Kentucky Probate Court Finder
For detailed information about the probate court procedures in your county, including relevant forms, fees, and contact information, please enter your ZIP code or select your county. This will direct you to a page providing tailored information about the probate court in your area.
Kentucky Probate Courts
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Jefferson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Louisville) FIPS: 21111 - pop.782,969 -
Fayette County Probate Court
County Seat: (Lexington) FIPS: 21067 - pop.322,570 -
Kenton County Probate Court
County Seat: (Covington) FIPS: 21117 - pop.169,064 -
Boone County Probate Court
County Seat: (Burlington) FIPS: 21015 - pop.135,968 -
Warren County Probate Court
County Seat: (Bowling Green) FIPS: 21227 - pop.134,554 -
Hardin County Probate Court
County Seat: (Elizabethtown) FIPS: 21093 - pop.110,702 -
Daviess County Probate Court
County Seat: (Owensboro) FIPS: 21059 - pop.103,312 -
Campbell County Probate Court
County Seat: (Newport) FIPS: 21037 - pop.93,076 -
Madison County Probate Court
County Seat: (Richmond) FIPS: 21151 - pop.92,701 -
Bullitt County Probate Court
County Seat: (Shepherdsville) FIPS: 21029 - pop.82,217 -
Christian County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hopkinsville) FIPS: 21047 - pop.72,748 -
McCracken County Probate Court
County Seat: (Paducah) FIPS: 21145 - pop.67,875 -
Oldham County Probate Court
County Seat: (La Grange) FIPS: 21185 - pop.67,607 -
Pulaski County Probate Court
County Seat: (Somerset) FIPS: 21199 - pop.65,034 -
Laurel County Probate Court
County Seat: (London) FIPS: 21125 - pop.62,613 -
Pike County Probate Court
County Seat: (Pikeville) FIPS: 21195 - pop.58,669 -
Scott County Probate Court
County Seat: (Georgetown) FIPS: 21209 - pop.57,155 -
Jessamine County Probate Court
County Seat: (Nicholasville) FIPS: 21113 - pop.52,991 -
Franklin County Probate Court
County Seat: (Frankfort) FIPS: 21073 - pop.51,541 -
Boyd County Probate Court
County Seat: (Catlettsburg) FIPS: 21019 - pop.48,261 -
Shelby County Probate Court
County Seat: (Shelbyville) FIPS: 21211 - pop.48,065 -
Nelson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Bardstown) FIPS: 21179 - pop.46,738 -
Hopkins County Probate Court
County Seat: (Madisonville) FIPS: 21107 - pop.45,423 -
Henderson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Henderson) FIPS: 21101 - pop.44,793 -
Barren County Probate Court
County Seat: (Glasgow) FIPS: 21009 - pop.44,485 -
Calloway County Probate Court
County Seat: (Murray) FIPS: 21035 - pop.37,103 -
Clark County Probate Court
County Seat: (Winchester) FIPS: 21049 - pop.36,972 -
Whitley County Probate Court
County Seat: (Williamsburg) FIPS: 21235 - pop.36,712 -
Graves County Probate Court
County Seat: (Mayfield) FIPS: 21083 - pop.36,649 -
Greenup County Probate Court
County Seat: (Greenup) FIPS: 21089 - pop.35,962 -
Floyd County Probate Court
County Seat: (Prestonsburg) FIPS: 21071 - pop.35,942 -
Marshall County Probate Court
County Seat: (Benton) FIPS: 21157 - pop.31,659 -
Muhlenberg County Probate Court
County Seat: (Greenville) FIPS: 21177 - pop.30,928 -
Boyle County Probate Court
County Seat: (Danville) FIPS: 21021 - pop.30,614 -
Knox County Probate Court
County Seat: (Barbourville) FIPS: 21121 - pop.30,193 -
Meade County Probate Court
County Seat: (Brandenburg) FIPS: 21163 - pop.30,003 -
Perry County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hazard) FIPS: 21193 - pop.28,473 -
Montgomery County Probate Court
County Seat: (Mount Sterling) FIPS: 21173 - pop.28,114 -
Logan County Probate Court
County Seat: (Russellville) FIPS: 21141 - pop.27,432 -
Woodford County Probate Court
County Seat: (Versailles) FIPS: 21239 - pop.26,871 -
Harlan County Probate Court
County Seat: (Harlan) FIPS: 21095 - pop.26,831 -
Carter County Probate Court
County Seat: (Grayson) FIPS: 21043 - pop.26,627 -
Grayson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Leitchfield) FIPS: 21085 - pop.26,420 -
Taylor County Probate Court
County Seat: (Campbellsville) FIPS: 21217 - pop.26,023 -
Grant County Probate Court
County Seat: (Williamstown) FIPS: 21081 - pop.24,941 -
Rowan County Probate Court
County Seat: (Morehead) FIPS: 21205 - pop.24,662 -
Lincoln County Probate Court
County Seat: (Stanford) FIPS: 21137 - pop.24,275 -
Bell County Probate Court
County Seat: (Pineville) FIPS: 21013 - pop.24,097 -
Anderson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Lawrenceburg) FIPS: 21005 - pop.23,852 -
