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Estill County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Estill County details |
|---|---|
| Probate forum | Estill County District Court under KRS 24A.120, with filings made through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Courthouse | Estill County Courthouse, 130 Main St., Suite 207, Irvine, KY 40336. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing box is listed on the Estill County court page. Use the courthouse address, or call the clerk before mailing original papers. |
| Phone | (606) 723-3970. |
| Fax | The Estill County court page does not list a fax number. Call the clerk before sending papers by fax. |
| 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. Estill 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 | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Estill County accepts cash, check with a valid photo ID, money order, and credit or debit cards with a fee in person. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. The Estill County court page does not publish a separate Estill County probate form set. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, attorneys handling Kentucky probate, intestate matters under KRS 395.030, or dispense-with-administration filings under KRS 395.455 must use the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system. Self-represented filers may register, but may also file on paper at the clerk's office. |
| Court-date lookup | A free no-login court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and includes Estill County, but it is not the official case file and may change. For estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Irvine. |
| Remote appearance | 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 Estill County District Court probate matter is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the login details are not published centrally: the Court of Justice's own instruction is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you are scheduled to appear. Call (606) 723-3970 and ask before you assume either way. |
| Accessibility | Parking is available at the back and side of the building, with designated parking for those with a disability parking permit. The courthouse has an elevator. |
| Website | Kentucky Court of Justice county page for Estill County. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Irvine, make a practical list of the person's assets, debts, accounts, beneficiaries, and whether there is a will. Estill County uses Kentucky's statewide forms, but the right first filing depends on whether the estate needs appointment of a personal representative or a court order dispensing with administration under KRS 395.455.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families organize what they know and search across 2,300 institutions for accounts that may otherwise be missed. That work makes the first conversation with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, or with a Kentucky probate attorney, more focused.
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 Estill County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Estill County courthouse in Irvine.
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 Estill County, at the Estill County courthouse in Irvine. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Estill Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
Estill County is part of the 23rd Judicial District with Lee and Owsley counties (KRS 24A.030). The Irvine courthouse serves Irvine and the rest of Estill County.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening filing. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145, or for an intestate estate handled in the same county under KRS 395.030. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Prepare the appointment packet. A Kentucky probate filing commonly includes the petition, the will if there is one, the death certificate, proposed orders, the AOC-808 financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015, and any waivers or supporting papers that fit the family situation.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 130 Main St., Suite 207, Irvine, KY 40336. Self-represented filers may file on paper at the clerk's office. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must electronically file eligible probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system.
- 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. Estill 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.
- Follow the clerk's directions for any notices, waivers, or hearing date. The Estill County court page does not publish a District Court probate schedule, so call (606) 723-3970 before making travel plans.
- Ask about remote appearance before you rely on it. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but the Court of Justice directs people to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear for login details.
- After appointment, get proof of authority. When the District Court appoints you under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 showing that the appointment order is in effect. Kentucky law also uses the term letters of appointment under KRS 395.105.
- Administer and close the estate. File the AOC-841 inventory under KRS 395.250 within 90 days after qualifying, keep in mind that the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and close with AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 when the estate is ready.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Estill County
Estill County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The Estill County court page does not publish a separate Estill County form set. You file AOC-805 to open an 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 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Irvine can provide the legal forms, tell you the current amount due under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and give you court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice or tell you which choice is best for the estate.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by listing what passes outside the estate and what still needs court authority. If a probate filing is needed in Estill County District Court under KRS 24A.120, file through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Irvine. If the spouse is asking to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 under KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps organize accounts, debts, title questions, and the estate settlement task list before the spouse calls the clerk or a lawyer. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Kentucky's small estate path is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit. The adult child can ask the Irvine clerk about paper filing, hearing expectations, and whether remote appearance details are available from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. | Sunset helps gather the family information, generate the packet checklist, and find a Kentucky attorney if travel or filing questions become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a home must be sold, the parent usually needs clear court authority from Estill County District Court under KRS 24A.120 before working with a buyer, title company, or lender. File in Irvine, then use the Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 after appointment. | Sunset helps organize asset information, track sale-related estate settlement steps, and connect the family with a vetted probate attorney when real estate authority is unclear. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Estill County | Provides probate forms, accepts filings, gives current amounts due under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and gives court-date information for Estill County matters under KRS 24A.120. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | 130 Main St., Suite 207, Irvine, KY 40336. Phone: (606) 723-3970. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Offers guided interviews for Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration filings under KRS 395.455 through A2J.org. | kycourts.gov Legal Help Self-Help Portal. |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program serving Estill County. Ask the program whether your estate issue fits its services. | (866) 277-5733. ardfky.org. |
| KY Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question service for eligible Kentucky residents. | ky.freelegalanswers.org. |
| Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services | Helps families look for a Kentucky lawyer when an estate is contested under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, involves real estate, or needs advice beyond what the clerk can provide. | kybar.org Lawyer Referral Services. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, a creditor claim arises under KRS 396.011, tax questions are involved, or you are outside Kentucky and cannot easily manage filings in Irvine. An attorney also handles required electronic filing because, since January 1, 2024, attorney filings in Kentucky probate matters are made through the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a clearer picture of the estate before filing in Estill County, so the first probate step is based on organized asset and debt information.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps prepare an estate settlement packet around the Kentucky AOC forms that fit the situation, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 or AOC-830 under KRS 395.455.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney familiar with District Court probate under KRS 24A.120.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, keep track of next steps, and move forward with less uncertainty.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Estill County?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Estill County, Estill County Courthouse, 130 Main St., Suite 207, Irvine, KY 40336. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, and venue is tied to where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
Is probate e-filing required in Estill County?
Since January 1, 2024, attorneys must electronically file eligible Kentucky probate documents. If you are representing yourself, you may register for the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system, but you may also file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Irvine.
Does Estill County publish probate hearing days?
The Estill County court page does not publish a District Court probate schedule. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 723-3970 before you assume a hearing day, wait time, or courtroom.
Can I appear remotely for an Estill County probate hearing?
Possibly, but do not assume it. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, and the Court of Justice tells people to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear for login details. Call (606) 723-3970.
How do I check an Estill County probate date?
A free no-login court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and includes Estill County, but it is not the official case file and may change. For estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Irvine at (606) 723-3970.
Does Estill County have its own probate forms?
The Estill County court page does not publish a separate local probate form set. Estill County uses Kentucky statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
What does it cost to open probate in Estill 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. Estill 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.
Do I have to travel to Irvine if I live outside Kentucky?
You may need to file papers with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Irvine, but ask the clerk how your specific hearing will be handled before you travel. Remote appearance details are not published centrally, and the Court of Justice directs you to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the county where the hearing is scheduled.
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.