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Christian County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Christian County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Christian County District Court, sitting in probate. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Christian County |
| Courthouse address | Christian County Justice Center, 100 Justice Way, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published. Mail estate papers to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 100 Justice Way, Hopkinsville, KY 42240. |
| Phone | Main published line: (270) 889-6539. The office also publishes (270) 889-6541, (270) 889-6542 and (270) 889-6592 without division labels, so ask for district civil or probate when you call. |
| Fax | District civil fax: (270) 881-3662. Circuit Court fax: (270) 889-6029. District criminal fax: (270) 889-6564. Christian District Court rule 7.07 says fax transmissions are not acceptable as court filings. |
| [email protected] for court-records questions. Do not email estate filings to the clerk. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Christian County is on central time. |
| Probate docket | Christian District Court rules set probate matters every Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. The presiding judge may allow another day or time. |
| Local filing cutoff | Probate matters must be filed with all proper fees and copies by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date. |
| 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. Christian 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 | Cash, money order, credit and debit cards with a fee. Personal checks are accepted in driver's licensing only, so do not rely on a personal check for a probate filing. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Local forms | Christian County uses Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms and does not publish a separate county probate packet. |
| Filing method | 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 can still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Court-date lookup | The Kentucky Court of Justice has a no-login court-date lookup that includes Christian County and states it is not an official docket. For the status of an estate, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Phone or video appearance | For an ordinary District Court probate matter, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Christian Circuit Court has a separate virtual-appearance rule for contested estate litigation. |
| Parking and access | The county publishes parking in a large lot at the building, with extra parking across the street at the jail. The county also publishes that the Justice Center is completely accessible. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Christian.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Hopkinsville, make a working list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses and likely heirs. Christian County's probate docket has a local cutoff, and the papers, copies and filing cost must be ready by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can help organize that first pass by searching across 2,300 institutions for possible accounts and assets. That inventory work comes before choosing forms, asking whether a Monday docket date is realistic, or deciding whether you need a Christian County probate attorney.
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 Christian County, at the Christian County Justice Center in Hopkinsville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Christian 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 Christian County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Christian County Justice Center in Hopkinsville.
The same filing office serves Crofton, Hopkinsville, Lafayette, Oak Grove, Pembroke and Fort Campbell North. Christian County is Kentucky's 3rd Judicial District by itself under KRS 24A.030, and the county's District Court sits in two divisions with civil cases assigned at random by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
KRS 394.140 also has a military-post venue clause. If the person lived on a United States Army post, military reservation or fort, the will may be proved and admitted to record in the District Court of any county adjacent to the post. Part of the Fort Campbell installation is in Christian County, but the rule is permissive and fact-specific, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming which court is right.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts and people involved before you choose forms. The amount and kind of property affects estate settlement, and Christian County requires the filing, copies and proper fees to arrive together.
- Choose the Kentucky AOC form path. AOC-805 opens an estate and asks to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). AOC-830 asks the District Court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455). If the will is not self-proving, Christian District Court rule 10.03 requires proof of due execution by testimony in court or by affidavit.
- Handle notice before the appointment hearing when required. If you are not the executor named in a will being offered for probate, Christian District Court rule 10.04 requires written notice to all heirs at law at least five days before the hearing and filing of that notice, or written waivers from the heirs.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Christian County Justice Center, 100 Justice Way, Hopkinsville, KY 42240. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024; a self-represented filer may register but can still file on paper. Christian District Court rule 7.07 says fax transmissions are not acceptable as court filings.
- Meet the local probate-docket cutoff. Christian District Court rule 10.02 requires probate matters to be filed with all proper fees and copies by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date.
- Pay the filing cost correctly. $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. Christian 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.
- Use the county's payment rules. The office takes cash, money orders, credit cards and debit cards with a fee. Personal checks are accepted in driver's licensing only, so do not send a personal check for probate. The county page also links Pay online with ePay.
- Get the hearing date from the clerk. Christian District Court rule 10.01 sets probate matters every Monday morning at 8:30 a.m., and the presiding judge may allow another day or time. The rule gives the docket day, not a promise that a specific filing will be heard on a specific Monday.
- Ask before assuming a phone or video appearance. For the District Court probate docket, Christian County publishes no public login information, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the contact point. If the estate becomes contested and moves to Christian Circuit Court, that court's local rules allow a party or attorney to appear virtually, by phone or similar means at the presiding judge's discretion, using Zoom after instructions are sent.
