Search Fayette County Clerk Records

About the Fayette County Clerk's Office

Susan Lamb is the current Fayette County Clerk. She took office in 2023 and became the first female County Clerk in Lexington's history. She has worked in Lexington-Fayette County public service since 1986, including 27 years with LFUCG and four terms on the Urban County Council. The Clerk is a constitutional office governed by the Kentucky Revised Statutes. The office is not part of the court system. It records and administers official documents, prepares property tax bills, registers voters and conducts elections, and handles motor vehicle title and registration functions.

Fayette County is one of Kentucky's three original counties, formed in 1780 before the Commonwealth became a state in 1792. The County Clerk's land records go back to that era. Recorded wills begin in 1794. The office holds a digital copy of the original Commissioner's Certificate book from 1779 to 1780. Commissioners appointed under Virginia law were authorized to settle land title claims before Kentucky's land office opened. The first Land Court met at St. Asaph's (Logan's Fort) on October 13, 1779, and approved 1,328 claims covering more than 1.3 million acres. Those early records remain accessible today.

The office at 162 East Main Street is a short walk from the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Complex on North Limestone. The clerk's office is downtown and easy to reach by foot from either courthouse building.

What the Fayette County Clerk Records and Manages

The Land Records department records legal documents under the Kentucky Revised Statutes. Documents filed here include mortgages, deeds, wills, marriage licenses, liens, releases, and corporate records. The office also issues notary commissions and maintains fiscal court records. Land records go back to around 1792 and exist in books, microfilm, and digital images. The office does not perform title searches or legal research for the public. If you send in a title-search request, it will be returned without action.

• Records and indexes deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and other land instruments
• Issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records
• Records wills (historical wills from 1794-present) and other probate-adjacent instruments
• Registers voters, manages voter rolls, and conducts elections
• Handles motor vehicle title transfers and annual registration
• Issues and records notary commissions
• Prepares property tax bills for Fayette County

Henry Clay's will is on file here. So are surveys signed by Daniel Boone, who served as a deputy surveyor for Fayette County. Levi Todd, Mary Todd Lincoln's grandfather, was the first person elected to the office. The Fayette County Clerk's genealogy materials include marriage records from 1794, wills from 1794, plats from 1880, old surveys, orders, manumission and emancipation documents, corporate records, and the "Declaration of Marriage" book containing marriage declarations of formerly enslaved people.

The official Fayette County Clerk land records page lists current hours, portal access, and the Recording Notification Service.

The land records page shows how to reach FayetteDeeds, register for fraud alerts, and find recording hours. Check it before making a trip to the office.

FayetteDeeds Online Land Records Portal

The FayetteDeeds portal is the free public tool for searching Fayette County land and marriage records online. It lets users search, view, and print documents recorded from 1970 to the present. Many earlier records are also available in the Non-Indexed Documents section as digitization continues. Marriage searches cover records from mid-1989 to the present. Records before those dates require an in-person or mailed request.

Since January 3, 2022, the Clerk's office indexes documents exactly as written on the instrument instead of using standard abbreviations or a frequent-party shortlist. That change affects search strategy. Try the exact legal name, initials, maiden names, business punctuation, and spelling variations if a search comes up empty. A person named "Margaret Smith" may also appear as "Meg Smith," "M. Smith," or "Margaret Burch Smith" depending on how the document was prepared. Searching all variations is the best practice.

The official user reference for FayetteDeeds is available at the FayetteDeeds User Reference PDF, which explains how to navigate the portal, run name searches, and order certified copies online.

FayetteDeeds is the official public portal for searching Fayette County deeds, mortgages, and marriage license records without visiting the courthouse.

FayetteDeeds Search Field Inventory

The FayetteDeeds portal uses a name-based search. The official user guide confirms that results show the matching parties and recording date but do not reveal the full document text online. A certified copy can be purchased through the portal and delivered by mail. The table below reflects the documented search fields from the Clerk's user guide.

Note: The Clerk does not index documents under standard abbreviations since January 3, 2022. Search exact name variations from the source instrument for best results.

The user reference PDF shows navigation screenshots and tips for first-time users of the portal.

The user reference is worth reading before your first search. It explains the "as written" indexing change and how to work around name variations that might otherwise hide a record.

How to Request a Copy from the Fayette County Clerk

Copies of land records and marriage licenses can be ordered online through FayetteDeeds, by mail using the printable form, or in person at Room 132 during counter hours. The office cannot do title searches. Provide as much identifying information as possible: if you know the book and page number, include it. If you don't, list document type, parties, recording date, and any document control number you have. For marriage copies, give first party name, second party name, and marriage date. The copy request form is available at the Fayette County Clerk land records copy request PDF.

