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Elliott County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Elliott County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Elliott County |
| Courthouse address | Elliott County Courthouse Annex, 100 Main and Jane Caudill Sts., Sandy Hook, KY 41171 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788 |
| Published phone lines | (606) 738-5238 and (606) 738-5232 |
| Fax | (606) 738-6962 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Cost 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. Elliott 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. |
| Payment methods | Cash, local check, and money order are published for Elliott County. The county page also links to ePay through the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can tell you what is accepted for your filing. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. No separate Elliott County form set is published on the county page. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook. |
| Court-date lookup | The Kentucky Court of Justice court-date tool at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ lists Elliott County. It is a court-date lookup, not a full probate case search. |
| Case status | CourtNet runs behind the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal and requires an account. For an Elliott County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings since March 2020, but no Elliott County probate login is published. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing will be remote. |
| Accessibility | Elevator. Parking is listed at the back and side of the building, with designated parking for people with a disability parking permit. |
| Website | www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Elliott.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Sandy Hook, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, titles, beneficiary designations, and accounts. That list determines whether estate settlement can be handled with a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, or whether someone needs appointment as executor or administrator in Elliott County District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Sunset can help search across 2,300 institutions so you are not relying only on mail, memory, or a checkbook. That asset picture makes the Elliott County probate packet more accurate and helps prevent missed accounts during estate settlement.
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 Elliott County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Elliott County courthouse in Sandy Hook.
The filing location is the Elliott County Courthouse Annex, 100 Main and Jane Caudill Sts., Sandy Hook, KY 41171. Mail filings to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788.
Elliott County is part of Kentucky's 37th Judicial District with Carter and Morgan counties under KRS 24A.030. The Elliott County courthouse in Sandy Hook serves Sandy Hook, Isonville, and the rest of Elliott County.
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 Elliott County, at the Elliott County courthouse in Sandy Hook. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Elliott Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Start by listing assets, debts, real estate, jointly owned property, beneficiary designations, and known creditors under KRS 396.011. This determines whether you need appointment of a personal representative or whether a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit.
- Choose the opening form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and/or appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Gather the statewide forms from kycourts.gov or ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook for paper copies. If appointment is requested, the current Kentucky packet includes the financial disclosure form AOC-808 under KRS 395.015.
- File at the Elliott County Courthouse Annex, 100 Main and Jane Caudill Sts., Sandy Hook, KY 41171, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024, while self-represented filers may still file on paper.
- 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. Elliott 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. Elliott County publishes cash, local check, and money order as payment methods.
- Ask the clerk how your court date will be set. Elliott County's page does not publish a probate hearing day, so use the court-date lookup or call (606) 738-5238 or (606) 738-5232 for scheduling information.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings since March 2020, but Elliott County does not publish probate login details. The statewide instruction is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you are scheduled to appear.
- If the court appoints you, get the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. When the District Court appoints you under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification (form 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.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory on AOC-841 within 90 days after qualifying, and remember that the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Give creditors the process Kentucky law requires under KRS 396.011, manage assets, and keep records for settlement.
- Close the estate when it is ready. Use AOC-846 for a formal or periodic settlement under KRS 395.610, or AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 if the statutory requirements are met.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Elliott County
Elliott County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Elliott 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 these forms are free at kycourts.gov, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook will also hand you paper copies. If you are asking to be appointed, expect to include the financial disclosure form AOC-808 under KRS 395.015.
Local nuance
Elliott County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two published phone lines | The Elliott County page lists (606) 738-5238 and (606) 738-5232 for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, without labeling one as the probate or District Court line under KRS 24A.120. Use either number and ask for probate filings. |
| Payment wording | The published payment methods are cash, local check, and money order. Do not assume a card payment option is available at the counter. If mailing a filing, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before sending payment. |
| Address wording | Use Elliott County Courthouse Annex, 100 Main and Jane Caudill Sts., Sandy Hook, KY 41171. Mail goes to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788. |
| 37th Judicial District | Elliott County shares the 37th Judicial District with Carter and Morgan counties under KRS 24A.030, but an Elliott County estate is still filed in Sandy Hook when venue belongs in Elliott County under KRS 394.140. |
Recent updates
The current Kentucky probate fee structure changed effective July 1, 2026, when Supreme Court of Kentucky Order 2026-15 set the probate filing fee at $50 under CR 3.03(1)(c), before the $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630, the $20 court technology fee, and any conditional local additions under KRS 24A.185 and KRS 453.060.
