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Grayson County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Grayson County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Grayson County |
| Courthouse address | Grayson County Judicial Center, 500 Carroll Gibson Blvd., Leitchfield, KY 42754 |
| Mailing | The county court page lists the same courthouse address for filing. |
| Phone | 270-259-3040 |
| Fax | 270-259-9866 |
| 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. Grayson 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order, and Pay online with ePay. The Grayson County court page does not list card payment at the counter. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms. The Grayson County court page does not publish a separate local probate packet. |
| Efiling | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate filing must e-file. A self-represented filer may register but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Case status | Kentucky CourtNet runs behind an account portal, not a free full District Court probate case search. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Grayson County estate status. The Kentucky court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ lists Grayson County but is not a full case file. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom, but local login details are not posted for Grayson County probate matters. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a matter can be handled remotely. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Grayson.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Grayson County probate filing, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses, and likely beneficiaries. The form you use in Leitchfield depends on what must pass through court, whether there is a will, and whether anyone is asking the court to appoint a personal representative.
Sunset helps families begin estate settlement by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you need before you contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Grayson County.
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 Grayson County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Grayson County Judicial Center in Leitchfield.
The Leitchfield courthouse serves all of Grayson County, including Leitchfield, Caneyville, Clarkson, Anneta, Grayson Springs, Millerstown, Sadler, Saint Paul, Short Creek, and Wax. Grayson County is in the 46th Judicial District with Meade and Breckinridge Counties under KRS 24A.030, but the filing remains a Grayson County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
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 Grayson County, at the Grayson County courthouse in Leitchfield. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Grayson Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Start with an asset and debt list. For estate settlement, separate property that needs court authority from property that may already have a named beneficiary or co-owner.
- Choose the filing path. Use AOC-805 for a petition to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Get the forms from the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page or from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Grayson County Judicial Center in Leitchfield. Grayson County uses the statewide AOC probate forms.
- File at 500 Carroll Gibson Blvd., Leitchfield, KY 42754, or use Kentucky efiling if you are an attorney required to e-file an eligible probate matter since January 1, 2024. A self-represented filer may file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- 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. Grayson 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The Grayson County page lists cash, check, money order, and Pay online with ePay.
- Ask the clerk what notice, hearing, or court date applies to your filing. The county page lists District Court motion hours on Wednesdays, including District Civil Court at 11 a.m., but it does not label a probate-specific block.
- Ask about remote appearance before the court date. Kentucky courts have used Zoom, but Grayson County does not post probate login details; contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for instructions.
- If the District Court appoints you, get the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. Kentucky also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110, and the clerk can issue the authority documents accepted by banks and title companies.
- Administer the estate. File the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days after qualifying; under KRS 395.250, the inventory is confidential and filed under seal. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011 and any bond order under KRS 395.130.
- Close the estate when it is ready. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a settlement of estate under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Grayson County
Grayson County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Grayson 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 them are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Leitchfield will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator, tied to KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-808 | Financial Disclosure required with the appointment filing under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification, the clerk-issued proof of authority after appointment. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate, filed under seal under KRS 395.250. |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of Estate under KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for Informal Final Settlement under KRS 395.605. |
Timeline
- The Grayson County page lists Circuit Court civil motion hours on the first and third Tuesday at 9 a.m., and criminal motion hours on the first and third Tuesday at 1 p.m.
- The Grayson County page lists District Court motion hours on Wednesday: Small Claims and Juvenile Court at 9 a.m., District Criminal Court at 9 a.m., and District Civil Court at 11 a.m.
- The published schedule does not label a probate-specific docket. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 270-259-3040 to ask which Wednesday docket or other setting applies to your estate matter.
- If a remote appearance is possible for your matter, the login details are not posted on the Grayson County page. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before the court date.
Local nuance
Grayson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Name confusion | File in Grayson County at Leitchfield. Do not confuse this county with the town of Grayson in Carter County. |
| Payment menu | The Grayson County court page lists cash, check, money order, and Pay online with ePay. It does not list card payment at the counter. |
| Published courthouse notes | The Grayson County court page does not publish a parking or accessibility note. If that matters for the hearing, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you go. |
| Shared judicial district | Grayson County is in the 46th Judicial District with Meade and Breckinridge Counties under KRS 24A.030, but your filing is still made in Grayson County District Court under KRS 24A.120. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Grayson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Leitchfield. If property must be handled through court, AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 may be needed. If the estate fits a request to dispense with administration, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 may be considered. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and property before you choose the estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call 270-259-3040 before mailing or traveling. Kentucky's small estate path is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not an affidavit. Grayson County lists cash, check, money order, and ePay. | Sunset organizes the asset list and can help generate the probate packet for filing in Leitchfield. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, then using the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, with title companies and banks. A contested matter is filed fresh in Grayson Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps prepare the information an attorney or title company will ask for and can connect the family to a local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Grayson County | Filing office for Grayson County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, give the current amount due, and provide court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Grayson County Judicial Center, 500 Carroll Gibson Blvd., Leitchfield, KY 42754; 270-259-3040; fax 270-259-9866 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, AOC-850, and AOC-860. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided interviews for self-represented people, including Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid Society | Civil legal aid program listed for Grayson County. Ask directly what help is available for your situation. | 502-584-1254; https://yourlegalaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Kentuckians can post a civil legal question online for a volunteer attorney to answer. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | A plain-language AOC introduction to Kentucky probate. Check current statutes and forms for deadlines, bond, and 2026 form changes. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider counsel if the will is disputed, beneficiaries disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are unclear, a business is involved, or you are unsure whether AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 or full administration is the right estate settlement path. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, real estate, debts, and other estate information before a Grayson County filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Kentucky forms and helps prepare a filing packet for estate settlement in the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Leitchfield.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Grayson County estate needs legal advice, a home sale, contested issues under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, or help with creditor claims under KRS 396.011, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, gather documents, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Grayson County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Grayson County Judicial Center, 500 Carroll Gibson Blvd., Leitchfield, KY 42754. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Is this the same as the town of Grayson in Kentucky?
No. This page is for Grayson County, whose courthouse is in Leitchfield. The town of Grayson is in Carter County, a different Kentucky county.
What number should I call for a Grayson County estate?
Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 270-259-3040. The fax number is 270-259-9866.
How much does it cost to open probate in Grayson 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. Grayson 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Can I pay by card at the Grayson County courthouse?
The Grayson County court page lists cash, check, money order, and Pay online with ePay. It does not list card payment at the counter, so call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before relying on a card.
Does Grayson County have its own probate forms?
Grayson County uses Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms. Common forms include 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.
Do attorneys have to e-file probate in Grayson County?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate filing must e-file. A self-represented person may register for the system but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Leitchfield.
What day are Grayson County probate matters heard?
The county page lists District Court motion hours on Wednesday, including District Civil Court at 11 a.m., but it does not label a probate-specific block. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk which setting applies to your estate matter.
Can I appear remotely for a Grayson County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have used Zoom, but Grayson County does not post probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a matter will be heard remotely.
Can I look up a Grayson County probate case online?
Kentucky CourtNet requires an account and is not a free full District Court probate case search. The court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ lists Grayson County, but for estate status you should contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Leitchfield.
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.