Back to Kentucky
Campbell County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Campbell County details |
|---|---|
| Court and filing office | Campbell County District Court, filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Campbell County. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Courthouse address | Campbell County Courthouse, 330 York St., Room 8, Newport, KY 41071. Ask for the probate division of the clerk's office. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for Campbell County. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before mailing an estate packet. |
| Phone | District Court: (859) 292-6305. Clerk's office: (859) 292-6314, with District Court on option 1 and Circuit Court on option 2. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the office note on the court's own listing. The same listing's hours table shows an 8 a.m. opening, so call before an early trip. 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. Campbell 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. A will case also needs a separate check payable to the County Clerk for recording the will and the order. |
| Payment | Cash, local check, money order, and credit and debit cards, with a fee on card payments. Cash is required for bond if the court orders one under KRS 395.130. The county court listing also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts forms, retitled to name Campbell District Court as the local rules require. The court does not offer a separate Campbell County packet online. |
| E-filing | Attorneys must file eligible Kentucky probate papers electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register but may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Newport. |
| Online information | Kentucky does not publish a free public lookup for District Court probate case records. A free court-date lookup includes Campbell County and says it is not an official docket. |
| Remote appearance | Campbell County District Court's local rules provide for hearings by telephone and video at the judge's discretion, with a probate protocol. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming how a hearing will be held. |
| Local rules | 17th Judicial District local rules of practice, approved by the Supreme Court of Kentucky in May 2020, including local probate rules. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Campbell.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Campbell County, build a basic map of the estate: bank and investment accounts, vehicles, real property, debts, funeral expenses, heirs, and whether a will exists. That work determines whether you are asking for appointment on AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, asking the court to dispense with administration on AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, or preparing for a home sale that needs a personal representative.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they commit to a filing path. In Campbell County, that inventory also helps you call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk with better questions about the local probate rules, the recording check for a will case, and whether the hearing may be handled by telephone or video.
Which court handles jurisdiction
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 Campbell County, at the Campbell County Courthouse in Newport. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Campbell Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
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 Campbell County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Campbell County Courthouse in Newport.
The Newport courthouse serves all of Campbell County, including Alexandria, Bellevue, California, Cold Spring, Crestview, Dayton, Fort Thomas, Highland Heights, Melbourne, Mentor, Newport, Silver Grove, Southgate, Wilder, and Woodlawn. Campbell County is the whole 17th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, and the court lists two District Court divisions for the county.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, heirs, and will first. Use AOC-805 to ask for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145, include AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015 when appointment is requested, or use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Get the local appointment or hearing information. Campbell's local rule ULCR 86 says an appointment to probate a will or appoint a personal representative is obtained from the District Court Clerk by phone or in person if there is a contested issue, and from the judge's chambers if uncontested. If there is a contested issue, the petition must be filed at least one day before the appointment date.
- Prepare the Campbell packet. ULCR 89 expects the petition, witness form, waiver of recording, proposed order probating the will and appointing the executor, proposed order appointing the fiduciary, fiduciary bond form with the amount left blank, and Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807. Because Kentucky's bond statute changed effective July 15, 2026, KRS 395.130 controls whether a bond or surety is required.
- Use Campbell District Court as the court title. ULCR 89 says the statewide forms must be modified to reflect Campbell District Court, typed in black type no smaller than 12 point, and include the name, address, and phone number of both the attorney for the estate, if any, and the proposed personal representative.
- File at the Campbell County Courthouse, 330 York St., Newport, through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Attorneys must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system for eligible probate filings since January 1, 2024; a self-represented filer may register but may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- Pay the opening cost and bring the will-recording check if a will is involved. $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. Campbell 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. ULCR 87 also requires a separate check payable to the County Clerk for recording the will and the order admitting it.
- Serve the hearing notice. Campbell's ULCR 86 points to KRS 395.016, which requires written notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing mailed at least five days before the hearing, with proof of notice filed at the time of hearing, unless the people entitled to notice waive it in writing.
