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Bracken County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Bracken County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Bracken County. |
| Courthouse | Bracken County Judicial Center, 132 W. Miami St., Brooksville, KY 41004. |
| P.O. Box 205, Brooksville, KY 41004-0205. | |
| Phone | District: (606) 735-2522 for probate matters. Circuit: (606) 735-3328. |
| Fax | (606) 735-3900. |
| Hours | Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon; Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Amount 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. Bracken 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 are accepted, with a card fee. Cash is required for bond if bond is ordered under KRS 395.130. The county page also links to ePay. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. No separate Bracken County probate packet is published on the county court page. |
| E-filing | Attorneys handling eligible probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for eFiling, but may still file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Brooksville. |
| Court dates | District Civil, Probate and Small Claims is listed for Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 11 a.m. Kentucky also has a court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets, but it is not full trial-court case records. |
| Case information | CourtNet and the Kentucky court portal are account-based. For Bracken County District Court probate case records under KRS 24A.120, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Brooksville. |
| Remote appearance | No Bracken County probate Zoom login is posted on the county page. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your matter will be in person or remotely. |
| Parking and drop box | Parking is on the west side of the building and in the rear lot. Disability parking is on the west side. The drive-thru and drop box are on the east side. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Bracken.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a form or call the Bracken County Office of Circuit Court Clerk, make a list of the accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, funeral expenses, and beneficiary information you already know. Kentucky probate paperwork turns on what property must pass through court and whether someone must be appointed to act for the estate.
Sunset can help with estate settlement by searching for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, then organizing what you find into a Kentucky probate workflow before you file in Brooksville.
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 Bracken County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bracken County courthouse in Brooksville.
Bracken County District Court serves all of Bracken County, including Brooksville, Augusta, Germantown, and the county's unincorporated communities. Bracken County is in Kentucky's 19th Judicial District with Fleming and Mason counties under KRS 24A.030, but a Bracken County estate is still filed through the Bracken County Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
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 Bracken County, at the Bracken County courthouse in Brooksville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Bracken Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, likely beneficiaries, and any will before you choose the filing path. If there is a will, AOC-805 is the petition used to probate it and seek appointment under KRS 394.145. If there is no will, administration is in the same District Court under KRS 395.030.
- Choose the correct statewide form. AOC-805 opens an estate and asks for appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. AOC-830 is used only when you ask the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Prepare the Kentucky AOC forms. Bracken County uses the statewide form set, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, AOC-841 inventory under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 settlement under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bracken County Judicial Center, 132 W. Miami St., Brooksville, KY 41004, or mail papers to P.O. Box 205, Brooksville, KY 41004-0205. Call the District line, (606) 735-2522, before mailing if you need the current total or a court date.
- Pay the opening amount. $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. Bracken 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. In person, the office accepts cash, check, money order, credit cards and debit cards, with a card fee. Cash is required for bond if bond is ordered under KRS 395.130.
- Track the local docket. Bracken County lists District Civil, Probate and Small Claims on Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 11 a.m. The county also lists District Criminal on Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 9 a.m.; Domestic Violence on Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m.; Juvenile on the second and fourth Tuesday at 1 p.m.; and Circuit Court on the third Thursday.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but Bracken County does not post a probate login on its county page. The Kentucky Court of Justice directs people to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear.
- After appointment, get proof of authority. When the District Court appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, showing that the appointment order is in full force and effect. 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 the estate. A personal representative files the inventory within 90 days, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011. Kentucky no longer requires bond by default, but the court may order bond under KRS 395.130.
- Close the estate when it is ready. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610. Keep the Bracken County District line, (606) 735-2522, handy for hearing dates and questions about local submission mechanics.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bracken County
Bracken County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Bracken County form set published on the county court page. You file form AOC-805 to open the estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, 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. All of them are free at kycourts.gov, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Brooksville will also hand you paper copies.
Current statewide forms also include AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, AOC-809 Declaration of Oath of Fiduciary, AOC-825 Fiduciary Bond under KRS 395.130, and AOC-860 for the narrow probate fee exemption connected to qualifying line-of-duty deaths. Ask the Brooksville office which forms must be included for your facts.
Timeline
- Use the local court schedule when planning your filing. Bracken County lists District Civil, Probate and Small Claims on Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 11 a.m.
- Call the District line, (606) 735-2522, before you rely on a Tuesday date. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk can tell you whether your Bracken County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 has been placed on that docket.
- If you need a remote appearance, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before the court date. No Bracken County probate Zoom login is posted on the county page.
- After the judge appoints a personal representative, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and any certified order copies needed for banks or a title company.
- After qualification, calendar the 90 day inventory deadline under KRS 395.250 and the later settlement steps under KRS 395.605 or KRS 395.610.