1. Find the book/page number or document control number if possible. Use FayetteDeeds to locate the entry for 1970-present documents.
2. Download and complete the copy request form, or prepare a written request with all required fields.
3. Determine copy type: plain copy ($0.50/page), plat copy ($1.00), or certified copy ($5.00 for first three pages plus $0.50/page after that).
4. Include payment by cash, cashier's check, certified check, business check, or money order. Personal checks accepted by mail. Make checks payable to Fayette County Clerk. Add $1.00 postage and handling per document for mail requests.
5. Mail to Fayette County Clerk, Attn: Land Records, 162 East Main Street, Room 132, Lexington, KY 40507. Allow up to three business days after the office receives your request.
6. For in-person copies, go to Room 132 during counter hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Bring as much document information as you have.

For marriage copies by mail, the total is $6.00 ($5.00 certified copy fee plus $1.00 postage and handling). Certified copies from FayetteDeeds arrive in approximately 3-5 business days after online purchase. Confirm current fee totals before mailing payment.

Copy Request Form Field Inventory

The Fayette County Clerk copy request form captures two types of requests on the same PDF: one section covers land record documents (deeds, mortgages, plats, and related instruments) and a second section handles marriage license copies. Complete only the section that matches your request. The Clerk's instructions note that requests for title searches will be returned without action. The table below shows the fields from the official form.

Payment options by mail: cashier's check, certified check, business check, money order, or personal check. No third-party personal checks. Checks payable to Fayette County Clerk. Cash is accepted in person only.

Fayette County Clerk Fee Schedule

Copy fees at the Fayette County Clerk are set by state statute under KRS 64.012 and KRS 64.019. The fee schedule below reflects rates listed on the official land records page and copy request form instructions. Open-records copy requests follow separate rates. Confirm current fees before mailing payment, as statutory fee schedules can change.

Accepted payment: cash, credit card, or check in person. Mail requests: cashier's check, certified check, business check, money order, or personal check (in-state only). No credit cards by mail. The open-records policy version dated March 10, 2023 governs fees for open-records requests and is available at the County Clerk open records policy PDF.

The open records policy PDF covers the full fee schedule for non-standard copy requests, exemption rules under KRS 61.878, and instructions for submitting a written request to the Clerk's office.

Recording Notification Service for Fayette County Property

The Fayette County Clerk offers a free Recording Notification Service. Anyone can register to receive an email alert when a document affecting a registered property or name is recorded in Fayette County. Each email address can monitor up to 10 items. The service helps property owners detect possible fraud, such as unauthorized deed transfers or fraudulent liens, before the damage spreads.

The service only catches documents recorded after you subscribe. It does not go back and flag prior recordings. It is also not guaranteed to find every document that might affect your property. Users should register their name in multiple variations because the Clerk now indexes as written. For example, "Jane Smith," "Jane B. Smith," and "Jane Burch Smith" are three separate index entries. Register all versions that might appear on your property instruments. The same applies to business names and nicknames. If you suspect fraud has already occurred, contact Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600 and consult an attorney. The County Clerk cannot take legal action on your behalf, and a fraudulent document cannot be removed from the record without a court order.

The following step-by-step covers registration and maintenance for the service:

1. Go to the Fayette County Clerk land records page and locate the Recording Notification Service link.
2. Register your email address and enter each name or property identifier you want to monitor. You may register up to 10 items per email address.
3. Include all name variations that might appear on your recorded documents (initials, maiden name, nicknames, business abbreviations).
4. Alerts will arrive by email when a document matching your registered items is recorded going forward.
5. Edit or unsubscribe at any time through the same portal if your monitoring needs change.

Note: The service monitors recording events after sign-up only and does not guarantee it will catch every relevant document.

Marriage Licenses at the Fayette County Clerk

Marriage licenses in Fayette County are issued by the County Clerk, not the court system. Both applicants must appear in person at Room 132 with government-issued identification and the $60 fee. The license is valid anywhere in Kentucky. It expires within 30 days if not used, including the date it was issued. The online application form can be filled out in advance at FayetteDeeds to save time at the counter, but both parties must still appear in person to complete the process.

Applicants must be 18 or older. A person who is 17 must first petition Family Court in the county of residence for a court order granting permission to marry. At least 15 days must pass after that court order before applying for the license, and a certified copy of the order must be presented. Call the Clerk before going to verify current procedures for underage applicants, since those requirements can change. The Clerk does not perform marriage ceremonies. The license requires a separate officiant and two witnesses. Five people must be present at the ceremony: both parties, the officiant, and two witnesses. Neither party may serve as the officiant, and the officiant may not be one of the witnesses.

