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Bullitt County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Bullitt County District Court, probate division. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Bullitt County |
| Courthouse address | Bullitt County Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Ave., Shepherdsville, KY 40165 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 746, Shepherdsville, KY 40165-0746 |
| Phone | (502) 543-7104, then choose option 5 for probate and guardianship. The court page also lists (502) 955-7764, (502) 543-2244 and (502) 955-7512, but does not label any one number as the probate line. |
| Fax | (502) 543-7158. The court publishes this as a contact fax, not as a filing method. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., eastern time; closed Saturday and Sunday. The court page lists no lunch closure or filing cutoff. |
| Filing fee | $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. Bullitt 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 (KRS 453.060) where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The statewide accounting manual lists the $20 court technology fee as effective July 1, 2018. |
| Local forms | None of its own. Bullitt County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys are required to e-file Kentucky probate cases through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the counter or by mail. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky does not publish a free public case search for District Court probate cases. Bullitt County's court page links a free court-date lookup by county at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, which includes Bullitt County and says it is not an official docket. For the status of an estate, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Bullitt County's court page publishes Zoom links for its Circuit Court divisions, Family Court division and District Court. Whether a particular probate matter is in person or remote is up to the judge; contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming either way. |
| Payment methods | Cash, in-state personal check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, credit card up to $2,500 as listed on the county payment page in August 2026, and debit card. A card fee applies, but the amount is not published. Payments are made payable to the Bullitt Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Parking | Parking around the building, with designated parking for people with a disability parking permit. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Bullitt.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Shepherdsville, list the accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts and likely beneficiaries. That work determines whether you are asking for appointment of a personal representative or asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, and it also helps you call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk with the right questions about the current filing total.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families identify assets across 2,300 institutions, organize liabilities and prepare for the local filing conversation. In Bullitt County, that preparation is especially useful because the court publishes payment rules and phone routing, but not a probate docket or fee schedule.
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 Bullitt County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bullitt County Judicial Center in Shepherdsville.
The same Shepherdsville filing point serves incorporated places such as Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Hillview, Lebanon Junction, Pioneer Village, Fox Chase, Hebron Estates and Hunters Hollow, and county communities such as Brooks, Zoneton, Clermont and Bardstown Junction. A Louisville-area address, employer, bank or doctor does not move a Bullitt County resident's estate to Louisville.
Bullitt County is the 55th Judicial District by itself. KRS 24A.030(55) lists the Fifty-fifth Judicial District as Bullitt, so the county is not sharing its District Court district with another county.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the asset and debt list. Identify bank accounts, vehicles, real property, bills and possible beneficiaries before choosing the Kentucky filing path. If you are asking to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 and KRS 395.455; if you are asking for appointment of an executor or administrator, use AOC-805 under KRS 394.145.
- Get the forms. Bullitt County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. Frequently used forms include AOC-805 to open the estate, AOC-808 Financial Disclosure under KRS 395.015, AOC-830 for dispense-with-administration requests under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610 and AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
- File in the right Shepherdsville building. Take papers to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bullitt County Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Ave., Shepherdsville, KY 40165, or mail them to P.O. Box 746, Shepherdsville, KY 40165-0746. Do not take estate papers to the Bullitt County Courthouse on Buckman Street or the Bullitt County Clerk on Walnut Street.
- Use the correct electronic filing rule. Attorneys are required to e-file Kentucky probate cases through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. If you are handling the estate yourself, you may register as a self-represented filer, but you may still file on paper at the counter or by mail.
- 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. Bullitt 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 (KRS 453.060) where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The statewide accounting manual lists the $20 court technology fee as effective July 1, 2018.
- Follow Bullitt County's payment rules. The office lists cash, in-state personal check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, credit card up to $2,500 as listed on the county payment page in August 2026, and debit card. A card fee applies, but the court page does not publish the amount. Personal checks must include a Social Security number, birth date and phone number, and payments are made payable to the Bullitt Circuit Court Clerk.
- Ask about scheduling. Bullitt County's court page does not publish probate motion days, a probate docket or a filing-to-hearing window. Call (502) 543-7104 and choose option 5 for probate and guardianship. The county page also links the statewide court-date lookup, which says it is not an official docket.
- Ask before assuming a remote appearance. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, and Bullitt County's page posts Zoom links for District Court and other divisions. Whether your probate matter is heard in person or remotely is for the judge to decide, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before making travel plans.
- Receive authority if the court appoints you. When the District Court appoints a personal representative under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. Kentucky also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105, and banks or title companies commonly ask for the certificate together with a certified copy of the appointment order.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory on AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, make any allowed distribution under KRS 395.190 and close with the settlement paperwork that fits the estate, including AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605. Sunset can help keep the estate settlement organized while you work through those steps.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bullitt County
Bullitt County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Bullitt County form set published by the court. You file AOC-805 to open an 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.
The statewide form list also includes AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, AOC-808 Financial Disclosure under KRS 395.015 and AOC-860 for the narrow probate fee exemption. The forms are free through the Kentucky Court of Justice, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Shepherdsville can provide paper copies, but the clerk is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice.