Local nuance
Bracken County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Use the District line for probate | The county page lists both Circuit, (606) 735-3328, and District, (606) 735-2522. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, so start with the District line for estate questions. |
| Wednesday is a half day | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk is listed as open Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are listed as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Tuesday probate docket | District Civil, Probate and Small Claims is listed for Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 11 a.m. Call before you travel because the posted schedule does not give a filing-to-hearing wait. |
| Payment and drop box | The Bracken page lists cash, check, money order, credit cards and debit cards, with a card fee. The drive-thru and drop box are on the east side of the building. |
| Local rules scan | The 19th Judicial District local-rules PDF posted by the court is an image scan that did not provide readable rule text in this build. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk about any local probate practice before assuming the posted scan answers it. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Bracken County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and what property still needs court authority. File in Brooksville if the person lived in Bracken County. A personal-property-only estate may fit a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, but a home sale often means opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps gather account and title information, organize the estate settlement plan, and prepare questions for the Brooksville filing office or an attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the District line, (606) 735-2522, before mailing papers to P.O. Box 205, Brooksville, KY 41004-0205. Kentucky's small estate route is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit. If you use AOC-830, include KRS 395.455 in your planning and ask how the Bracken County docket will be set. | Sunset helps you locate accounts, sort documents remotely, and generate a packet checklist before you mail or travel. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires a full estate opening in Bracken County District Court under KRS 24A.120. After appointment, use the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and authority described in KRS 395.105 for banks and title companies. If the matter becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 send the dispute to Bracken Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding. | Sunset helps identify accounts and debts, generate the probate packet, and connect you with a local probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel useful. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Bracken County | Filing office for Bracken County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current amount due, and give court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Bracken County Judicial Center, 132 W. Miami St., Brooksville, KY 41004. Mail: P.O. Box 205, Brooksville, KY 41004-0205. District: (606) 735-2522. Circuit: (606) 735-3328. Fax: (606) 735-3900. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, AOC-850 under KRS 395.605, and AOC-860. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided interviews for self-represented people, 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 |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | Civil legal aid program listed for Bracken County. Ask the program directly what help is available for your issue. | 859-431-8200; https://lablaw.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Kentuckians can post a civil legal question online for a volunteer attorney to answer. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | AOC plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Because the booklet predates July 15, 2026 changes, use current statutes for the 90 day inventory rule under KRS 395.250 and bond under KRS 395.130. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes real estate to sell, disagreement among heirs, a possible will contest under KRS 394.240, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, or a contested matter that may become an original adversary proceeding in Bracken Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120. Counsel is also useful when you are filing from outside Kentucky or when title companies need clean authority documents. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families discover accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may need to be included in the estate settlement plan before filing in Bracken County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes what you know into a Kentucky probate packet using the right form names, such as AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and closing forms under KRS 395.605 or KRS 395.610.
Find a local probate attorney. If a home sale, creditor issue, tax question, or family dispute makes the case harder, Sunset can connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney who can advise on the next step.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to stay organized, reduce missed assets, and move through estate settlement with a clearer plan.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bracken County?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Bracken County at the Bracken County Judicial Center, 132 W. Miami St., Brooksville, KY 41004. Mail goes to P.O. Box 205, Brooksville, KY 41004-0205. Kentucky sends the estate to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and District Court has probate jurisdiction under KRS 24A.120.
Which phone number should I call for a Bracken County probate matter?
Call the District line, (606) 735-2522. The county also lists a Circuit line, (606) 735-3328, but probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
What does it cost to open probate in Bracken 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. Bracken 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 Bracken County have local probate forms?
Bracken County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC forms. The county court page does not publish a separate Bracken County probate form set. Common forms include 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.
When are Bracken County probate matters heard?
The county page lists District Civil, Probate and Small Claims on Tuesdays, except the fifth Tuesday, at 11 a.m. Call the District line, (606) 735-2522, to ask whether your matter is on that docket and whether the date has changed.
Can I appear remotely for a Bracken County probate hearing?
No Bracken County probate Zoom login is posted on the county page. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely since March 2020, but the Kentucky Court of Justice directs people to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear. Call (606) 735-2522 before you assume the hearing is remote or in person.
Can I e-file a Bracken County probate case?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. If you are handling the estate yourself, you may register for eFiling, but you may also file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Brooksville.
Can I look up a Bracken County probate case online?
Kentucky has a free court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets, but it is not full trial-court case records. CourtNet and the Kentucky court portal are account-based, and the Administrative Office of the Courts does not provide trial-court case records directly. For a Bracken County District Court probate case under KRS 24A.120, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Brooksville.
Do I have to travel to Brooksville to start estate settlement?
Not always. You can ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether papers may be mailed to P.O. Box 205, Brooksville, KY 41004-0205, and whether any hearing can be handled remotely through instructions from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. If you pay in person, the county page lists cash, check, money order, credit cards and debit cards, with a card fee.
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.