Yes | Must be included in writing. |
| Requester address | Text | Yes | Mailing or address identification required. |
| Requester signature | Signature | Yes | Signature is required. |
| Record description | Narrative | Yes | Must describe records to inspect or copy. |
| Phone or email | Text | No | Not required, but may help process the request. |
| Commercial-purpose statement | Certified statement | Conditional | Required for commercial-purpose copies under KRS 61.874. |
| Delivery method | Mail, fax, or hand delivery | Yes in practice | Send to 315 W. Main Street or fax 502-875-8718. |
- Identify whether the record is a County Clerk record, not a court case record.
- Write the request with name, address, signature, and enough detail to identify the record.
- Add phone or email if faster processing is helpful.
- Submit by hand delivery, mail, or fax during office hours.
- Pay copy, recording, commercial-use, and postage charges in advance when required.
Franklin County Clerk Fees
The County Clerk's fee pages include copy fees and common recording fee examples. Many recorded items add $3.00 page surcharges after the stated page threshold. The confirmed fee examples below should not be used as a full fee schedule for every possible filing.
| Item | Amount or note |
|---|---|
| Deed | $50 |
| Mortgage | $80 |
| Mortgage with assignment | $126 |
| Will | $47 |
| Power of attorney | $50 |
| Plat | $50 |
| Judgment lien | $46 |
| County Clerk in-office copy made by user | $0.50 per page |
| County Clerk certified copy | $5.00 |
| Non-commercial recording, computer disc, or tape | $5.00 per copy |
Franklin Marriage License Records
Marriage licenses are County Clerk records. The Franklin County Clerk states that both applicants must apply together, complete a worksheet before arrival, and bring acceptable identification. The fee is $60.00 for the license and certified copy. There is no waiting period, blood test, or physical requirement. The license is valid for 30 days, including the date issued, and is valid anywhere in Kentucky.
A 17-year-old applicant may petition Family Court in the county where the minor resides for an order granting permission to marry. At least 15 days must pass after the order before applying for the license, and a certified copy of the court order must be presented. Kentucky does not marry minors if either party is under 17 or whose parents reside outside Kentucky.
Wills and Probate-Adjacent Records
The County Clerk does not replace Franklin District Court probate jurisdiction, but it is a key records office for older wills and recorded probate-adjacent materials. The County Clerk records page says wills are indexed back to 1795 and also lists disability judgments and guardianships among recorded records. A modern probate case file should be checked through District Court and the Circuit Court Clerk, while older will index work may require the County Clerk Deed Room.
| Need | Likely office | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded will index | County Clerk | Wills indexed back to 1795. |
| Estate case order | Circuit Court Clerk / District Court probate case | Court order is part of a court case file. |
| Guardianship record | Check both paths | County Clerk lists guardianships among records, while court access may apply. |
| Recorded lien or lis pendens | County Clerk | Recorded instruments are County Clerk records. |
Franklin County DOC ALERT
The County Clerk records page advertises DOC ALERT through Software Management, LLC. The research describes it as a free tool for email notifications when a mortgage or deed is filed in a person's name or business name. This is a County Clerk recorded-instrument service, not a court case search. It is most useful for property owners and businesses who want notice of deed or mortgage filings that may affect their name.
Note: DOC ALERT is a notification service for recorded documents, not proof that a filing is valid or invalid.
Franklin E-Recording Vendors
The County Clerk records page names e-recording vendors for recorded instruments. The research lists Hopdox, CSC, Simplifile, and ePN with contact details. E-recording is for eligible recorded documents, not court pleadings in Franklin Circuit, Family, or District Court.
- Hopdox: sales@hopdox.com, hopdox.com.
- CSC: 866-652-0111, erecording@cscglobal.com.
- Simplifile: 800-460-5657, support@simplifile.com.
- ePN: 888-325-3365, support@goepn.com.
Those vendor channels support recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, and related filings. They do not create a general Franklin County court record search and do not replace the Circuit Court Clerk for certified court orders, divorce decrees, criminal dispositions, traffic cases, or probate case files. When a transaction has both a court order and a recorded instrument, the order belongs with the court file and the recorded instrument belongs with the County Clerk.
County Clerk records are also close to the courthouse but not in the same office. The County Clerk is on West Main Street, while court filings and court copies route to Saint Clair Street unless an official relocation notice changes the public counter.