Local nuance
Bullitt County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Three Shepherdsville buildings | File estate papers at the Bullitt County Judicial Center on Frank E. Simon Avenue. The building called the Bullitt County Courthouse on Buckman Street is county government, and the Bullitt County Clerk on Walnut Street handles county-clerk functions, not District Court probate filings under KRS 24A.120. |
| Phone menu | Call (502) 543-7104 and choose option 5 for probate and guardianship. The court page lists four numbers, but it does not label any one of them as a dedicated probate line. |
| Payment rules | Bullitt County lists in-state personal checks, not out-of-state personal checks. It also lists credit cards up to $2,500 as shown on the county payment page in August 2026, debit cards with a fee, and checks payable to the Bullitt Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote information | The county page posts Zoom links for District Court, Circuit Court divisions and Family Court. Do not assume a probate matter is remote; contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk and ask how your hearing will be handled. |
| Parking | The county page states that parking is around the building and that designated parking is available for people with a disability parking permit. |
| Judicial district | KRS 24A.030(55) places Bullitt County alone in the 55th Judicial District. That is useful scheduling context, but the estate still begins with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Bullitt County. |
| Louisville-area confusion | If the person lived in Mount Washington, Hillview, Brooks or anywhere else in Bullitt County, file in Shepherdsville. A Louisville employer, bank or doctor does not change the county filing point under KRS 394.140. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating jointly owned property from assets that need District Court action under KRS 24A.120. If a Kentucky dispense-with-administration request is relevant, it uses AOC-830 and KRS 395.455, but real property questions often need advice before filing in Shepherdsville. | Sunset organizes accounts, property and debts so the spouse can see what may require a court filing and what may pass outside the estate settlement. |
| out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Mail papers to P.O. Box 746, Shepherdsville, KY 40165-0746, or use a Kentucky attorney who must e-file since January 1, 2024. Bullitt County lists in-state personal checks only, so an out-of-state filer should ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk about certified check, cashier's check, money order, card payment or the online payment link. Any dispense-with-administration request must fit KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps gather the account list, build the packet and decide what to ask the clerk before booking travel to Shepherdsville. |
| parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires appointment of a personal representative, AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. If the matter becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 send the dispute to Bullitt Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, in the same Shepherdsville Judicial Center. | Sunset helps assemble the estate settlement record and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when real property, sale authority or a dispute is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Bullitt County | The filing office for Bullitt County estates. It can provide forms, tell you the current filing total under CR 3.03 and give court-date information, but it cannot give legal advice. | Bullitt County Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Ave., Shepherdsville, KY 40165; mail to P.O. Box 746, Shepherdsville, KY 40165-0746; (502) 543-7104, option 5; fax (502) 543-7158 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-807, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided interviews for self-represented people, including Dispense with Administration and Probate Estate topics. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid Society | The civil legal aid program serving Bullitt County. Ask the program directly whether it can help with your situation. | (502) 584-1254; https://www.yourlegalaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | An online service where an income-eligible Kentuckian can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Kentucky attorney. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | A referral resource for finding a Kentucky attorney when the estate involves real estate, disputes or questions the clerk cannot answer. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | The Administrative Office of the Courts' statewide plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and court forms for deadlines and fiduciary-security questions. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, property and liabilities before they file, so the estate settlement starts with a clear picture of what exists and what may need court authority.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Kentucky forms used in Bullitt County, including the opening petition, the dispense-with-administration path under KRS 395.455 when appropriate and the documents needed after appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, an out-of-state personal representative or questions the Office of Circuit Court Clerk cannot answer, Sunset can help connect the family with Kentucky probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to move from asset discovery to estate settlement planning without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bullitt County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Bullitt County Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Ave., Shepherdsville, KY 40165, or mail papers to P.O. Box 746, Shepherdsville, KY 40165-0746. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
Do I file in Louisville if my relative lived in Bullitt County but used Louisville banks or doctors?
No. Kentucky sends the estate to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and an intestate estate goes to the same court under KRS 395.030. A Bullitt County resident's estate is filed in Shepherdsville.
What number do I call for a Bullitt County probate question?
Call (502) 543-7104 and choose option 5 for probate and guardianship. The court page lists additional phone numbers, but it does not label any one number as a dedicated probate line.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Bullitt 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. Bullitt 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 (KRS 453.060) where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The statewide accounting manual lists the $20 court technology fee as effective July 1, 2018.
How can I pay the Bullitt County probate filing cost?
The court page lists cash, in-state personal check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, credit card up to $2,500 as listed on the county payment page in August 2026, and debit card. A card fee applies, but the amount is not published. Personal checks must include a Social Security number, birth date and phone number, and payments are made payable to the Bullitt Circuit Court Clerk.
Are there Bullitt County probate forms?
Bullitt County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts forms and does not publish a separate Bullitt County probate form set. Frequently used 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.
Can I e-file a Bullitt County probate case?
An attorney handling a Kentucky probate case is required to e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. A self-represented filer may register, but may still file on paper at the Shepherdsville counter or by mail.
Can I appear by video in Bullitt County probate?
Bullitt County's court page publishes Zoom links for District Court and other divisions, and Kentucky courts have used remote proceedings since March 2020. Whether your probate matter is in person or remote is up to the judge, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming either way.
Can I look up a Bullitt County estate online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public case search for District Court probate cases. Bullitt County's court page links a free court-date lookup by county that includes Bullitt County and says it is not an official docket, but for the status of an estate you should call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
When is the Bullitt County Office of Circuit Court Clerk open?
The office hours published for the Judicial Center are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., eastern time, closed Saturday and Sunday. The court page also states that parking is around the building, with designated parking for people with a disability parking permit.
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.