Back to Kentucky
Grant County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Grant County District Court, filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Grant County. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters. |
| Courthouse | Grant County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Williamstown, KY 41097. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for the Grant County Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Use the courthouse address. |
| Phone | District Court line for probate: (859) 823-5251. Circuit Court line: (859) 824-4467. |
| Fax | (859) 824-0183. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure 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. Grant 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 | Cash, personal check, certified check, money order, and credit or debit card are accepted, with a fee for card payments. Card payment by phone is accepted when making full payment. If the court orders a bond under KRS 395.130, Grant County accepts only cash, certified check, or cashier's check for the bond. |
| Forms | Grant County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The Grant County page does not publish a separate county probate packet. |
| E-filing | Kentucky probate e-filing through the Court of Justice system has been mandatory for an attorney in probate case types since January 1, 2024. A self-represented filer may register but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown. |
| Court-date lookup | A free no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. It is for court dates, not full case files. The Kentucky Court of Justice guest login requires an account; for estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 823-5251. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have statewide remote-court instructions, but Grant County does not publish probate login information. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 823-5251 before assuming a hearing can be handled remotely. |
| Parking and access | Parking lots are beside and behind the building. Ramps are in front of the building. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Grant.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Williamstown, make a working list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses, and family contacts involved. Grant County publishes payment methods but not a probate fee total, so knowing the estate's assets and liabilities first makes the filing conversation with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk more productive.
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching for accounts across 2,300 institutions, organizing what has been found, and turning that information into a probate packet you can review before filing.
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 Grant County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Grant County courthouse in Williamstown.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk publishes one filing location for Grant County: the Grant County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Williamstown, KY 41097. Grant County includes Corinth, Crittenden, Dry Ridge, Williamstown, and unincorporated areas, and estates from anywhere in the county file at the same Williamstown courthouse.
Grant County is in the 15th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030. The courthouse city is Williamstown, Kentucky, which should not be confused with Williamsburg, Kentucky, the seat of Whitley County.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Grant County is the correct place to file. The estate belongs in the District Court for the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and an intestate estate goes to the same court (KRS 395.030). 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 Grant County, at the Grant County courthouse in Williamstown. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Grant Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
- Choose the right statewide AOC forms. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), AOC-808 for the financial disclosure required with an appointment application (KRS 395.015), or AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- File at the Grant County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Williamstown, KY 41097. An attorney must e-file eligible Kentucky probate papers through the Court of Justice eFiling system because the attorney mandate has applied since January 1, 2024. If you are filing without an attorney, you may register for e-filing, but you may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- Pay the opening cost and confirm any county add-ons before filing. $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. Grant 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.
- Use Grant County's payment rules. The clerk accepts cash, personal check, certified check, money order, and credit or debit card, with a fee for cards. Card payment by phone is accepted if you are making full payment. If the court orders a bond under KRS 395.130, Grant County accepts only cash, certified check, or cashier's check for the bond.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the court date. Grant County does not publish a probate motion-day schedule on its county page. A free no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, but it is only a court-date lookup. For estate status, call the District Court line at (859) 823-5251.
- Ask about remote appearance before the 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 Grant 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 (859) 823-5251 and ask before you assume either way.
- If the court appoints you, get your authority papers. 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 and appraisement, AOC-841, within 90 days after qualification, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011. When the estate is ready to close, use AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 for settlement of estate under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Grant County
Grant County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Grant County form set. AOC-805 opens the estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 is the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 closes the estate under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The forms are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown can provide paper copies. Grant County's own court page does not publish a separate probate checklist, packet, or local fee sheet.
