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Bath County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Bath County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Bath County District Court, probate division. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Bath County |
| Courthouse address | Bath County Judicial Center, 65 Water St., Owingsville, KY 40360 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 558, Owingsville, KY 40360-0558 |
| Phone | 606-674-2186 and 606-674-6821. The county page publishes both lines without labeling either one as probate-specific. |
| Fax | 606-674-3996 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| 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. Bath 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Payment | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Bath County accepts cash, money order, certified check, local personal check, and an out-of-town check with office approval, in person. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. The Bath County court page does not publish a separate Bath County probate form set. |
| Electronic filing | Kentucky probate cases are handled through the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system. Since January 1, 2024, attorneys must file eligible probate documents electronically. Self-represented parties may register, but paper filing remains available at the clerk's office. |
| Case lookup | CourtNet requires an account for case information. A free court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ includes Bath County, but it is not a full case-record search. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Owingsville for the status of an estate. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky publishes statewide remote-court instructions, but whether a Bath County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming either way. |
| Accessibility | Designated parking for those with a disability parking permit. Elevators and ramps. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Bath.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Owingsville, make a practical list of the decedent's assets, debts, likely heirs, and whether there is a will. That list drives the local estate settlement path: which AOC form you start with, whether a personal representative is needed, and what the clerk will need to route the filing.
Sunset can help you search for accounts across 2,300 institutions before you choose a filing path. Knowing what exists first makes Bath County estate settlement easier, especially when family members are out of state or a home has to be sold.
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 Bath County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bath County Judicial Center in Owingsville.
Bath County is in the 21st Judicial District, shared with Menifee, Montgomery, and Rowan counties (KRS 24A.030). The Owingsville courthouse serves Owingsville and the rest of Bath County.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the right Kentucky AOC form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and/or appointment of an executor or administrator, with KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the District Court under KRS 24A.120 to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. A financial disclosure, AOC-808, is part of the appointment filing under KRS 395.015.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bath County Judicial Center, 65 Water St., Owingsville, KY 40360, or use the P.O. Box mailing address when the clerk instructs you to file by mail. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate filings through Kentucky's system under the January 1, 2024 eFiling mandate for attorneys. Self-represented filers may still file on paper.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the exact amount before filing. $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. Bath 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
- Ask the clerk what notices, waivers, or hearing settings are needed for your filing. Bath County's court page does not publish a separate District Court probate docket under KRS 24A.120. If the matter becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 send the dispute to Bath Circuit Court as an original action, not as an appeal.
- Ask about remote access before the hearing. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020 and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide remote-court instructions. Whether a particular Bath County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you are scheduled to appear.
- If the District Court appoints you, get the authority document. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and KRS 395.105 refers to the fiduciary's authority as letters of appointment.
- Administer the estate after appointment. File the inventory on AOC-841 within 90 days as required by KRS 395.250, and remember that the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Kentucky no longer requires bond by default, but the court may order one under KRS 395.130. Creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011.
- Close the estate with the settlement route that fits the case. AOC-850 is used for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605, and AOC-846 is used for a settlement under KRS 395.610. The personal representative should not distribute estate assets before the timing allowed by KRS 395.190.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bath County
Bath County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; the Bath County court page does not publish a separate Bath County form set. You file AOC-805 to open an estate with KRS 394.145, AOC-830 if you are asking the court under KRS 395.455 to dispense with administration, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Owingsville can provide paper copies of the forms, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or tell you which legal path to choose.
Local nuance
Bath County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Bath County filing |
|---|---|
| Out-of-town checks | The county page says an out-of-town check needs office approval. If you are paying from outside Bath County, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before mailing payment. |
| Two phone lines | The Bath County court page publishes 606-674-2186 and 606-674-6821 without labeling either as probate-specific. Call and ask which line is handling District Court probate matters under KRS 24A.120. |
| Contested matters | The county page publishes Bath Circuit Court rule days for Division 1 on the third Thursday and Division 2 on the first Thursday. Routine probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, so those Circuit Court rule days matter only if a dispute is filed fresh in Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. |
| Access at the judicial center | The county page lists designated disability parking, elevators, and ramps at the Bath County Judicial Center. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Bath County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate assets from assets that need Bath County District Court action under KRS 24A.120. If only limited personal property must pass through court, ask counsel or the clerk about whether a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 is the right filing. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize the asset list, and prepare the information needed for the Bath County filing packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Kentucky does not use an affidavit handed to a bank. The local filing is a court petition in Bath County District Court under KRS 24A.120, often AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 when the dispense-with-administration path applies. Call before mailing payment because out-of-town checks need office approval. | Sunset helps collect institution information, generate the probate packet, and connect you with local counsel if travel or signing logistics become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear court authority if the title did not pass outside probate. File in Bath County District Court under KRS 24A.120 if Bath County was the child's residence at death under KRS 394.140, and ask whether appointment as administrator is needed before sale documents can be signed. | Sunset helps organize asset and debt information, prepare the filing packet, and connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney when real estate must be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Bath County Office of Circuit Court Clerk | Provides forms, fee totals, copies, filing logistics, and court-date information for Bath County. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | 606-674-2186 or 606-674-6821 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice self-help portal | Offers guided interviews for Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration filings, including the KRS 395.455 path. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | Civil legal aid program listed for Bath County. Ask directly whether your estate issue is within its services. | 859-431-8200, https://lablaw.org/ |
| KYJustice.org and KY Free Legal Answers | Statewide legal information and a question-and-answer service for eligible users. | https://www.kyjustice.org/ and https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral resources | Referral information for finding a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if heirs disagree, a will contest may be filed under KRS 394.240, real estate must be sold, tax filings are uncertain, a creditor claim under KRS 396.011 is disputed, or the estate may become an adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank, investment, insurance, retirement, and other accounts so the Bath County estate settlement starts with a practical asset list.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Kentucky probate packet, including the local court address, filing steps, and form numbers to review before filing.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a contested issue under KRS 24A.120, a home sale, or a difficult family situation, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and prepare for the Bath County filing without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bath County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bath County Judicial Center, 65 Water St., Owingsville, KY 40360. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
What is the mailing address for Bath County probate filings?
The Bath County court page lists P.O. Box 558, Owingsville, KY 40360-0558. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before mailing originals, payment, or anything with a deadline.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Bath County?
$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. Bath 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Does Bath County publish its own probate forms?
The Bath County court page does not publish a separate Bath County probate form set. Kentucky statewide AOC forms are used, including AOC-805 with KRS 394.145, AOC-830 with KRS 395.455, AOC-841 with KRS 395.250, AOC-846 with KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 with KRS 395.605.
Can attorneys file Bath County probate papers electronically?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must use the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system. Self-represented filers may register, but they are not required to file electronically and may file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
Can I appear remotely for a Bath County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020 and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide remote-court instructions. Whether a particular Bath County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and login details are not published centrally. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you assume either way.
Can I look up a Bath County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases under KRS 24A.120. CourtNet requires an account, and the Administrative Office of the Courts states that it does not hold trial-court case records. A free no-login court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and includes Bath County, but it is a court-date lookup, not a full case-record search. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Owingsville for estate status.
Does Bath County publish probate hearing days?
The Bath County court page does not publish a separate District Court probate docket under KRS 24A.120. It publishes Circuit Court rule days, which are relevant only if a contested estate issue is filed fresh in Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240.
Do I have to travel to Owingsville to handle a Bath County estate?
Not always, but do not assume mail filing, electronic filing, or remote participation will solve every step. Attorneys must use electronic filing under the January 1, 2024 attorney mandate, self-represented filers may file on paper, and remote participation depends on the judge and instructions from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
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.