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Boyd County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Boyd County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Boyd County District Court. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Boyd County |
| Courthouse address | Boyd County Judicial Center, 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 688, Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688 |
| Phone | (606) 739-4131. Additional office lines are (606) 739-4132 and (606) 739-4133. |
| Fax | (606) 739-5793 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is listed on the county page. |
| 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. Boyd 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. |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order, credit cards and debit cards. A card service charge applies. The county page also links to Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Boyd County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The county page does not list a separate Boyd County probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system, effective January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Catlettsburg. |
| Case information | The state guest login portal requires an account. A free no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and lists Boyd County, but it is a court-date lookup, not full trial-court case records. For case status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote hearings | Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings, but Boyd County does not post probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing will be in person or remote. |
| Parking and access | Parking is listed at the front of the building and across the street by the courthouse annex. The judicial center has elevators. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Boyd.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Boyd County, make a first pass through the estate settlement facts: what accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral bills and beneficiary designations exist. The clerk can provide forms and fee information, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or decide which path fits the estate.
Sunset can help you search across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets before you prepare the Boyd County probate packet. That makes the first court filing more complete and helps you avoid reopening the estate settlement plan after appointment.
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 for an intestate estate (KRS 395.030). If the person lived in Boyd County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Boyd County Judicial Center in Catlettsburg.
The Catlettsburg courthouse serves all of Boyd County, including Ashland and unincorporated communities such as Summit, Coalton and Rockdale. Ashland is Boyd County's largest city, but probate filings are handled in Catlettsburg.
Boyd County has the 32nd Judicial District entirely to itself under 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 Boyd County, at the Boyd County courthouse in Catlettsburg. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Boyd Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts and people involved before choosing a filing. For a will, AOC-805 is the Petition for Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator (KRS 394.145). For an intestate estate, administration is in the same court under KRS 395.030. If you are asking to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 with KRS 395.455.
- Gather the statewide AOC forms. Common forms include AOC-805 (KRS 394.145), AOC-808 Financial Disclosure (KRS 395.015), AOC-830 for dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 for the inventory (KRS 395.250), AOC-846 for settlement (KRS 395.610) and AOC-850 for informal final settlement (KRS 395.605).
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Boyd County Judicial Center, 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129, or mail papers to P.O. Box 688, Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system effective January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper in Catlettsburg.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the total 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. Boyd 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. The office lists cash, check, money order, credit cards and debit cards, with a card service charge.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the court date. Boyd County does not post a separate probate docket on its county page. A free no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and lists Boyd County, but case status should be checked with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings since March 2020, but Boyd County does not post probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk to learn whether your hearing is in person or remote.
- If the District Court appoints you under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. That certificate, together with a certified copy of the order appointing you, is what banks and title companies usually ask to see. Kentucky law also lets you ask the clerk for formal letters in due form under seal (KRS 395.110), and KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory under KRS 395.250, address creditor claims under KRS 396.011, then 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 Boyd County
Boyd County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Boyd County form set. You file AOC-805 to open the estate (KRS 394.145), AOC-808 for the Financial Disclosure required by KRS 395.015, AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 for the inventory (KRS 395.250) and AOC-846 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The forms are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Catlettsburg can provide paper copies. The county page does not list a local Boyd County probate checklist, packet or fee schedule.
Local nuance
Boyd County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Catlettsburg courthouse | Boyd County probate filings go to the Boyd County Judicial Center in Catlettsburg, even if the decedent lived in Ashland. |
| Street and mailing addresses differ | Use 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 for the courthouse. Use P.O. Box 688, Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688 for mail. |
| One-county judicial district | Boyd County is the 32nd Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, and the county page lists Boyd's District Court divisions in Catlettsburg. |
| Building access | The county page lists parking at the front of the building and across the street by the courthouse annex. The judicial center has elevators. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Boyd County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying which assets pass outside probate and which assets need a Boyd County District Court filing under KRS 24A.120. If the estate qualifies for a petition to dispense with administration, the form is AOC-830 under KRS 395.455; otherwise, file AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 for appointment. | Sunset helps sort titled assets, accounts and beneficiary designations before the Catlettsburg filing is prepared. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | File in Catlettsburg if the parent lived in Boyd County at death under KRS 394.140. Kentucky does not use a bank affidavit for this path; a small estate request is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. A self-represented filer may still file on paper, while an attorney must e-file eligible documents effective January 1, 2024. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the packet and connect you with a Kentucky attorney if travel or court appearance issues arise. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority from Boyd County District Court under KRS 24A.120. If appointed, you use the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 when working with banks, buyers and title companies. | Sunset helps organize the probate packet, track accounts and coordinate with a local probate attorney when real estate must be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Boyd County | Boyd County Judicial Center, 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129. Mail to P.O. Box 688, Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688. Phone: (606) 739-4131. Fax: (606) 739-5793. | The filing office for Boyd County estates. The office can provide legal forms, tell you the filing fee under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026 and tell you court dates, but cannot give legal advice. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx | Statewide probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, AOC-850 and AOC-860. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky | Guided interviews for Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455. |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | (859) 431-8200. https://lablaw.org/ | The civil legal aid program listed for Boyd County. Ask the program directly about eligibility and case type. |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ | Free online civil legal questions answered by volunteer Kentucky attorneys. |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv | Statewide lawyer referral information. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps you identify accounts, policies and property before you file, so the Boyd County probate packet starts from a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for Kentucky's statewide forms and Boyd County filing logistics, including the Catlettsburg courthouse address and mailing address.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney familiar with estate settlement work.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the next steps, prepare for court filing and understand what to ask the Boyd County Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Boyd County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Boyd County Judicial Center, 2805 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129. Mail may be sent to P.O. Box 688, Catlettsburg, KY 41129-0688. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Do I file in Ashland or Catlettsburg?
File in Catlettsburg. Ashland is the largest city in Boyd County, but the Boyd County Judicial Center is in Catlettsburg.
How much does it cost to open probate in Boyd 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. Boyd 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.
What payment methods does the Boyd County clerk list?
The Boyd County page lists cash, check, money order, credit cards and debit cards. A card service charge applies. The page also links to Pay online with ePay.
Does Boyd County have its own probate forms?
Boyd County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The county page does not list a separate Boyd County probate packet. Common forms include AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250 and AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file a Boyd County probate case?
Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system effective January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling effective January 1, 2024, but you may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Catlettsburg.
Can I appear remotely for a Boyd County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings, but Boyd County does not post probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 739-4131 before assuming the hearing is in person or remote.
Can I look up a Boyd County probate case online?
The state guest login portal requires an account, and the Administrative Office of the Courts directs trial-court record questions to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. A free no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and lists Boyd County, but it is a court-date lookup, not full case records.
What authority document do I get after appointment in Boyd County?
After appointment, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky also recognizes letters of appointment under KRS 395.105, and KRS 395.110 lets you ask the clerk for formal letters in due form under seal.
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.