Kentucky Probate Courts

Court

District Court (Probate Division)In Kentucky, probate matters are handled exclusively by the District Court in each county, filed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

Small estates

$30,000 personal estate (surviving spouse exemption, KRS 391.030); spouse, or if none children/preferred creditor, may petition District Court to dispense with administrationKRS § 395.455 (Dispensing with Administration)

Filing the will

Unverified: no deadline confirmed; previously cited KRS 394.210 concerns attesting witnesses, and KRS 394.110 (cited by secondary sources for a 10-year limit) was repealed in 2019

Creditor claims

6 months from the date Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary are grantedKRS § 396.011

Executor fees

Statutory maximum: 5% of the value of the personal estate plus 5% of income collected; additional compensation for extraordinary services at court's discretionKRS § 395.150 · calculator

Estate tax

NoneKentucky has no state estate tax.

Inheritance tax

YesKentucky inheritance tax depends on the beneficiary relationship. Class A includes a spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters (including half-siblings); Class A is exempt. Class B includes nieces and nephews, certain in-laws, aunts and uncles, and great-grandchildren, with a $1,000 exemption and rates of 4%-16%. Class C covers beneficiaries outside Classes A and B, with a $500 exemption and rates of 6%-16%. Confirm your classification with Kentucky Department of Revenue.

Typical duration

6 to 10 months

Official courts site

kycourts.govCase search: Kentucky Court of Justice CourtNet Case Search

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: apps.legislature.ky.gov (statute) · apps.legislature.ky.gov (statute) · kycourts.gov (courts) · apps.legislature.ky.gov (statute)