Back to Kentucky
Butler County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Butler County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Butler County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Butler County |
| Courthouse address | Butler County Courthouse, 110 N. Main St., Morgantown, KY 42261 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625 |
| Phone | (270) 526-5631 |
| 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. Butler 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Payment options | Cash, check, money order, and credit card payments in office. Pay online with ePay. |
| Local forms | Butler County uses Kentucky AOC probate forms. No separate Butler County probate packet is published on the county court page. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate filings 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 Morgantown office. |
| Court-date lookup | The county page links to the Kentucky court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. It is a court-date tool, not full case-file access. |
| Remote court | No Butler County probate Zoom login is posted on the county page. Kentucky remote-court instructions direct you to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for event login details. |
| Access at courthouse | Free parking around the building. Elevator to the second floor. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Butler.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Morgantown, make a working list of the estate's assets, debts, heirs, possible beneficiaries, and whether a will exists. The right filing path depends on what must pass through court, whether a personal representative is needed, and whether the family can use Kentucky's court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning what is found into a clearer filing plan for the Butler County office.
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 Butler County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Butler County courthouse in Morgantown.
The filing location is 110 N. Main St., Morgantown, KY 42261, or by mail to P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625. The court serves all of Butler County, including Morgantown, Rochester, Woodbury, and unincorporated parts of the county.
Butler County is in Kentucky's 38th Judicial District with Edmonson, Hancock, and Ohio counties (KRS 24A.030). The case remains a Butler County District Court probate filing under KRS 24A.120 through the Morgantown Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
The jurisdiction process
- List the property, accounts, debts, likely heirs, and whether there is a will before choosing a filing. This first estate settlement step helps you decide whether to ask for a personal representative or ask the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Choose the opening paper. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). Use AOC-830 if you are asking the judge to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Get the Kentucky AOC forms online or from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morgantown. Butler County uses the statewide form set, including AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015 when appointment is requested.
- File at the Butler County Courthouse, 110 N. Main St., Morgantown, KY 42261, or mail papers to P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate papers since January 1, 2024, while self-represented filers may use paper filing.
- 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. Butler 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The Butler County office publishes payment by cash, check, money order, and credit card in office, plus ePay online.
- Ask the clerk for the court date and any notice instructions. If creditor claims are part of the administration, Kentucky's claims period is governed by KRS 396.011.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming the hearing format. No Butler County probate Zoom login is posted on the county page, and Kentucky remote-court instructions send parties to the county clerk's office for event-specific login details.
- If the District Court appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, showing your authority. Kentucky also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
- After qualification, file the inventory required by KRS 395.250 no later than 90 days from qualifying. The inventory under KRS 395.250 is confidential and filed under seal.
- Administer and close the estate. Use AOC-846 for a settlement of estate under KRS 395.610, or AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that closing route fits.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Butler County
Butler County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Butler County form set. 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 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 to close. All of them are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morgantown will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Open an estate, probate a will, or request appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification used to show appointment authority after the court appoints a personal representative. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure required with an appointment request under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement filed under KRS 395.250 within 90 days after qualification. |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of estate under KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. |
| AOC-860 | Affidavit for Probate Fee Exemption, used for the line-of-duty probate fee exemption. |
Local nuance
Butler County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Separate mailing box | Use 110 N. Main St. for the courthouse visit and P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625 for mail. |
| Payment choices | The Butler County office publishes cash, check, money order, and credit card payments in office, plus ePay online. The page does not publish a card-fee amount. |
| Shared judicial district | Butler County is part of the 38th Judicial District with Edmonson, Hancock, and Ohio counties under KRS 24A.030, so ask the Morgantown office for the court date instead of assuming a daily probate docket. |
| Courthouse access | The county page lists free parking around the building and an elevator to the second floor. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Butler County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File at the Butler County Courthouse in Morgantown. If only personal property needs transfer, a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit. If the home must be sold through the estate, expect to open a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues before the spouse chooses the estate settlement filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate under KRS 395.455 | Mailing may help because the Morgantown office accepts papers at P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625. AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 may be the right request if the court can order transfer without appointing an executor or administrator. | Sunset organizes asset information and can help prepare a packet for a Kentucky attorney or the self-represented filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, then using the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, for banks and title companies. A contested matter is filed fresh in Butler Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps find accounts, produce a clearer estate settlement checklist, and connect the parent with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Butler County | Filing office for Butler County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current amount due under CR 3.03 and local add-ons, and give court-date information. The clerk's office does not provide legal advice. | Butler County Courthouse, 110 N. Main St., Morgantown, KY 42261; mail to P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625; (270) 526-5631 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-807, 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 | Free 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 |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for Butler County. Ask directly what help is available for your situation. | 270-782-1924; 800-782-1924; https://www.klaid.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. Use current statutes and forms for deadlines and bond rules under KRS 395.130, because the booklet predates the July 15, 2026 changes to KRS Chapter 395. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the will may be challenged, a home must be sold, heirs disagree, debts exceed available cash, tax filings are uncertain, or you live outside Kentucky and need someone to handle Morgantown filings and hearings. Estate settlement is easier when the attorney starts with a complete asset list and the right local filing address. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts so families are not relying only on paper mail and memory during estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Kentucky AOC forms used in Butler County, including the opening petition, asset list, and closing materials your situation calls for.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs counsel, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney who understands District Court filings and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk process.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand what exists, what needs to be filed, and what help to ask for, without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Butler County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Butler County at the Butler County Courthouse, 110 N. Main St., Morgantown, KY 42261. You may also mail filings to P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
What does it cost to open a Butler 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. Butler 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Can I pay Butler County probate costs by card?
The Butler County court page lists cash, check, money order, and credit card payments in office, plus ePay online. It does not publish a card-fee amount, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the current total under CR 3.03 before you file.
Does Butler County have its own probate forms?
Butler County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. Use AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 to open an estate, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 to request dispense with administration, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 for the inventory, and AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 to close.
Do attorneys have to e-file probate papers in Butler County?
Yes. Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. If you are representing yourself, you may register for eFiling, but you may still file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morgantown.
How do I find a Butler County probate court date?
The Butler County page links to the Kentucky court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. Treat it as a court-date tool, not full case-file access. You can also call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 526-5631.
Can I appear remotely for a Butler County probate hearing?
No Butler County probate Zoom login is posted on the county page. Kentucky courts have remote-court instructions, but those instructions say to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you are scheduled to appear. Call (270) 526-5631 before assuming the hearing will be remote or in person.
Do I have to travel to Morgantown to start probate?
Not always. Self-represented filers may mail papers to P.O. Box 625, Morgantown, KY 42261-0625, and attorneys must e-file eligible filings since January 1, 2024. If a hearing is set, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your Butler County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 requires you to appear in person.
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.