FAQs
We are available to assist you with filing a MIW if you believe someone is a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness. If it is an emergency, do not file a petition, but rather, contact law enforcement immediately. Be aware that it is not appropriate to file an MIW if the person is a danger to themselves or others due to substance abuse.
You are encouraged to call our office before filing a MIW. The forms to file a petition are available here.
We are available to assist you with filing a guardianship petition. For more information about the guardianship process, review documentation here before submitting an application. Emergency guardianship requests can also be found online.
You are encouraged to fully review the information in these links and call our office before filing a guardianship.
We are available to assist you in obtaining involuntary treatment for someone who is a danger to themselves or others (or likely to become a danger to themselves or others) due to substance use, and can reasonably benefit from treatment.
This process is commonly known as a Casey’s Law petition. Find out more information on the Casey’s Law petition process, or initiate a petition.
You are encouraged to fully review the information in these links and call our office before filing a Casey’s Law petition.
If you are a defendant in a case you should contact your attorney. We cannot discuss your case if you are represented by an attorney.
If you are the victim of a crime, you may contact us and we will put you in touch with a victim advocate.
To obtain either an Emergency Protective Order, Interpersonal Protective Order, or Domestic Violence Order, you must initiate a petition with law enforcement.
This can be done in person at the Hardin County Justice Center, located at 120 East Dixie Ave., during normal office hours, Monday- Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. You may initiate a petition after hours by contacting any law enforcement agency.
If you are cited for a traffic violation, including speeding 20 mph or less, and have fewer than 2 prior citations, you may be eligible to resolve your ticket through the County Attorney Traffic Safety Course. The fee for this is $175 and can be paid online. The ticket will be dismissed from your record, and will likely pre-empt an increase in your insurance rates. You will not be required to pay additional fines or court costs.
Email traffic@hcky.org and provide a copy of your citation, to determine your eligibility and register for the course. If your ticket states pre-payable, there’s no need to contact our office, as you will automatically receive a letter if you qualify. Citations that are marked as pre-payable can be paid online at kycourts.gov.
If you are not contesting your traffic violation ticket and want to pay it, you may do so by providing payment over the phone to the Hardin Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at (270) 766-5041 or by mailing your payment to:
Hardin District Clerk
120 E. Dixie Ave.
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
If your payment is received prior to your court date, you will not need to appear on your court date or due date. Please make payment AT LEAST 5 business days prior to your court or due date. It is your responsibility to make sure payment was received. If you want the assistance of an attorney, you should retain one prior to submitting any proof or payment.
If you have been cited for the following, you may file proof with the County Attorney’s Office ONLY BEFORE YOUR FIRST SCHEDULED COURT DATE:
– Failing to have proof of vehicle insurance or registration
– Having an expired driver’s license
– Failing to make an address change on your license
You can email traffic@hcky.org a legible copy of your citation and the appropriate proof AT LEAST 10 business days before the court date listed on your ticket. If you do not receive a response via email telling you not to appear in court, then you must appear.
Be aware that submitting fraudulent proof could result in criminal charges.
If you are cited for failing to have insurance, your proof will need to be on your insurer’s letterhead, signed by your insurer, and stating that you were insured on the date you were cited. You will find that date listed on your citation as offense date.
It is NOT sufficient proof to submit an insurance card with coverage that began more than 30 days before your offense date.
Proof of registration can be obtained through the County Clerk’s Office online, by phone, or by mailing
Hardin County Clerk
P.O. Box 1030
Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
There is also a secure drop box located at the main entrance of the County Clerk’s Office at 150 N. Provident Way, Elizabethtown. Please include your name, address, and phone number.
Main-in and drop box renewals should include the prior year registration receipt, proof of insurance, and payment.
If paying by credit card, you will receive a phone call for that information.
You may renew or update the address on your driver’s license online by visiting drive.ky.gov.
You may also contact the Hardin Circuit Court Clerk’s Office by calling (270) 766-5000 or (270) 766-5001.
Please call the number listed on your subpoena under requesting attorney if you have questions about your court appearance.
If you receive a check, issued in Hardin County, in exchange for goods or services, that is dishonored for insufficient funds, we may be able to collect restitution and your merchant fee.
If you have never used our service before, click here for more information on how this free service works.
We are unable to process rent checks.
If you have received a letter from our office related to payment of a bad check, there should be an included deposit slip for South Central Bank. You may take that to any South Central Bank location to pay your bad check and the associated fees.
Cash, credit card, or money order is accepted. If you need a new deposit slip, please contact our office.
If the court determines you are indigent, it will appoint a public defender to represent you. After you have been appointed a public defender, you may contact the public defender’s office at 1-833-385-6056.
Please call the Hardin Circuit Court Clerk’s office at (270) 766-5000 or (270) 766-5037. If you have missed a court date and have an attorney, you should first contact your attorney.
We encourage you to contact your local police agency.
If you believe you have evidence of a crime, and want to file a sworn criminal complaint, you may file out a criminal complaint here, then call our office. Please be aware that our office does not investigate allegations; the only charges that will be initiated through our office are those for which an investigation is unnecessary or has been completed by law enforcement.
You are encouraged to call our office before filing a criminal complaint.
You can register with VINE (Victim Notification Everyday) by calling 1-800-511-1670 or visiting their website: https://www.vinelink.com. Be prepared to set up a four-digit PIN#.
