Carlisle County
Probate Court

Handled by

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.

Location

Probate filings are made in the county seat, Bardwell. We have not found an open, verifiable address for the office yet — use the county website below.

Phone

No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.

Opening hours

Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.

County website

carlislecounty.ky.govWikidata

State courts & e-filing

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

1. 01

   Secure the original will

   Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Kentucky deadline: 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cited KRS 394.210 concerns attesting witnesses, and KRS 394.110 (cited by secondary sources for a 10-year limit) was repealed in 2019.

2. 02

   Pick the right track

   If the probate estate is under $30,000, a small-estate procedure (KRS § 395.455 (Dispensing with Administration)) may avoid full administration.

3. 03

   Petition the court

   File the petition with the District Court (Probate Division) for Carlisle County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.

4. 04

   Inventory the estate

   Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.

5. 05

   Notify creditors

   Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 6 months from the date Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary are granted.

6. 06

   Account and distribute

   Pay debts, taxes and fees (KRS § 395.150), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.

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cited KRS 394.210 concerns attesting witnesses, and KRS 394.110 (cited by secondary sources for a 10-year limit) was repealed in 2019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 · estimate the fee

Handwritten wills

Recognized. Kentucky recognizes holographic wills wholly written and signed by the testator (KRS § 394.040).

Estate tax

No state estate tax.Kentucky has no state estate tax.

Inheritance tax

Yes.Kentucky 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 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.

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