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Harrison County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Harrison County District Court, probate division. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Harrison County |
| Courthouse address | Harrison County Justice Center, 115 Court St., Suite 1, Cynthiana, KY 41031 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use the courthouse address unless the clerk gives different instructions. |
| Phone | (859) 234-1914 |
| Fax | No fax number is published on Harrison County's court page. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| 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. Harrison 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, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. Any county law library fee is tied to KRS 453.060. |
| Payment | Cash, check, or money order. The court page says cash is required for any bond ordered under KRS 395.130. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. No separate Harrison County probate form set is published on the court page. |
| E-filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate filing must e-file. A self-represented filer may register for eFiling, but may still file on paper at the clerk's office. |
| Case and court-date lookup | CourtNet access requires an account through the Kentucky court system portal. Harrison's court page links the statewide court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, which is a court-date tool, not full probate case records. For a Harrison County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Cynthiana. |
| Remote court | No Harrison-specific Zoom login is posted. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your District Court probate event under KRS 24A.120 will be in person or remote. |
| Accessibility | Ramp on the left side of the building. Elevator and equipped bathrooms. |
| Parking | Two-hour parking around the old courthouse. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Harrison.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Cynthiana, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, co-owners, beneficiary designations, and likely heirs. That asset picture determines whether estate settlement can proceed with a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 or whether a personal representative needs appointment in Harrison County District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions, then helps organize what you find into the probate packet and estate settlement plan. Bring the court forms, payment method, and any hearing questions to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 115 Court St., Suite 1, Cynthiana.
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 Harrison County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Harrison County courthouse in Cynthiana.
The Harrison County District Court filing location is the Harrison County Justice Center, 115 Court St., Suite 1, Cynthiana, KY 41031. The court serves all of Harrison County, including Cynthiana, Berry, and the county's unincorporated communities. Harrison County is in Kentucky's 18th Judicial District with Nicholas, Pendleton, and Robertson counties under KRS 24A.030, but a Harrison estate is still filed in Harrison 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 Harrison County, at the Harrison County courthouse in Cynthiana. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Harrison Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, co-owners, beneficiary designations, and likely heirs before choosing a filing path. This keeps the estate settlement focused on what actually needs court authority.
- Choose the opening form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and/or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). Use AOC-830 if you are asking the judge to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Prepare the statewide Kentucky AOC forms. Harrison County uses the statewide form set, including AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015 when appointment is requested.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Harrison County Justice Center, 115 Court St., Suite 1, Cynthiana, KY 41031. If mailing papers, call (859) 234-1914 first because no separate mailing address is published.
- 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. Harrison 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, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. Any county law library fee is tied to KRS 453.060. Harrison's court page lists cash, check, and money order, and says cash is required for any bond ordered under KRS 395.130.
- Ask the clerk how the court date will be handled. Harrison's court page does not publish probate motion days, and the statewide court-date lookup is a court-date tool rather than full case records.
- Ask about remote attendance before assuming. 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 Harrison 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: 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) 234-1914 and ask before you assume either way.
- If the District Court appoints you, get the Certificate of Qualification (AOC-807) and any letters of appointment under KRS 395.105. Banks and title companies use those papers to confirm your authority.
- File the inventory within 90 days after qualification. The AOC-841 inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250.
- Administer and close the estate. Address creditor claims under KRS 396.011, then use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when it fits, or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Harrison County
Harrison County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Harrison 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 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605. All of them are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Cynthiana will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for Probate of Will; and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator under KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-808 | Financial Disclosure for appointment filings under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification showing appointment authority. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate, due within 90 days and 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. |
| AOC-860 | Affidavit for Probate Fee Exemption for the line of duty probate fee exemption, where that narrow exemption applies. |
Local nuance
Harrison County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Payment methods | Harrison's court page lists cash, check, and money order. It does not list a card option, so bring or mail a payment method the clerk accepts. |
| Single published phone line | The court page lists one Office of Circuit Court Clerk number, (859) 234-1914, and does not publish a separate District Court or probate line. |
| No published fax number | The Harrison County court page does not list a fax number. Use the phone number before sending anything by fax. |
| No published probate schedule | The court page does not publish probate motion days or hearing days. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the court date and whether the statewide court-date lookup has your event. |
| 18th Judicial District | Harrison County shares the 18th Judicial District with Nicholas, Pendleton, and Robertson counties under KRS 24A.030, but Harrison estates are filed in Cynthiana. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and what assets still need court authority. If only personal property needs transfer, a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit. If the home sale or title work needs a personal representative, file AOC-805 in Cynthiana under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and beneficiary designations before the spouse pays the $80 opening cost effective July 1, 2026 under CR 3.03. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call (859) 234-1914 before mailing papers because no separate mailing address is published. If the estate may qualify for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, prepare AOC-830. Plan for cash, check, or money order because Harrison's court page does not publish a card option. | Sunset helps build a filing checklist, organize supporting documents, and decide when a local attorney should review the estate settlement plan. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, then using the Certificate of Qualification (AOC-807) and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 for banks and title companies. If a dispute becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 send the adversary proceeding to Harrison Circuit Court as a new action. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a Harrison County probate attorney when title work or a dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Harrison County | Filing office for Harrison County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, give the current filing amount under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and provide court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | Harrison County Justice Center, 115 Court St., Suite 1, Cynthiana, KY 41031; (859) 234-1914 |
| 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 Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | The civil legal aid program listed for Harrison County. Ask directly what help is available for your situation. | 859-431-8200; https://lablaw.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 | A statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | The AOC's plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and forms for deadlines, financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, bond under KRS 395.130, and inventory under KRS 395.250. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if real estate must be sold, heirs disagree, the will may be challenged, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are uncertain, the estate may need tax review, or you are unsure whether AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 is enough. Counsel also helps if a contested matter becomes an original adversary proceeding in Harrison Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property so the family can decide what belongs in the Harrison County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Kentucky's statewide AOC forms and helps you understand what to bring or send to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Cynthiana.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, a dispute, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, or a court hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to get organized, reduce missed assets, and move through estate settlement with a clearer plan.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Harrison County, Kentucky?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Harrison County, Harrison County Justice Center, 115 Court St., Suite 1, Cynthiana, KY 41031. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, even though the filing office is the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
How much does it cost to open a Harrison 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. Harrison 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, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. Any county law library fee is tied to KRS 453.060.
Can I pay by card at the Harrison County clerk's office?
Harrison County's court page lists cash, check, and money order as payment methods. It does not list a card option. The page also says cash is required for any bond ordered under KRS 395.130.
Does Harrison County have its own probate forms?
Harrison County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. No separate Harrison County probate form set is published on the court page. 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.
Can I e-file a Harrison County probate case?
Kentucky probate filings use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible probate filing must e-file. A self-represented filer may register for eFiling, but may also file paper documents at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Cynthiana.
How do I look up a Harrison County probate court date?
Harrison's court page links the statewide court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. Treat it as a court-date lookup, not full probate case records. For the status of a Harrison County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Cynthiana at (859) 234-1914.
Can I appear remotely for a Harrison County probate hearing?
No Harrison-specific Zoom login is posted. Kentucky courts have held some proceedings remotely since March 2020, but for a Harrison County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 234-1914 to ask whether your event is in person or remote.
Do I have to travel to Cynthiana to start estate settlement?
Not always, but you should call first. No separate mailing address is published for the Harrison County Office of Circuit Court Clerk, and no local probate schedule is posted. If you plan to mail papers or ask about eFiling as a self-represented party, call (859) 234-1914 before relying on a trip or a mailing.
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.