Local nuance
Grant County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Use the District Court phone line | The county page lists Circuit Court at (859) 824-4467 and District Court at (859) 823-5251. Because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, start with the District Court line for Grant County probate questions. |
| Card payment by phone is available for full payment | Grant County accepts credit and debit card payments by phone when the full amount is paid, with a card fee. Do not assume that rule applies in another Kentucky county. |
| Bond payments are narrower | If the court orders a bond under KRS 395.130, Grant County accepts only cash, certified check, or cashier's check for that bond. |
| Parking and ramps | The county page lists parking lots beside and behind the building and ramps in front of the building. |
| Williamstown is the courthouse city | File in Williamstown, not Williamsburg. Williamsburg is the seat of Whitley County, not Grant County. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Grant County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm what passes outside probate and what still needs Grant County District Court under KRS 24A.120. If an appointment is needed, file through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown and ask whether any bond under KRS 395.130 is required. | Sunset helps identify accounts, loans, and property details so the spouse can decide what belongs in the probate filing and what may transfer another way. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the District Court line at (859) 823-5251 before traveling. Kentucky does not use a small-estate affidavit. If the family is asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, use AOC-830 and file it with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown. | Sunset can organize the estate settlement packet remotely, help generate the right AOC form set, and help the child decide what to ask the clerk before making the trip. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If authority is needed to deal with the home, seek appointment in Grant County District Court under KRS 24A.120. After appointment, the clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and KRS 395.105 refers to the fiduciary's authority as letters of appointment. | Sunset helps locate accounts, collect property and debt information, and connect the parent with a Kentucky probate attorney if a sale, title issue, or family dispute makes the case more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Grant County | Grant County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Williamstown, KY 41097. District Court line: (859) 823-5251. Circuit Court line: (859) 824-4467. Fax: (859) 824-0183. | The filing office for Grant County probate matters. The clerk's office can provide forms, tell you the current amount due under CR 3.03 as of July 1, 2026 and any local add-ons, and tell you where to check for court dates. |
| 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 for Kentucky probate topics, including Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455. |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | 859-431-8200. https://lablaw.org/ | The civil legal aid program listed for Grant County. Ask the program directly whether it can assist with your situation. |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ | Online civil legal questions answered by volunteer Kentucky attorneys. |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv | Statewide referral information for finding a Kentucky attorney. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset helps families build a clearer picture of what the person owned and owed before they file in Grant County. That makes estate settlement easier to start and helps reduce missed accounts.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the information you provide into a Kentucky probate packet using the statewide AOC forms that apply in Grant County, including the opening forms, inventory under KRS 395.250, and closing forms when appropriate.
Find a local probate attorney
If the estate needs legal advice, Sunset can help you connect with a Kentucky probate attorney who understands District Court probate under KRS 24A.120 and filings through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, prepare for the filing conversation with the Grant County clerk's office, and decide when attorney help is worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Grant County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Grant County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Williamstown, KY 41097. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Which Grant County phone number should I call for probate?
Call the District Court line at (859) 823-5251. The county page also lists a Circuit Court line, (859) 824-4467, but probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
How much does it cost to open a Grant 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. Grant 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.
Can I pay Grant County probate costs by card or by phone?
Grant County accepts cash, personal check, certified check, money order, and credit or debit card, with a fee for card payments. Card payments by phone are accepted when you are making full payment. If the court orders a bond under KRS 395.130, the bond must be paid by cash, certified check, or cashier's check.
Does Grant County have its own probate forms?
Grant County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The county page does not publish a separate local form set. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for inventory under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file a Grant County probate case?
An attorney handling a Kentucky probate case must e-file eligible documents because the attorney e-filing mandate has applied since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for e-filing, but you may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown.
Can I appear remotely for a Grant County probate hearing?
Grant County does not publish probate Zoom login information on its county page. Kentucky courts have statewide remote-court instructions, but whether a Grant County District Court probate matter may be handled remotely is up to the judge. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 823-5251 before assuming either way.
Can I look up a Grant County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. The free no-login site at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is a court-date lookup only. For estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamstown at (859) 823-5251.
Do I have to travel to Williamstown to start probate?
If you are self-represented and filing on paper, the filing office is in Williamstown. Before traveling, call the District Court line at (859) 823-5251 to ask about forms, current payment total under CR 3.03 as of July 1, 2026, court dates, and whether any remote option may be available through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
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.