Back to Kentucky
Carter County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Carter County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Carter County. |
| Courthouse address | Carter County Justice Center, 100 E. Main St., Grayson, KY 41143. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is listed for Carter County. Use the courthouse address and call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before mailing original documents. |
| Phone | District Court probate line: (606) 474-6572. Circuit line: (606) 474-5191. |
| Fax | (606) 474-8826. Call before relying on fax for probate papers. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Fee 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. Carter 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. |
| Forms | Carter County uses Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms. The Carter County court page does not list a separate local probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson. |
| Case and court dates | Kentucky does not provide a free full District Court probate case-record search. The Kentucky courts account portal requires an account, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the contact for Carter County trial-court case information. A separate no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom for some proceedings since March 2020, but Carter County does not list probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a Carter County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 will be in person or remote. |
| Payment | Cash, check, and money order are listed. The Carter County page also links to Pay online with ePay. No credit or debit card counter option is listed. |
| Accessibility | Elevator. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Carter.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Carter County, make a practical list of what the person owned, what was jointly held, what had a beneficiary, and what bills are still open. That first inventory of accounts, debts, and real estate will tell you whether you are asking the Carter County District Court under KRS 24A.120 for appointment of a personal representative, or whether another Kentucky route fits.
Sunset can support estate settlement before the courthouse step by helping search across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you find into the probate forms and questions you will take to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Kentucky sends a will to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140, and if there is no will, administration goes to the same court under KRS 395.030. If the person lived anywhere in Carter County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Carter County Justice Center in Grayson.
Carter County has one listed filing location: 100 E. Main St., Grayson, KY 41143. The same courthouse serves estates from Grayson, Olive Hill, and unincorporated parts of Carter County. Do not confuse Grayson, the city where this courthouse sits, with Grayson County, Kentucky, whose courthouse is elsewhere.
Carter County is the 37th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030. Carter County District Court handles probate under KRS 24A.120, and the county lists District Court each Wednesday at 9 a.m.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, heirs, and beneficiaries before choosing forms. 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 Carter County, at the Carter County courthouse in Grayson. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Carter Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
- Use Kentucky statewide AOC forms. AOC-805 is the petition to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. AOC-830 is used only when asking to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. AOC-841 is the inventory under KRS 395.250. AOC-846 and AOC-850 are closing forms tied to settlement under KRS 395.610 and KRS 395.605.
- File at the Carter County Justice Center, 100 E. Main St., Grayson, KY 41143. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must e-file eligible Kentucky probate papers, while a self-represented filer may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- Pay the amount due when opening the 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. Carter 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.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the hearing date or next available setting. Carter County lists District Court each Wednesday at 9 a.m., but it does not name a separate probate docket.
- Ask about remote appearance before making travel plans. Carter County does not list local Zoom login information, and the statewide remote-court instructions tell parties to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear.
- If the court appoints you, get the authority documents. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and Kentucky also refers to the fiduciary authority as letters of appointment under KRS 395.105.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory under KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, distribute only when allowed under KRS 395.190, and close by informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or settlement under KRS 395.610 when the estate is ready.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Carter County
Carter County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The Carter County court page does not list a separate Carter County probate form set, packet, or local cover sheet.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator, tied to KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification, the clerk-issued proof of appointment. |
| AOC-808 | Financial Disclosure, tied to KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to Dispense with Administration, tied to KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate, tied to KRS 395.250. |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of Estate, tied to KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for Informal Final Settlement, tied to KRS 395.605. |
You can get the statewide forms through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page or ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson for paper copies. The clerk can provide forms and court-date information, but cannot give legal advice.
Timeline
- Carter County is the 37th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, and Carter County District Court handles probate under KRS 24A.120 at the Carter County Justice Center in Grayson.
- The county lists District Court every Wednesday at 9 a.m. It does not name a separate probate docket, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 474-6572 when an estate matter will be called.
- The county lists Circuit Court civil motions on the first and third Monday at 1 p.m. If a probate dispute becomes a Circuit Court adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, confirm the setting with the clerk.
- After appointment, statewide estate deadlines still control: the inventory is due under KRS 395.250, creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011, and final settlement is handled under KRS 395.605 or KRS 395.610.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Carter County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating jointly held property from assets that need a Carter County District Court filing under KRS 24A.120. If court authority is needed, file through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson and ask whether the matter will be set on the Wednesday District Court calendar. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary designations, debts, and documents so the spouse can choose the right filing path for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a modest estate | Call the District Court probate line, (606) 474-6572, before traveling. Ask which statewide AOC forms are needed, whether a paper filing is acceptable for a self-represented filer, and whether the hearing will require a trip to Grayson. | Sunset helps gather asset information remotely, organize the probate packet, and connect the family with a Kentucky attorney if travel or authority questions become difficult. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of estate real estate is a reason to get legal help before filing. If appointment is needed, the Carter County District Court under KRS 24A.120 issues authority through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, including a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807. | Sunset helps organize the estate settlement file, locate accounts that may affect the sale plan, and connect the parent with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Carter County | Carter County Justice Center, 100 E. Main St., Grayson, KY 41143. District line: (606) 474-6572. Circuit line: (606) 474-5191. | The filing office for Carter County estates. The clerk's office can provide forms, tell you the amount due, and give court-date information. |
| 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 | 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 Carter County. Ask the program directly about eligibility and whether it can help with your situation. |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ | 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. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families discover financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may belong in the Carter County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes what you enter into a Carter County probate packet using Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, so you can file with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson or review the packet with counsel.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves real estate, a dispute, creditor issues under KRS 396.011, or questions about appointment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, prepare for probate, and understand next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Carter County, Kentucky?
File Carter County probate papers with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Carter County Justice Center, 100 E. Main St., Grayson, KY 41143. Carter County District Court handles probate under KRS 24A.120.
Which Carter County phone number should I call for probate?
Call the District Court line at (606) 474-6572 for probate matters under KRS 24A.120. Carter County also lists a Circuit line, (606) 474-5191, but probate starts in District Court.
How much does it cost to open probate in Carter 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. Carter 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 Carter County have its own probate forms?
Carter County uses Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms. Use AOC-805 for a probate or appointment petition under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for a dispense-with-administration request under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 for settlement under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file a Carter County probate case?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must use the Kentucky electronic filing system. A self-represented filer may register for the system, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson.
Can I attend a Carter County probate hearing remotely?
Carter County does not list local Zoom login details for probate matters. Kentucky's statewide remote-court instructions tell parties to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear, so call (606) 474-6572 before making plans.
How do I look up a Carter County probate case?
Kentucky does not provide a free full District Court probate case-record search. The Kentucky courts account portal requires an account, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the contact for Carter County trial-court information. A no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/.
When does Carter County District Court hear probate matters?
Carter County lists District Court every Wednesday at 9 a.m., but it does not name a separate probate docket. Call the District Court line, (606) 474-6572, to ask when an estate matter under KRS 24A.120 will be called.
What payment methods does the Carter County clerk list?
The Carter County page lists cash, check, and money order, and it links to Pay online with ePay. It does not list a credit or debit card counter option.
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.