- Ask how the hearing will be held. ULCR 97 lets the judge conduct District Court proceedings by telephone and video technology at the judge's discretion. For a telephone or video probate hearing, the rule's notice form tells anyone who wants to attend to call the Campbell County District Judges office at (859) 292-6322 at least three working days before the hearing and provide an email address for the link.
- Receive authority after appointment. When the District Court appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 showing that the appointment order is in full force and effect. That certificate, together with a certified copy of the order appointing you, is what banks and title companies accept. 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.
- If a will was admitted, complete the county recording step. ULCR 90 makes the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney responsible for recording the will and the order with the Campbell County Clerk and for that office's recording charge.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory on AOC-841 within ninety days from qualifying, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. To close, use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610. A formal settlement goes on Campbell's monthly confirmation day and must reach the probate clerk at least seven days before that day.
Executor duties
| Local duty | What Campbell County adds |
|---|---|
| Bring proposed orders to the first hearing | ULCR 89 expects the order probating the will and appointing the executor, the order appointing the fiduciary, and the Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 to be presented with the petition. |
| Retitle and format the statewide forms | ULCR 89 requires the statewide forms to name Campbell District Court, to be typed in black type no smaller than 12 point, and to include the personal representative's name, address, and phone number. |
| Handle the will-recording step | ULCR 87 requires a separate check payable to the County Clerk when a will is involved, and ULCR 90 makes the petitioner or attorney responsible for recording the will and the order after admission. |
| Prepare the settlement backup | ULCR 94 requires a Kentucky inheritance tax acceptance photocopy with each final settlement of a decedent's estate (KRS 140.070), plus a probate accounting summary and vouchers, receipts, or canceled checks supporting disbursements. |
| Work backward from confirmation day | For a settlement under KRS 395.610, the settlement must reach the probate clerk at least seven days before Campbell County's monthly confirmation day. This local timing does not apply to an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Campbell County
Campbell County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The court does not offer a separate Campbell County packet online, but Campbell's local rules add practical requirements to how those forms are prepared and presented.
| Form or paper | Campbell County use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure filed with an appointment request under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification, which Campbell's ULCR 89 lists among the papers presented at the initial hearing. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate under KRS 395.250. The statewide statute gives ninety days and makes the inventory confidential and filed under seal; Campbell's older local rule mentions two months and duplicate filing, so ask the clerk's office what the court expects now. |
| AOC-846 and AOC-850 | AOC-846 is used for a settlement under KRS 395.610. AOC-850 is used for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. |
| Campbell local hearing papers | ULCR 89 also lists a waiver of recording and a witness form. Those papers are not offered online as a separate Campbell County packet, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Newport for them. |
ULCR 89 says uniform statewide forms must be modified to reflect the court title as Campbell District Court. It also allows a natural person with an interest in the estate, as beneficiary or personal representative, to present papers without being an attorney, if the person signs the papers and states an address under CR 11.
Fees
$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. Campbell 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.
Campbell County has one extra will-case payment step. ULCR 87 requires the initial filing to include a separate check payable to the County Clerk for recording the will and the order admitting it to probate, and ULCR 90 makes the petitioner or attorney responsible for that recording. The amount is not listed in the court materials, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk what the check should be for before you go to Newport.
The only probate fee exemption identified in the Kentucky materials is AOC-860 for a line-of-duty death. Do not assume hardship, family agreement, or the size of the estate changes the filing cost without a court order or a specific statutory exemption.
Timeline
- Ask for the appointment or hearing information before filing. ULCR 86 says the appointment comes from the District Court Clerk by phone or in person when there is a contested issue, and from the judge's chambers when uncontested.
- If there is a contested issue, file the petition at least one day before the appointment date. A contested probate matter remains governed by KRS 24A.120 unless it becomes an adversary proceeding filed fresh in Circuit Court.
- Mail hearing notice at least five days before the hearing under KRS 395.016, unless the people entitled to notice waive it in writing. Proof of notice is filed at the time of the hearing.