Ohio County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hartford) FIPS: 21183 - pop.23,772 -
Johnson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Paintsville) FIPS: 21115 - pop.22,680 -
Mercer County Probate Court
County Seat: (Harrodsburg) FIPS: 21167 - pop.22,641 -
Letcher County Probate Court
County Seat: (Whitesburg) FIPS: 21133 - pop.21,548 -
Allen County Probate Court
County Seat: (Scottsville) FIPS: 21003 - pop.20,588 -
Breckinridge County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hardinsburg) FIPS: 21027 - pop.20,432 -
Clay County Probate Court
County Seat: (Manchester) FIPS: 21051 - pop.20,345 -
Bourbon County Probate Court
County Seat: (Paris) FIPS: 21017 - pop.20,252 -
Simpson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Franklin) FIPS: 21213 - pop.19,594 -
Marion County Probate Court
County Seat: (Lebanon) FIPS: 21155 - pop.19,581 -
Wayne County Probate Court
County Seat: (Monticello) FIPS: 21231 - pop.19,555 -
Spencer County Probate Court
County Seat: (Taylorsville) FIPS: 21215 - pop.19,490 -
Hart County Probate Court
County Seat: (Munfordville) FIPS: 21099 - pop.19,288 -
Adair County Probate Court
County Seat: (Columbia) FIPS: 21001 - pop.18,903 -
Harrison County Probate Court
County Seat: (Cynthiana) FIPS: 21097 - pop.18,692 -
Russell County Probate Court
County Seat: (Jamestown) FIPS: 21207 - pop.17,991 -
Mason County Probate Court
County Seat: (Maysville) FIPS: 21161 - pop.17,120 -
Garrard County Probate Court
County Seat: (Lancaster) FIPS: 21079 - pop.16,953 -
McCreary County Probate Court
County Seat: (Whitley City) FIPS: 21147 - pop.16,888 -
Lawrence County Probate Court
County Seat: (Louisa) FIPS: 21127 - pop.16,293 -
Rockcastle County Probate Court
County Seat: (Mount Vernon) FIPS: 21203 - pop.16,037 -
Casey County Probate Court
County Seat: (Liberty) FIPS: 21045 - pop.15,941 -
Henry County Probate Court
County Seat: (New Castle) FIPS: 21103 - pop.15,678 -
Fleming County Probate Court
County Seat: (Flemingsburg) FIPS: 21069 - pop.15,082 -
Larue County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hodgenville) FIPS: 21123 - pop.14,867 -
Pendleton County Probate Court
County Seat: (Falmouth) FIPS: 21191 - pop.14,644 -
Knott County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hindman) FIPS: 21119 - pop.14,251 -
Estill County Probate Court
County Seat: (Irvine) FIPS: 21065 - pop.14,163 -
Trigg County Probate Court
County Seat: (Cadiz) FIPS: 21221 - pop.14,061 -
Morgan County Probate Court
County Seat: (West Liberty) FIPS: 21175 - pop.13,726 -
Breathitt County Probate Court
County Seat: (Jackson) FIPS: 21025 - pop.13,718 -
Union County Probate Court
County Seat: (Morganfield) FIPS: 21225 - pop.13,668 -
Powell County Probate Court
County Seat: (Stanton) FIPS: 21197 - pop.13,129 -
Lewis County Probate Court
County Seat: (Vanceburg) FIPS: 21135 - pop.13,080 -
Webster County Probate Court
County Seat: (Dixon) FIPS: 21233 - pop.13,017 -
Jackson County Probate Court
County Seat: (McKee) FIPS: 21109 - pop.12,955 -
Bath County Probate Court
County Seat: (Owingsville) FIPS: 21011 - pop.12,750 -
Caldwell County Probate Court
County Seat: (Princeton) FIPS: 21033 - pop.12,649 -
Butler County Probate Court
County Seat: (Morgantown) FIPS: 21031 - pop.12,371 -
Todd County Probate Court
County Seat: (Elkton) FIPS: 21219 - pop.12,243 -
Edmonson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Brownsville) FIPS: 21061 - pop.12,126 -
Washington County Probate Court
County Seat: (Springfield) FIPS: 21229 - pop.12,027 -
Magoffin County Probate Court
County Seat: (Salyersville) FIPS: 21153 - pop.11,637 -
Monroe County Probate Court
County Seat: (Tompkinsville) FIPS: 21171 - pop.11,338 -
Martin County Probate Court
County Seat: (Inez) FIPS: 21159 - pop.11,287 -
Owen County Probate Court
County Seat: (Owenton) FIPS: 21187 - pop.11,278 -
Green County Probate Court
County Seat: (Greensburg) FIPS: 21087 - pop.11,107 -
Carroll County Probate Court
County Seat: (Carrollton) FIPS: 21041 - pop.10,810 -
Leslie County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hyden) FIPS: 21131 - pop.10,513 -
Metcalfe County Probate Court
County Seat: (Edmonton) FIPS: 21169 - pop.10,286 -
Clinton County Probate Court
County Seat: (Albany) FIPS: 21053 - pop.9,253 -
McLean County Probate Court
County Seat: (Calhoun) FIPS: 21149 - pop.9,152 -
Hancock County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hawesville) FIPS: 21091 - pop.9,095 -
Crittenden County Probate Court
County Seat: (Marion) FIPS: 21055 - pop.8,990 -