Kentucky's 2026 probate statute changes also affect Elliott County estates. Effective July 15, 2026, the inventory deadline is 90 days and the inventory is filed under seal under KRS 395.250, the financial disclosure form AOC-808 is part of appointment practice under KRS 395.015, and bond is no longer required by default under KRS 395.130.
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook. If only personal property needs transfer, a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may be worth asking about. If the home needs probate authority to sell or transfer, use AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and expect a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and debts before you choose the filing path, then prepares the estate settlement packet for review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a smaller estate | Mail filings to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788, or ask an attorney about e-filing since attorney probate filings have used Kentucky e-filing since January 1, 2024. Plan payment around Elliott County's published cash, local check, and money order options, or ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk about ePay. | Sunset organizes documents, generates the forms, and helps you decide what can be handled remotely by mail, phone, or a Kentucky attorney. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. After appointment, the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and certified appointment order are used with banks and title companies. If the matter becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 send the dispute to Elliott Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding. | Sunset builds the asset list, prepares the court packet, and can connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney for the sale and any contested issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Elliott County | Filing office for Elliott County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, provide current cost information under CR 3.03, and give court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | Elliott County Courthouse Annex, 100 Main and Jane Caudill Sts., Sandy Hook, KY 41171. Mail to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788. Call (606) 738-5238 or (606) 738-5232. Fax (606) 738-6962. |
| 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 for the line of duty probate fee exemption. | www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided interviews for self-represented people, including Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. | www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | Civil legal aid program listed for Elliott County. Ask directly what help is available for your situation. | 859-431-8200. lablaw.org |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Kentuckians can post a civil legal question online for a volunteer attorney to answer. | ky.freelegalanswers.org |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | A plain-language AOC introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and forms for deadlines, financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, inventory under KRS 395.250, and bond under KRS 395.130 because the booklet predates the July 15, 2026 statutory changes. | www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
You should consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes a home sale, unclear heirs, creditors under KRS 396.011, a possible will contest under KRS 394.240, inheritance tax questions under KRS 140.070, or a disagreement that could become a contested matter under KRS 24A.120. An attorney is also required for many e-filed filings in practice because attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents since January 1, 2024, while self-represented filers may file on paper. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate accounts, insurance, benefits, and property so the Elliott County estate settlement starts with a complete asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you provide into a Kentucky probate packet, including the forms commonly used in Elliott County District Court under KRS 24A.120, so you can file with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk or have an attorney review it.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, a home sale, creditor work under KRS 396.011, or a contested proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement process, organize documents, and decide the next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Elliott County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Elliott County Courthouse Annex, 100 Main and Jane Caudill Sts., Sandy Hook, KY 41171. Mail filings to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788. Kentucky probate is filed in District Court under KRS 24A.120, and venue usually follows where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
What number should I call for an Elliott County estate?
The Elliott County page publishes two Office of Circuit Court Clerk lines: (606) 738-5238 and (606) 738-5232. The page does not label either number as the probate or District Court line under KRS 24A.120, so ask for probate filings when you call.
How much does it cost to open probate in Elliott 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. Elliott 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 are published for Elliott County probate filings?
The Elliott County page lists cash, local check, and money order. It also links to ePay through the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can tell you whether that is available for your filing.
Does Elliott County have its own probate forms?
Elliott County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. No separate Elliott County form set is published on the county page. Common forms include AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file probate in Elliott County?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system. If you are self-represented, you may register for e-filing, but you may also file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook.
Can I look up an Elliott County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases under KRS 24A.120. CourtNet runs behind the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal, which requires an account, and the Administrative Office of the Courts states that it does not hold trial-court case records. The court-date tool at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ can be used as a court-date lookup for Elliott County, but for case status you should contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Sandy Hook.
Does Elliott County publish probate hearing days?
The Elliott County page does not publish a probate hearing day. Use the Kentucky court-date lookup or call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 738-5238 or (606) 738-5232 to ask how your District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 will be scheduled.
Can I appear remotely for an Elliott County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020 and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide remote-court instructions. Whether a particular Elliott County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you assume either way.
Do I have to travel to Sandy Hook to start estate settlement?
Self-represented filers may file on paper by mail to P.O. Box 788, Sandy Hook, KY 41171-0788, but you should call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk about signatures, payment, and any hearing. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents since January 1, 2024.
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.