- If a telephone or video hearing is set, follow ULCR 97. The notice form says a person who wants to attend calls the Campbell County District Judges office at (859) 292-6322 at least three working days before the hearing and provides an email address for the link.
- If the parties do not agree on an administrator and the matter is handled by video, ULCR 97 says the video hearing must be at least ten days out to allow proper notice.
- After qualification, file the inventory on AOC-841. KRS 395.250 gives ninety days and makes the inventory confidential and filed under seal; Campbell's older local rule mentions two months, so ask the clerk's office what the court expects now.
- For a formal settlement under KRS 395.610, work backward from Campbell County's monthly confirmation day. ULCR 94 says the settlement must reach the probate clerk at least seven days before that date so it can be advertised.
- If no exception or objection is filed, ULCR 94 says the settlement is confirmed on confirmation day. That local confirmation-day process does not apply to an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Local nuance
Campbell County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Probate is filed in Newport, not Alexandria | Campbell County has public buildings in both places, but the Kentucky Court of Justice lists the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 330 York St. in Newport, and the 17th Judicial District's local rules use the same Newport address. |
| Two different elected clerks may be involved | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 330 York St. takes the probate filing. The separate Campbell County Clerk records the will and order after admission, and the local rules require a check payable to the County Clerk when a will is involved. |
| The court listing gives two opening times | The office note says 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the hours table shows an 8 a.m. opening. Call (859) 292-6305 before planning an early trip to Newport. |
| Campbell has local probate rules | The 17th Judicial District rules include local probate rules on appointments, filings, wills, inventories, settlements, and telephone or video hearings. |
| Some local rules predate the 2026 statutes | The local inventory rule is older than KRS 395.250, which now gives ninety days and makes the inventory confidential and filed under seal. The local bond guidance is older than KRS 395.130, which controls bond and surety questions after July 15, 2026. |
| Statewide forms are retitled here | ULCR 89 requires the uniform statewide forms to name Campbell District Court, and it lists a waiver of recording and witness form that are not offered online as a separate Campbell County packet. |
| Settlements use a monthly confirmation day | ULCR 94 says the court sets one confirmation day a month for estate settlements, and a settlement must reach the probate clerk at least seven days before that date. Ask the clerk's office for the date. |
| Campbell is its own judicial district | KRS 24A.030 makes Campbell County the entire 17th Judicial District, and the court lists two District Court divisions for Campbell County. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Campbell County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating assets that pass outside the estate from assets that need court authority. If court papers are needed, file at the Campbell County Courthouse, 330 York St., Newport. A petition to dispense with administration on AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 may fit some personal-property estates, but a co-owned home usually needs deed and title review. If a will is admitted, the petitioner is responsible for recording it and the order with the Campbell County Clerk. | Sunset helps identify accounts, flag real estate and title issues for attorney review, and assemble an estate settlement plan before you go to Newport. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 292-6305 before mailing papers, because Campbell County does not list a separate mailing address or mail-filing instruction. Ask about the local telephone and video hearing protocol under ULCR 97, and ask about payment because the court listing includes local check among the payment options. If you hire an attorney, the attorney must use Kentucky eFiling for eligible probate papers since January 1, 2024. | Sunset helps gather asset information from a distance, prepare a question list for the clerk, and connect you with a local attorney if a court appearance or home sale is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full estate and being appointed personal representative. File AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 in Newport, bring the proposed orders and other ULCR 89 papers to the initial hearing, and use the Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 with a certified copy of the appointment order for banks and title companies. If a dispute arises, it is filed fresh in Campbell Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps find assets and debts, build the probate packet, and connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney for sale authority and title issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Campbell County | The filing office for Campbell County estates. It can provide statewide forms, take the filing, give court-date information, and tell you the current filing amount. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice. | Campbell County Courthouse, 330 York St., Room 8, Newport, KY 41071. District Court: (859) 292-6305. Clerk's office: (859) 292-6314, District Court option 1. |
