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Allen County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Allen County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Allen County District Court, KRS 24A.120, with filings handled by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Allen County. |
| Courthouse address | Allen County Judicial Center, 200 W. Main St., Scottsville, KY 42164. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published on the Allen County court page. |
| Phone | (270) 237-3561 and (270) 237-4734. |
| Fax | No fax number is published on the Allen County court page. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Cost to open | $80 to open a probate case: a $50 filing fee set by Supreme Court rule effective July 1, 2026 (CR 3.03(1)(c)), plus a $10 Access to Justice Fee (KRS 27A.630) and a $20 court technology fee. Allen County may add a $10 court facilities fee if its fiscal court has adopted the ordinance (KRS 24A.185), and a county law library fee where one is in force (KRS 453.060), so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms apply. Allen County does not publish a separate local probate form set. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense with administration case under KRS 395.455 must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register but can still file on paper at the Judicial Center in Scottsville. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky has a public court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ with a not-official-docket caveat. Estate status questions should go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote options | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Allen County posts no local login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a probate event is in person or remote. |
| Accessibility | Elevator. |
| Payment | Cash, local checks, money order, and credit cards. The page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Allen.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Allen County, make a working list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, recurring bills, and possible beneficiaries. Estate settlement goes faster when the petition matches what the family has actually found, especially if you are deciding whether to ask for appointment or ask about dispensing with administration under KRS 395.455.
Sunset can help identify accounts across 2,300 institutions before you prepare the Allen County filing packet. Bring that asset picture to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Scottsville or to a Kentucky probate attorney so the first filing is not missing key property or debt information.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Kentucky sends the estate to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and where there is no will, to the same court (KRS 395.030). If the person lived in Allen County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Allen County Judicial Center in Scottsville.
The Scottsville courthouse serves the entire county, including Scottsville, Adolphus, Halfway, Holland, Petroleum, Bluewater, Mount Vernon, and other Allen County communities. Allen County shares the 49th Judicial Circuit and 49th Judicial District with Simpson County only (KRS 24A.030).
Kentucky probate is a District Court matter. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate, and the papers are filed with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Allen County, at the Allen County Judicial Center in Scottsville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Allen Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right opening papers. AOC-805 opens a probate estate under KRS 394.145, while AOC-830 asks the District Court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Prepare the required filing materials. Kentucky appointment papers now include a financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, and the statewide AOC forms should be completed before you go to the Allen County Judicial Center.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 200 W. Main St. in Scottsville, or have an attorney file electronically. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must e-file eligible Kentucky probate filings, while a self-represented filer may file on paper.
- Pay the opening cost. $80 to open a probate case: a $50 filing fee set by Supreme Court rule effective July 1, 2026 (CR 3.03(1)(c)), plus a $10 Access to Justice Fee (KRS 27A.630) and a $20 court technology fee. Allen County may add a $10 court facilities fee if its fiscal court has adopted the ordinance (KRS 24A.185), and a county law library fee where one is in force (KRS 453.060), so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
- Follow the clerk's instructions for any notice, hearing date, or order presentation. Allen County does not publish a probate docket day, and creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011.
- Ask before planning to appear by Zoom or in person. Allen County posts no local probate login details, and the statewide remote-court instructions tell you to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the county where you are scheduled to appear.
- If the District Court appoints you, get your Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment, and the certificate with a certified appointment order is what banks and title companies commonly need.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory required by KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and close with AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Allen County
Allen County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Allen County form set. AOC-805 opens the estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 is the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 closes the estate under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Scottsville can provide the forms, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or decide which form fits your family. Review the statewide form titles carefully before starting estate settlement, and ask a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes a dispute, real estate sale, or unclear heirship.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Allen County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether anything needs District Court action under KRS 24A.120. If probate is needed, file at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Scottsville. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, helps prepare the probate packet, and can connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney if the deed or beneficiary designations are unclear. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate, KRS 395.455 | Ask whether AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 is the right request or whether an appointment is needed. A self-represented filer can file on paper in Scottsville, while an attorney must e-file since January 1, 2024. | Sunset helps gather account information before you travel or hire counsel, then helps turn that information into the right packet for Allen County. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because a home sale can require clear authority, expect to seek appointment in Allen County District Court under KRS 24A.120 and obtain a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. If a dispute develops, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 route the adversary proceeding to Circuit Court rather than treating it as an appeal. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize debts and property, and connect the family to a vetted attorney for the sale and estate settlement steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Allen County | Filing office for Allen County probate matters under KRS 24A.120. | Allen County Judicial Center, 200 W. Main St., Scottsville, KY 42164; (270) 237-3561 or (270) 237-4734. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Statewide AOC form catalogue for probate filings, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and AOC-830 under KRS 395.455. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided interviews, including Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for Allen County. Contact the program to ask whether it can help with your situation. | 270-782-1924 or 800-782-1924; https://klaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Free online civil legal question service. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide attorney referral service. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | Plain-language AOC introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes for the 2026 inventory, financial disclosure, and bond rules under KRS 395.130. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer makes sense if the Allen County estate has a will contest under KRS 394.240, a contested probate issue that becomes an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120, a home sale, creditor issues under KRS 396.011, or family members who disagree about who should serve. Sunset connects families to a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, benefits, and property information so estate settlement starts with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for the Allen County filing path, including the statewide Kentucky AOC forms that fit your situation.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, or unclear heirship calls for legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, prepare for filing, and understand next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Allen County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Allen County Judicial Center, 200 W. Main St., Scottsville, KY 42164. Kentucky probate is filed in District Court under KRS 24A.120, with venue based on where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
How much does it cost to open an Allen County probate case?
$80 to open a probate case: a $50 filing fee set by Supreme Court rule effective July 1, 2026 (CR 3.03(1)(c)), plus a $10 Access to Justice Fee (KRS 27A.630) and a $20 court technology fee. Allen County may add a $10 court facilities fee if its fiscal court has adopted the ordinance (KRS 24A.185), and a county law library fee where one is in force (KRS 453.060), so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Does Allen County have its own probate forms?
No separate Allen County probate form set is published. Use Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file an Allen County probate case?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense with administration case under KRS 395.455 must file electronically. If you are self-represented, you may register for electronic filing, but you can still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Scottsville.
Can I appear remotely for an Allen County probate hearing?
Maybe, but do not assume it. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, Allen County posts no local probate login details, and the statewide instruction is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you are scheduled to appear.
Is there an online Allen County probate case lookup?
Kentucky's public docket generator is a court-date lookup and is not an official docket. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Scottsville at (270) 237-3561 if you need to know the status of an Allen County estate.
What phone number should I call for Allen County probate questions?
The Allen County court page lists two Office of Circuit Court Clerk numbers: (270) 237-3561 and (270) 237-4734. Use those numbers for filing hours, payment questions, court-date questions, and remote appearance questions.
Do I have to travel to Scottsville to start estate settlement?
If you are self-represented and filing on paper, the published filing location is the Allen County Judicial Center in Scottsville. If you hire an attorney, the attorney must use electronic filing for eligible probate matters since January 1, 2024.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.