- Receive authority if appointed, then administer and close the estate. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment. The later estate work includes the inventory on AOC-841 (KRS 395.250), creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and closing by AOC-846 or AOC-850 as appropriate (KRS 395.610, KRS 395.605).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Christian County
Christian County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms and does not publish a separate Christian County probate form set. AOC-805 opens the estate (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 is the inventory (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 closes the estate (KRS 395.610, KRS 395.605). All are free at kycourts.gov, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Christian County Justice Center can provide paper copies.
Christian County's added paperwork rules are local timing and notice rules, not a separate form packet. Probate filings need all proper fees and copies by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date, and if the applicant is not the executor named in a will being offered for probate, written notice to heirs at law at least five days before the hearing, or written waivers from the heirs, must be filed in the case.
| Form | Use in Christian County |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for probate of will or appointment of executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455). |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification issued after appointment. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement of estate (KRS 395.250). |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of Estate for a formal closing path (KRS 395.610). |
| AOC-850 | Application for Informal Final Settlement when that closing path fits (KRS 395.605). |
| AOC-860 | Narrow probate fee exemption form for certain line-of-duty deaths. |
Timeline
- Before filing, gather the statewide AOC forms, the filing cost and the needed copies. Christian County District Court rule 10.02 requires all proper fees and copies with the probate filing.
- If you are not the executor named in the will being offered for probate, give written notice of the appointment hearing to all heirs at law at least five days before the hearing and file the notice, or file written waivers from the heirs.
- File by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date if you want the matter considered for that probate docket.
- Christian District Court rule 10.01 sets probate matters every Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. The presiding judge may allow a probate matter to be heard on another day or at another time.
- If the estate becomes contested and is filed as an original adversary proceeding in Christian Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240, civil motions are called on Wednesdays, at 9 a.m. in one division and 1 p.m. in the other. Circuit rules require motions to be filed seven days before the hearing and responses two days before.
- After appointment, statewide estate clocks control the administration and closing work, including the inventory on AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and any informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or settlement under KRS 395.610.
Local nuance
Christian County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Monday probate docket | Christian District Court rules set probate matters for Monday mornings at 8:30 a.m., with the presiding judge able to allow another day or time. |
| Two-business-day cutoff | Probate filings must be in with proper fees and copies by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date. |
| Notice to heirs | If the applicant is not the executor named in a will being offered for probate, written notice to all heirs at law is due at least five days before the appointment hearing, or written waivers must be filed. |
| Payment limits | Cash, money orders, credit cards and debit cards are published options. A card fee applies, and personal checks are accepted only for driver's licensing. |
| Fax is not filing | The county publishes three fax numbers, but Christian District Court rule 7.07 says fax transmissions are not acceptable as court filings. |
| Two clerks in Hopkinsville | Probate papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Justice Center on Justice Way, not the separate Christian County Clerk office on South Main Street. |
| 3rd Judicial District | Christian County is the 3rd Judicial District by itself under KRS 24A.030, with two District Court divisions and random civil assignment by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Contested estate hearings | A contested estate is filed fresh in Christian Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. Circuit Court local rules address virtual appearances at the presiding judge's discretion. |
| Fort Campbell | Part of the Fort Campbell installation is in Christian County. KRS 394.140 includes a military-post venue clause, and AOC-860 may matter for a narrow line-of-duty probate fee exemption. |
| Central time | Christian County is on central time, which matters for calls, travel to Hopkinsville and any electronic filing deadline stated in eastern time. |
Kentucky has one narrow probate fee exemption. AOC-860 applies when the death was a direct result of an act in the line of duty, including for a regular member of the United States Armed Forces who names Kentucky as home of record for military purposes. It is not a general military, veteran, hardship or small-estate fee break.
