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Carroll County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Carroll County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Carroll County District Court, with probate papers filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Courthouse address | William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay St., Carrollton, KY 41008. |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing box is published for Carroll County. Use the courthouse address unless the Office of Circuit Court Clerk gives you different instructions. |
| Phone | (502) 732-4305, (502) 732-4306, and (502) 732-4307. Carroll County's page lists all three as Office of Circuit Court Clerk lines and does not assign them by division. |
| Fax | (502) 732-8138. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing 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. Carroll 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. |
| County forms | Carroll County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The county page does not publish a separate Carroll County probate form packet. |
| Electronic filing | Kentucky probate cases are e-filed through the Kentucky Court of Justice system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must file electronically, while a self-represented filer may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet runs behind the Kentucky Court of Justice account portal and requires an account, and the Administrative Office of the Courts directs trial-court record requests to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. A separate free court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. |
| Remote proceedings | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Carroll County's page does not publish District Court probate login information. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a Carroll County probate hearing will be remote or in person. |
| Payment options | Cash, personal check, and money order. Carroll County's page also links to Pay online with ePay. |
| Accessibility | Designated parking for those with disability parking permit. Ramps. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Carroll.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Carroll County, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, and likely beneficiaries. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton publishes no county probate checklist or fee schedule, so a clean asset and liability picture makes the first call and the first filing more productive.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can help find accounts across 2,300 institutions, organize the information you need for the Kentucky AOC forms, and prepare you for the local filing step at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice.
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 Carroll County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Carroll County courthouse in Carrollton.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk publishes one Carroll County filing location: the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay St., Carrollton, KY 41008. Carroll County shares the 15th Judicial District with Grant and Owen counties (KRS 24A.030), so the District Judge also serves those counties and Carroll County probate matters are handled on the days the court sits in Carrollton.
Carroll County estates from Carrollton, Ghent, Prestonville, Sanders, Worthville, and the county's unincorporated communities use the same courthouse in Carrollton.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm the forum. 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 Carroll County, at the Carroll County courthouse in Carrollton. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Carroll Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
- Choose the right statewide AOC form. Use AOC-805 for a petition to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), or AOC-830 if you are asking Carroll County District Court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. Carroll County uses the statewide form set and does not publish a separate county probate packet.
- Prepare the appointment papers. Kentucky's current appointment process includes the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015, using AOC-808, and bond is not required by default under KRS 395.130 unless the court orders one.
- File in Carrollton or file electronically if you are counsel. File at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay St., Carrollton, KY 41008. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must file electronically, and the circuit clerk will reject paper the attorney could have e-filed. If you are handling the estate yourself, you may register for the eFiling system, but you may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton.
- Pay or confirm 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. Carroll 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. Carroll County lists cash, personal check, money order, and Pay online with ePay.
- Ask for the court date. Carroll County's page does not publish a separate probate docket or hearing day. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date, time, and whether anything else is needed before the judge reviews the petition.
- Ask before relying on a remote appearance. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but Carroll County does not publish District Court probate login information. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 732-4305 before assuming either a remote or in-person appearance.
- Get proof of authority if appointed. When the District Court appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, 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 and close it. File the inventory on AOC-841 within 90 days of qualification, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, then close with the appropriate Kentucky settlement form, such as AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Carroll County
Carroll County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Carroll County form set published on the county court page. You file AOC-805 to open the estate or request appointment 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.
The forms are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton can provide the legal forms. The clerk can provide forms, tell you the required amount to file under CR 3.03, and give court-date information, but the clerk cannot give legal advice.
