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Hart County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Hart County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Hart County District Court, with probate filings handled by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk under KRS 24A.120. |
| Courthouse address | Hart County Judicial Center, 117 E. South St., Munfordville, KY 42765. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 248, Munfordville, KY 42765-0248. |
| Phone | (270) 524-5181. |
| Fax | (270) 524-7202. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Hart County operates on Central time. |
| 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. Hart 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, cashier's check, money order, credit and debit cards with a fee. Local personal checks are accepted at office discretion. The court page also links to ePay. |
| Forms | Hart County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The county page does not publish a separate Hart County probate form set. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate or KRS 395.455 dispense-with-administration case must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Munfordville. |
| Online case information | Kentucky does not publish a free public case search for District Court probate matters. A no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ with a not official docket caveat. For estate status, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote court | Hart County's court page posts direct Zoom meeting links and passcodes for assigned District and Circuit judges. Do not rely on copied credentials. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk which format applies to your probate event and where to get the current link. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Hart.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Hart County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account numbers, real estate, vehicles and likely beneficiaries. The right estate settlement path depends on what must actually pass through the estate, not just on whether there is a will.
Sunset can help families start that asset search across 2,300 institutions, organize what is found, and turn the information into a probate packet for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Munfordville.
Which court handles jurisdiction
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 Hart County, at the Hart County courthouse in Munfordville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Hart Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
Kentucky sends the estate to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140, and where there is no will, to the same court under KRS 395.030. If the person lived in Munfordville, Horse Cave, Bonnieville, Uno, Jonesville or anywhere else in Hart County, the papers go to the Hart County Judicial Center in Munfordville.
Hart County is in the 10th Judicial District, shared with LaRue County, under KRS 24A.030. The courthouse city is Munfordville, and Hart County operates on Central time.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the starting packet. Use AOC-805 for a petition to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator, with KRS 394.145 as the will-probate authority. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the judge to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. A full appointment packet may also include AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015 and a bond form only if the court orders bond under KRS 395.130.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Hart County Judicial Center, 117 E. South St., Munfordville, KY 42765, or mail papers to P.O. Box 248, Munfordville, KY 42765-0248. Attorneys must file electronically in covered probate matters since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may 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. Hart 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.
- Ask the clerk's office how notice and hearing scheduling will be handled in your case. Hart County's page does not publish a probate motion schedule, and the clerk cannot give legal advice.
- Confirm the appearance format before the court date. Hart County's page posts direct Zoom meeting links and passcodes for assigned judges, but the Office of Circuit Court Clerk should tell you whether your probate matter will be in person or remote and where to get the current link.
- If the District Court appoints you, get the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 lets you ask the clerk for formal letters under seal.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory and appraisement on 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 before distribution under KRS 395.190.
- Close the estate with the correct settlement filing. AOC-850 is used for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605, and AOC-846 is used for a settlement of estate under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hart County
Hart County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Hart 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 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 is used to close.
The AOC form set also includes AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015 and AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, which the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues after appointment. Forms are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page and from the clerk's office in Munfordville.
Local nuance
Hart County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Central time | Hart County operates on Central time. That matters when you call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 524-5181, especially if you are comparing deadlines or court times with counties on Eastern time. |
| Local Zoom links | Hart County's own court page posts direct Zoom meeting links and passcodes for assigned District and Circuit judges. Use the court page or the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the current link, not a saved copy. |
| Payment limits | The office accepts cash, cashier's check, money order, credit and debit cards with a fee, and local personal checks only at office discretion. |
| Accessibility note | Hart County's court page does not publish an accessibility or parking note. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before visiting if you need an accommodation or parking information. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Munfordville. A co-owned home may not be the asset that needs administration, so separate jointly owned property from assets titled only in the decedent's name before choosing a filing path. | Sunset helps identify accounts, property and debts so the spouse can see what belongs in the estate settlement packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Use the Hart County mailing address, P.O. Box 248, Munfordville, KY 42765-0248, and remember Hart County is on Central time. If the family is asking to dispense with administration, use the KRS 395.455 path and AOC-830 under KRS 395.455. A self-represented filer may use paper filing. | Sunset helps gather asset information, generate the form packet and flag when a Kentucky attorney should review the filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually requires full administration through AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and appointment authority. After appointment, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues the AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, and KRS 395.105 refers to the fiduciary's authority as letters of appointment. | Sunset helps organize property, debts and title-company needs, then connects the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Hart County | Filing office for Hart County estate matters under KRS 24A.120. | Hart County Judicial Center, 117 E. South St., Munfordville, KY 42765. Mail to P.O. Box 248, Munfordville, KY 42765-0248. Phone: (270) 524-5181. Fax: (270) 524-7202. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided interviews for 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 |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for Hart County. Ask the program what help may be available for your issue. | (270) 782-1924 or (800) 782-1924. https://klaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Online Q and A with a volunteer Kentucky attorney. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide referral information for finding a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes real property to sell, disputed heirs, a contested will or other adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, or uncertainty about whether the KRS 395.455 dispense-with-administration path fits. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, insurance, investments and other assets so families can begin estate settlement with a clearer inventory of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Kentucky probate packet for Hart County, including the local courthouse address, mailing address and the forms that match the estate settlement path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a house sale, a dispute, creditor issues or a filing you do not want to handle alone, Sunset helps connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the probate process, understand next steps and prepare for the Hart County filing without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hart County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Hart County Judicial Center, 117 E. South St., Munfordville, KY 42765. Mail may be sent to P.O. Box 248, Munfordville, KY 42765-0248. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
What does it cost to open a Hart 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. Hart 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 or personal check in Hart County?
The court page lists cash, cashier's check, money order, credit and debit cards with a fee, and local personal checks at office discretion. It also links to ePay.
Does Hart County have its own probate forms?
No separate Hart County probate form set is posted. Use Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Can a Hart County probate filing be made electronically?
Yes, through the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate or KRS 395.455 dispense-with-administration case must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Munfordville.
Does Hart County publish probate hearing days?
Hart County's court page does not publish a probate hearing schedule. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 524-5181 to ask how your filing will be scheduled.
Can I appear remotely for a Hart County probate hearing?
Hart County's court page posts direct Zoom meeting links and passcodes for assigned judges, but the Office of Circuit Court Clerk should tell you whether your probate event is in person or remote and where to get the current link.
Can I look up a Hart County estate online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public case search for District Court probate matters. A no-login court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ with a not official docket caveat. For estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Munfordville.
What time zone is the Hart County clerk's office on?
Hart County operates on Central time. Use Central time when calling the Office of Circuit Court Clerk or planning for any court time in Munfordville.
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.