Access Monroe County Clerk Records

Monroe County Clerk Office

The separate Monroe County Clerk is the elected county records officer for land and local clerk records. The official clerk contact page identifies the office as Monroe County Clerk at the Monroe County Courthouse. The Kentucky Department for Local Government lists Brandi Birge as County Clerk, while the clerk contact page uses the name Brandi Kirkpatrick Birge in the email address. Both sources point to the same county-clerk office and phone number.

The county clerk is not the Circuit Court Clerk. Court users seeking divorce case files, criminal cases, civil cases, traffic cases, probate court files, or certified court copies should use the Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk. County-clerk users come here for marriage licenses, marriage copies, land records, recorded liens, deeds, mortgages, releases, eCCLIX, DOC ALERT, and county-clerk open-records requests.

Search Monroe County eCCLIX Records

The Monroe County Clerk records page describes eCCLIX as the Internet version of CCLIX, or County Clerk Indexing. The system is used by many Kentucky county clerk offices and lets users view or print documents filed by more than 85 clerk offices in Kentucky. The clerk page says attorneys, title search personnel, surveyors, realtors, appraisers, and estate users rely on the system for county-clerk archived records.

Monroe County has a specific private-citizen access rule. The clerk page says the service is for Monroe County residents searching Monroe records for personal reasons with zero commercial gain. Those users may search Monroe County records only, are limited to five searches per day, and are not charged for that private-citizen service. Commercial or professional access may involve different eCCLIX account terms through the system provider.

• Eligible private users are Monroe County residents searching for personal reasons.
• The private-citizen access described by the clerk is not for commercial gain.
• The local private-citizen option is limited to Monroe County records.
• Private users are limited to five searches per day.
• The clerk page says there is no charge for that described private-citizen service.

Monroe County DOC ALERT

DOC ALERT is a free mortgage and deed fraud notification tool tied to Monroe County Clerk records. The clerk records page says the program sends email notifications when a mortgage or deed bearing the registrant's name or business name is recorded. The service is provided by Software Management, LLC in partnership with the Monroe County Clerk's Office.

DOC ALERT is not a court case search. It monitors new recorded deed and mortgage activity under a registered name. That makes it useful for property owners, heirs, fiduciaries, and businesses that want notice when a county-clerk land instrument is recorded, but it does not show criminal charges, civil cases, probate court orders, divorce decrees, traffic files, or warrants.

Monroe County Clerk Open Records

The county clerk requires open-records requests to be submitted using the appropriate form. The records page references the Kentucky Attorney General open records form and says applicants should print the form and submit it to the office. If a person cannot print the form, a written request may be made. Fees for open-records requests must be paid in advance before copies can be obtained.

KRS 61.872 allows public-record inspection except as otherwise provided and permits agencies to require a written request with identifying details and a residency basis. KRS 61.878 lists exemptions that may apply to privacy, law-enforcement risk, and records made confidential by law.

Monroe County Recording Fees

The county clerk publishes a recording-fee table for land and clerk instruments. These are recording fees, not court filing fees. They apply when a document is recorded in county-clerk records, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, powers of attorney, and estate-related instruments.

Monroe County Marriage Copies

Marriage licenses and certified marriage copies belong with the County Clerk. The clerk services page states that a marriage license costs $60, has no waiting period, is valid for 30 days including the date issued, and may be used anywhere in Kentucky. Both applicants must apply together and provide acceptable identification. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed marriage application to the clerk for filing.

Certified copies may be requested in person or by mail. By mail, send written notice to the Monroe County Clerk at the courthouse address. For marriages before June 26, 2020, include the bride's maiden name, groom's name, and date or year of marriage. For marriages after June 25, 2020, include partner 1 or partner 2 maiden name and the date or year of marriage. The clerk lists $6 for a certified copy by mail and $5 for a certified copy in person.

Monroe County eRecording Vendors

The county clerk lists eRecording vendors for users who record eligible documents electronically. Vendor availability and account requirements are handled through the vendors, not by the court clerk. Attorneys, lenders, title companies, and other professional filers should confirm current vendor terms before sending deeds, mortgages, releases, or other recordable instruments.

County Clerk vs Court Records

The most important Monroe County records distinction is office custody. The County Clerk has recorded instruments and marriage records. The Circuit Court Clerk has case files. A divorce decree, criminal disposition, traffic case, probate order, or civil judgment copy should be requested from the court clerk, even if a related lien or deed is later recorded with the county clerk.

Marriage license or certified marriage copy

Use the County Clerk because that office issues and files Monroe marriage records.

Deed, mortgage, release, lien, or affidavit of descent

Use the County Clerk because these are recorded county-clerk instruments.

Divorce decree

Use the Circuit Court Clerk because divorce is a court case record.

Probate order or estate case file

Use the Circuit Court Clerk because probate filings are court records.

Criminal, traffic, civil, or small-claims case

Use the Circuit Court Clerk because these files are part of Circuit or District Court records.