Local nuance
Carroll County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to know |
|---|---|
| Three office phone lines | Carroll County lists (502) 732-4305, (502) 732-4306, and (502) 732-4307 under the Office of Circuit Court Clerk without division labels. Use them as office lines, not as separate probate, District, or Circuit labels. |
| County clerk name trap | Probate papers are filed with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Hall of Justice. The separate Carroll County Clerk is a different office for matters such as land records and vehicle titles and is not the probate filing office. |
| No published Carroll probate docket | Carroll County's court page does not publish a separate probate docket, motion day, or filing cutoff. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the hearing date and filing logistics. |
| Contested matters and Circuit Court video requests | Routine probate starts in District Court under KRS 24A.120. If a dispute becomes an original adversary proceeding in Carroll Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240, the 15th Judicial Circuit local rule allows counsel to appear for certain motion hearings by Zoom only on request and with the court's prior approval, with listed exceptions for motions to set and special-hearing scheduling requests. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 15th Judicial Circuit local rules | The Carroll, Grant, and Owen Circuit Court local rules were approved by Supreme Court order entered December 16, 2025. The Circuit Court rule on Zoom applies to Circuit Court motion hearings, not ordinary District Court probate filings under KRS 24A.120. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Carroll County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming what passes outside probate and what still needs Carroll County District Court under KRS 24A.120. If court action is needed, file through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton. A surviving-spouse request to dispense with administration uses AOC-830 and KRS 395.455, and the KRS 391.030 exemption may matter to that analysis. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title clues so the spouse can see whether a Carroll County estate settlement filing is needed and what should be listed before calling the clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Do not use an out-of-court affidavit. Kentucky does not have a small-estate affidavit. A child may need to ask Carroll County District Court to dispense with administration using AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, or file for administration if appointment is needed. | Sunset organizes the account search, prepares a probate packet using Kentucky form numbers, and helps the child decide what must be handled before traveling to Carrollton or asking about remote options through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home cannot transfer without a personal representative, the parent may need full administration in Carroll County District Court under KRS 24A.120. Once appointed, the personal representative uses the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 to work with the title company and then closes the estate with the proper settlement form. | Sunset helps gather property, mortgage, account, and debt information, then connects the family with a Kentucky probate attorney when a sale, title issue, or creditor claim under KRS 396.011 makes estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Carroll County | William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay St., Carrollton, KY 41008. Phone: (502) 732-4305. Fax: (502) 732-8138. | The filing office for Carroll County estates. The office can provide legal forms, tell you the amount required to file under CR 3.03, and give court-date information, but it 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 | Free guided interviews, including Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | (859) 431-8200. https://lablaw.org/ | The civil legal aid program listed for Carroll County. Ask the program directly about eligibility and whether it can help with your issue. |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ | Free online civil legal questions answered by a volunteer Kentucky attorney. |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv | Statewide lawyer referral information for families who need a Kentucky probate attorney. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful when a Carroll County estate includes real estate that must be sold, a dispute among heirs, unclear title, tax questions, unpaid creditor claims under KRS 396.011, or a move from District Court to Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. If the filing is straightforward, self-represented paper filing remains available at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton, but counsel can prevent delays when the estate settlement has legal or title risk. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build the asset picture before filing in Carroll County, including accounts, debts, insurance, and property details that affect whether probate is needed and what the personal representative must manage.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Kentucky's statewide AOC forms and helps you prepare a practical estate settlement packet for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Carroll County estate involves a home sale, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, a dispute, or questions about who should serve, Sunset can connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, collect documents, and decide what to file next without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Carroll County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay St., Carrollton, KY 41008. Kentucky probate is filed in District Court under KRS 24A.120, and venue normally follows the county where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
Do I use the Carroll County Clerk or the Office of Circuit Court Clerk?
Use the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for probate. The separate Carroll County Clerk is a different office for matters such as land records and vehicle titles, not the District Court probate filing office under KRS 24A.120.
How much does it cost to open a Carroll 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. Carroll 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 Carroll County clerk publish?
Carroll County lists cash, personal check, and money order, and its page links to Pay online with ePay. The page does not publish a card option or phone-payment instruction for probate filings under CR 3.03.
Are there Carroll County probate forms?
Carroll County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for a request 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.
Can I e-file a Carroll County probate case?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must file electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling, but you may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton.
Can I appear remotely for a Carroll County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but Carroll County does not publish District Court probate login information. Whether a particular probate matter is remote or in person is a court question, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 732-4305 before assuming either way.
Can I look up a Carroll County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet runs behind the Kentucky Court of Justice account portal and requires an account, and trial-court case information is handled through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. A free no-login court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, but use it as a court-date lookup only.
What are the Carroll County clerk's hours?
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk lists Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed Saturday and Sunday. The page does not publish a lunch closure or filing cutoff, so call before making a late-day trip.
Is the Carroll County courthouse accessible?
Carroll County lists designated parking for those with disability parking permit and ramps at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice.
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.