Recent updates
| Date | Christian County update |
|---|---|
| May 30, 2025 | The Supreme Court of Kentucky approved the Christian Circuit Court local rules, including the rule on virtual appearances that can matter if an estate becomes contested and moves to Circuit Court. |
| January 21, 2020 | The Supreme Court of Kentucky approved the Christian District Court rules of practice. Those rules set the Monday 8:30 a.m. probate docket and the 2:00 p.m. two-business-day filing cutoff for probate matters. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Christian County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Christian County Justice Center in Hopkinsville. The Monday probate docket and two-business-day filing cutoff apply if court papers are needed. Whether the estate can use Kentucky's dispense-with-administration path is a statewide question under KRS 395.455 and KRS 391.030, and that path does not by itself transfer real property. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before you choose between a court order that transfers personal property and a full estate settlement plan. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a smaller estate | Papers can be mailed to 100 Justice Way, but Christian County's payment and timing rules matter. A personal check will not pay the filing cost, and the papers, copies and proper fees must arrive by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the Monday probate date. If you are not the executor named in a will, written notice to heirs or waivers must be handled before the hearing. | Sunset helps build the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and flag where a local filing rule or payment issue could delay estate settlement. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Selling real property usually means opening a full administration with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and getting a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 after appointment. If a dispute becomes contested, it goes to Christian Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240, where civil motion rules and the Circuit Court virtual-appearance rule may matter. | Sunset helps organize the property and account information, generate forms, and connect the family with a Christian County probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Christian County | The filing office for estates in Christian County. The office can provide probate forms, tell you the current filing cost and give court-date information, but it cannot give legal advice. | Christian County Justice Center, 100 Justice Way, Hopkinsville, KY 42240. Main line: (270) 889-6539. Other published lines: (270) 889-6541, (270) 889-6542 and (270) 889-6592. Website: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Christian.aspx |
| Christian District Court and Christian Circuit Court rules | The District Court rules give the Monday probate docket, the 2:00 p.m. two-business-day filing cutoff, and the notice rule for some appointment hearings. The Circuit Court rules address virtual appearances in contested matters. | Rules of Practice index: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Rules-of-Practice.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-830, AOC-807, AOC-841, AOC-846 and AOC-850. | 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 interviews. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | The civil legal aid program listed for Christian County. Ask the program directly about eligibility and whether it can help with your issue. | 270-782-1924 or 800-782-1924. Website: https://www.klaid.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 statewide referral resource for finding a Kentucky lawyer, including when an estate involves a sale, a dispute or a contested court filing. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the estate includes real property to sell, heirs disagree, the will is not self-proving, the family is dealing with a Fort Campbell venue question, or the matter may become contested and move to Christian Circuit Court. A lawyer can also handle the attorney eFiling requirements that have applied since January 1, 2024. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney when estate settlement needs legal help.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify financial accounts, insurance, real property leads and debts before filing, so the Christian County probate packet matches the actual estate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset can help organize the information needed for Kentucky AOC forms, including AOC-805, AOC-830, AOC-841 and the closing forms used later in estate settlement.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home must be sold, an heir objects, or a contested matter may go to Christian Circuit Court, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the assets, assemble the next steps and decide what to file in Christian County without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Christian County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Christian County Justice Center, 100 Justice Way, Hopkinsville, KY 42240. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter, and KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate.
When is the Christian County probate docket?
Christian District Court rules set probate matters every Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. The presiding judge may allow a probate matter to be heard on another day or at another time. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the actual date for your estate.
What is the Christian County filing cutoff for probate?
Probate matters must be filed with all proper fees and copies by 2:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled probate date. A filing that arrives after that cutoff should not be assumed to make the next Monday docket.
What does it cost to open probate in Christian 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. Christian 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.
How can I pay the Christian County probate filing cost?
The county publishes cash, money order, credit card and debit card as payment options, with a fee for card payments. Personal checks are accepted in driver's licensing only, so do not rely on a personal check for a probate filing. The county page also links Pay online with ePay.
Does Christian County have local probate forms?
Christian County uses Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms and does not publish a separate county probate packet. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening an estate (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 for the inventory (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 for closing (KRS 395.610, KRS 395.605).
Do I have to notify other heirs before a Christian County appointment hearing?
Sometimes. If you are not the executor named in a will being offered for probate, Christian District Court rule 10.04 requires written notice of the appointment hearing to all heirs at law at least five days before the hearing, with that notice filed in the case. The court will accept written waivers from the heirs instead.
Can I file by fax or use eFiling in Christian County probate?
Do not file by fax. Christian District Court rule 7.07 says fax transmissions are not acceptable as court filings. Attorneys must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system for eligible probate filings since January 1, 2024, while self-represented filers may register but can still file on paper.
Can I attend a Christian County probate hearing by phone or video?
For the District Court probate docket, Christian County does not post public login information, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the contact point. If the estate becomes contested and moves to Christian Circuit Court, that court's local rules allow a party or attorney to appear virtually, by phone or similar means at the presiding judge's discretion, with Zoom instructions sent after permission is given.
Can I look up a Christian County estate online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public case search for District Court probate cases. The Kentucky Court of Justice does publish a no-login court-date lookup that includes Christian County and states it is not an official docket. To find out where a Christian County estate stands, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 889-6539.
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.