| Campbell County Clerk | The separate county office that records a will and the order admitting it after District Court action. It also handles land records, delinquent taxes, vehicles, voter registration, and marriage licenses. It does not take probate filings. | 1098 Monmouth Street, Newport, KY 41071, and 8330 W. Main St., Alexandria, KY 41001. Recordings: (859) 292-3845. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| 17th Judicial District local rules of practice | Campbell County District Court's probate rules, including how to get an appointment, what to bring to the initial hearing, wills, inventories, settlements, and telephone or video hearings. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Rules%20of%20Practice/D17LOCALRULES.pdf |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-808, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, AOC-850, 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 a Dispense with Administration interview and a Probate Estate interview. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | The civil legal aid program listed for Campbell County. Ask the program directly what help is available for your situation. | (859) 431-8200. https://lablaw.org/ |
| Northern Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral service | A local referral service for finding an attorney in the Northern Kentucky area. | 209 Greenup Street, Suite 310, Covington, Kentucky 41011. (859) 781-1300. https://www.nkybar.com/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Kentuckians can post a civil legal question online for a volunteer Kentucky attorney to answer. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | A statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney when the estate involves a home sale, family conflict, or tax and title questions. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | The Administrative Office of the Courts' plain-language probate booklet. It is statewide and was revised before the July 2026 probate amendments, so use current statutes and current forms for inventory and bond 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 locate financial accounts, insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets so the Campbell County filing matches what actually needs court authority.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for forms such as AOC-805, AOC-808, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, and AOC-850, and helps you see which Campbell County local-rule steps to ask about before filing.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, a contested appointment, missing heirs, creditor issues, or Campbell County's will-recording step, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a practical estate settlement starting point, from asset discovery to attorney connection, without charging families to use the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Campbell County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Campbell County Courthouse, 330 York St., Room 8, Newport, KY 41071. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, and Campbell's local rules refer to the probate division of the clerk's office.
Do I file in Newport or Alexandria?
File in Newport. The Kentucky Court of Justice lists one Campbell County address for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, 330 York St. in Newport, and the 17th Judicial District's local rules use the same address. The Alexandria Annex houses the separate Campbell County Clerk and the Sheriff.
Which clerk handles an estate in Campbell County?
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk handles the probate filing. The separate Campbell County Clerk becomes relevant when a will is admitted, because ULCR 87 and ULCR 90 require the will and order to be recorded with the County Clerk and require a separate check for that recording step.
How much does it cost to open probate in Campbell 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. Campbell 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. If a will is involved, also ask what amount to bring for the separate check payable to the County Clerk for recording.
How do I get a probate court date in Campbell County?
ULCR 86 says an appointment to probate a will or appoint a personal representative is obtained from the District Court Clerk by phone or in person if there is a contested issue, and from the judge's chambers if uncontested. Call the District Court line at (859) 292-6305 before you go.
Can a Campbell County probate hearing be handled by phone or video?
Campbell County District Court has a local rule, ULCR 97, for hearings by telephone and video at the judge's discretion. For a hearing handled that way, the rule's notice form says a person who wants to attend calls the Campbell County District Judges office at (859) 292-6322 at least three working days before the hearing and provides an email address for the link. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming how your hearing will be held.
Are there Campbell County probate forms?
Campbell County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. ULCR 89 requires the statewide forms to be modified to name Campbell District Court, and it lists a waiver of recording and witness form that are not offered online as a separate Campbell packet. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Newport for the local hearing papers.
Can I e-file probate papers in Campbell County?
Attorneys must file eligible probate papers through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for the system, but they may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Newport.
Can I look up a Campbell County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public lookup for District Court probate case records. A free court-date lookup includes Campbell County, but it says it is not an official docket and should be treated only as a court-date tool. For where an estate stands, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Newport.
When is the inventory due in Campbell County?
KRS 395.250 gives the personal representative ninety days from qualifying to file AOC-841, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal. Campbell's older ULCR 93 mentions two months and duplicate filing, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk what the court expects now before assuming you have the longer period.
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.