Livingston County Probate Court
County Seat: (Smithland) FIPS: 21139 - pop.8,888 -
Gallatin County Probate Court
County Seat: (Warsaw) FIPS: 21077 - pop.8,690 -
Lyon County Probate Court
County Seat: (Eddyville) FIPS: 21143 - pop.8,680 -
Trimble County Probate Court
County Seat: (Bedford) FIPS: 21223 - pop.8,474 -
Bracken County Probate Court
County Seat: (Brooksville) FIPS: 21023 - pop.8,400 -
Ballard County Probate Court
County Seat: (Wickliffe) FIPS: 21007 - pop.7,728 -
Nicholas County Probate Court
County Seat: (Carlisle) FIPS: 21181 - pop.7,537 -
Lee County Probate Court
County Seat: (Beattyville) FIPS: 21129 - pop.7,395 -
Elliott County Probate Court
County Seat: (Sandy Hook) FIPS: 21063 - pop.7,354 -
Wolfe County Probate Court
County Seat: (Campton) FIPS: 21237 - pop.6,562 -
Fulton County Probate Court
County Seat: (Hickman) FIPS: 21075 - pop.6,515 -
Menifee County Probate Court
County Seat: (Frenchburg) FIPS: 21165 - pop.6,113 -
Cumberland County Probate Court
County Seat: (Burkesville) FIPS: 21057 - pop.5,888 -
Carlisle County Probate Court
County Seat: (Bardwell) FIPS: 21039 - pop.4,826 -
Hickman County Probate Court
County Seat: (Clinton) FIPS: 21105 - pop.4,521 -
Owsley County Probate Court
County Seat: (Booneville) FIPS: 21189 - pop.4,051 -
Robertson County Probate Court
County Seat: (Mount Olivet) FIPS: 21201 - pop.2,193
How Kentucky Probate Courts Work
What Is Probate?
Probate refers to the legal process through which a deceased person's will is validated by a court. This process ensures that the deceased's assets are distributed according to their wishes as stated in the will, after any debts and taxes are paid.
What Are Probate Courts?
Probate courts, which are specialized judicial bodies, oversee these proceedings.
They also handle matters related to:
- estate administration,
- guardianships, and conservatorships
- when a will is not present
- or in cases of dispute.
It's important to note that the specific procedures and requirements of probate courts can vary significantly from one county to another across the United States. This variation is due to differences in state laws and local court rules. As a result, engaging with a probate court in one jurisdiction might be quite different from doing so in another.
Also, every state has simplified procedures for dealing with small estates... and most estates end up being "small," and most estates do not require the full probate process, especially if the deceased person owned property in one or more of the ways described below.
Types of Property That Does NOT Pass Through Probate Court
Many types of property are designed to bypass the probate process, allowing for a more streamlined transfer of assets upon someone's death. These include:
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Jointly Owned Property: Assets owned in joint tenancy with the right of survivorship or as tenants by the entirety automatically pass to the surviving owner without the need for probate. This is common with real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles owned jointly by two or more individuals.
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Payable-on-Death (POD) and Transfer-on-Death (TOD) Accounts: Financial accounts and securities that are designated as payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) can be transferred directly to the named beneficiary upon the account holder's death. This designation allows these assets to skip probate.
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Retirement Accounts and Life Insurance Policies: Funds from retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, and the proceeds from life insurance policies, when a beneficiary is named outside of the will, do not go through probate. These assets go directly to the beneficiaries named in the policies or account documents.
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Living Trusts: Property held in a living trust is another major category that avoids probate. The trust owns the assets, and upon the death of the individual who created the trust (the grantor), the property is transferred according to the terms of the trust, without the need for probate intervention.
These mechanisms are designed to simplify the transfer of assets, reduce the time and cost associated with probate, and ensure privacy since probate is a public process. Understanding which assets fall into these categories can be crucial for estate planning and ensuring a smooth transition of assets to beneficiaries.