Authorized officiants include officials of religious societies and Kentucky judges, justices, judge-executives, or magistrates. The Clerk's website lists local government officials available for civil ceremonies, including Fayette Circuit Court judges, Fayette District Court judges, and three Urban County Council magistrates. Couples choosing a civil ceremony are advised to schedule the officiant first, then come to the Clerk for the license, because of the 30-day expiration window. The completed license must be returned to the Clerk within 30 days after the ceremony for recording. For more on marriage and divorce records in Fayette County, see the Marriage and Divorce Records page.

County Clerk vs Circuit Court Clerk in Fayette County

Fayette County uses a split clerk structure. The two offices serve very different purposes, and going to the wrong one will cost time. The table below shows which office handles which records.

The Circuit Court Clerk is Vincent Riggs, located at the Robert F. Stephens Circuit Courthouse, 120 North Limestone. His office keeps all court case records for Circuit, Family, and District Court. The County Clerk at 162 East Main Street handles recorded documents and government services, not court case files. Divorce records, criminal case files, traffic citations, and probate court filings all go through the Circuit Court Clerk, not the County Clerk.

If you are looking for a recorded deed or a marriage license copy, the County Clerk is the right office. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or a criminal judgment, contact the Circuit Court Clerk instead. For probate records, court case files live with the Circuit Court Clerk, but historical recorded wills are at the County Clerk. Both offices are within a few blocks of each other downtown.

Open Records Requests at the Fayette County Clerk

The Fayette County Clerk processes open-records requests under KRS 61.870 through KRS 61.884. Exclusions and redactions are applied under KRS 61.878. Standard copy fees for open-records requests are $0.10 per page for non-commercial document copies and $5.00 per copy for recordings, computer disks, or tapes in non-commercial requests. Fees and postage must be paid in advance. The Clerk's open records policy is dated March 10, 2023 and applies to all records held by the office at 162 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507, phone (859) 253-3344.

The official policy and contact form for the Clerk's office are accessible through the county website. The contact form at fayettekyclerk.gov/contact-us covers departments including Land Records, Vehicles, Marriage Licenses, Elections, Notary Commissions, Accounting, and Human Resources. Use it to direct your request to the right department before mailing a written request. For broader Kentucky Open Records Act context, the Commonwealth's transparency site provides an overview at transparency.ky.gov.

The contact form lets you select the exact department (Land Records, Marriage Licenses, Elections, Vehicles, etc.) so your message reaches the right staff member rather than getting routed through a general inbox.

Historical Records at the Fayette County Clerk

Fayette County has one of the richest historical records archives of any Kentucky county. The office holds the original Commissioner's Certificate book from 1779 to 1780, predating the Commonwealth itself. The Digital Access Project makes historical property records from the late 1700s through 1865 visible online. Genealogy materials in the archive include marriage records from 1794, wills from 1794, plats from 1880, old surveys, orders, manumission and emancipation records, deeds of restriction, easements, and what the office calls "Burnt Records" covering 1794 to 1803. Those are documents that survived partial courthouse fire damage and were preserved or reconstructed.

The "Declaration of Marriage" book contains marriage declarations of formerly enslaved people. Daniel Boone surveys are on file. Henry Clay's will is there. Levi Todd, who was the first County Clerk, is also the maternal grandfather of Mary Todd Lincoln. These are not just historical curiosities. They represent real searchable records that researchers, genealogists, and title attorneys consult. The FayetteDeeds Non-Indexed Documents section provides online access to many earlier materials as the digitization project moves forward. For records that are not yet digitized, contact the County Clerk directly for guidance on accessing older materials.

For related estate and probate court filings, see the Fayette County Probate Records page. That office handles modern probate case filings at the District Courthouse, while the County Clerk holds the historical recorded wills and instruments.

Related Fayette County Records Resources

The County Clerk is one part of Fayette County's record-keeping structure. Other offices handle different types of records. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps court case files for criminal, civil, family, traffic, and probate proceedings. The Marriage and Divorce Records page covers both how to get a marriage license from the County Clerk and how to find divorce records through the Circuit Court Clerk. The Public Records page explains the Kentucky Open Records Act and covers open-records procedures across multiple county offices, not just the Clerk. The FAQ page includes answers to common questions about which office handles which record type in Fayette County.

For court cases specifically, the Kentucky Court of Justice instructs the public to contact the clerk of the court that heard the case. For Fayette Circuit, Family, and District Court cases, that is the Circuit Court Clerk's Appeals and Records Division at 120 North Limestone, Suite C-33, Lexington, KY 40507, phone (859) 246-2147. The County Clerk at 162 East Main Street does not have access to court case files and cannot help with divorce, criminal, civil, or traffic case requests. Sending a request to the wrong office will delay your search.