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Henry County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Henry County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Henry County District Court sitting in probate. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Henry County |
| Courthouse | Henry County Courthouse, 30 N. Main St., New Castle, KY 40050 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 359, New Castle, KY 40050-0359 |
| Phone | 502-845-7551. The county page separately lists 502-845-2868 as the Circuit Court line. |
| Fax | 502-845-2969 and 502-845-6738 |
| [email protected]. Emailing a document does not file it. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 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. Henry 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 | Pay online with ePay, or pay by cash, check, money order, or credit or debit card. Cash is required for bail payments. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms apply. No separate Henry County probate form set was found on the county court page or in the 12th Judicial Circuit rules. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate filings through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in New Castle. |
| Court dates | Henry County publishes District Court sitting days on Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. It does not publish a separate probate docket. |
| Court-date lookup | The statewide court-date lookup is at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. It is a court-date tool, not a full probate case file search. |
| Remote attendance | For Henry County District Court probate matters under KRS 24A.120, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your event is in person or remote. For a contested estate filed in Henry Circuit Court as an adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2), the 12th Judicial Circuit civil docket is a video-conference docket, although people may appear in person. |
| Accessibility and parking | Ramps are located in front of the building. Disability permit parking is at the front, parking is available around the courthouse square, and additional parking is at 243 W. Cross Main Street across the court annex building. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Henry.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Henry County, list the accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, funeral expenses, and possible beneficiaries. Estate settlement moves faster when you know whether you need a full appointment through AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 or a petition to dispense with administration using AOC-830 under KRS 395.455.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning what it finds into a practical estate settlement checklist for the New Castle filing office.
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 Henry County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Henry County courthouse in New Castle.
Henry County is in Kentucky's 12th Judicial District with Oldham and Trimble counties (KRS 24A.030). The same counties make up the 12th Judicial Circuit. Henry County communities include New Castle, Eminence, Campbellsburg, and Pleasureville, but the filing location is the courthouse in New Castle.
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 Henry County, at the Henry County courthouse in New Castle. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Henry Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets, debts, funeral expenses, likely beneficiaries, and any real estate before choosing a filing path.
- Choose the right Kentucky AOC form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455). A full appointment also requires the financial disclosure form AOC-808 under KRS 395.015.
- Get the statewide forms online or from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in New Castle. Henry County uses the statewide AOC forms rather than a separate local probate packet.
- File at the Henry County Courthouse, 30 N. Main St., New Castle, KY 40050, or mail the filing to P.O. Box 359, New Castle, KY 40050-0359. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents through Kentucky eFiling since January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may use 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. Henry 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.
- Ask the clerk for your hearing date or review the court-date lookup. Henry County publishes general District Court days on Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m., but it does not publish a separate probate docket.
- Ask before assuming a remote option. For an uncontested Henry County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for instructions. If the estate becomes contested and is filed as a Henry Circuit Court adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2), the 12th Judicial Circuit civil docket is conducted by video conference, although people may appear in person.
- After appointment, get the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky also calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory on AOC-841 within 90 days after qualifying; the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011 before distributing property under KRS 395.190.
- Close the estate with the correct settlement form. Use AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610, or AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Henry County
Henry County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Henry 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 New Castle will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for probate of will and/or appointment of executor or administrator, under KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure required with an application for appointment, under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification, the clerk-issued proof of appointment. |
| 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, used for a settlement under KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement, under KRS 395.605. |
Timeline
- Before filing, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 502-845-7551 and ask how the Henry County District Court probate calendar is being set. KRS 24A.120 places probate in District Court.
- File the opening papers in New Castle. Henry County publishes general District Court days on Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m., but it does not publish a separate probate docket.
- If the estate becomes contested, the matter is filed fresh in Henry Circuit Court as an adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. The 12th Judicial Circuit publishes Henry Circuit Court civil motion times on the second Thursday and fourth Friday at 8:45 a.m.
- For a contested civil matter in Henry Circuit Court, the 12th Judicial Circuit rules make the civil docket a video-conference docket, although people may appear in person. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for current connection details.
- After appointment, file the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days. KRS 395.250 makes the inventory confidential and filed under seal.
- Plan closing around Kentucky's statewide settlement clocks. AOC-850 is the informal final settlement form under KRS 395.605, and AOC-846 is the settlement form under KRS 395.610.
Local nuance
Henry County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Henry County estate |
|---|---|
| Two phone lines | The county page lists 502-845-7551 as the main phone and separately lists 502-845-2868 as the Circuit Court line. When calling about probate, say that the filing is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Two fax numbers | The county page lists 502-845-2969 and 502-845-6738. Henry Circuit Court rules say no pleadings may be delivered to the Circuit Clerk or the Court by fax, so do not treat a fax number as permission to file by fax. |
| General District Court schedule | Henry County publishes District Court days on Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m., but not a separate probate docket. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date assigned to your estate. |
| Contested estate path | A contested probate matter is filed in Henry Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2), not as an appeal. The 12th Judicial Circuit civil docket is a standing video-conference docket, although parties may appear in person. |
| Court-date lookup | The statewide docket tool can show court dates, but it is not a full probate case file search. For case status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in New Castle. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | The 12th Judicial Circuit local rules for Henry, Oldham, and Trimble counties took effect. The civil docket is a video-conference docket, although people may appear in person. |
| July 1, 2026 | The Kentucky probate filing fee changed under CR 3.03(1)(c): $50 effective July 1, 2026, plus the $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630 and the $20 court technology fee. |
| July 15, 2026 | 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 134 took effect. Among the statewide probate changes, KRS 395.250 now gives a 90-day inventory deadline and makes the inventory confidential and filed under seal. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Henry County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and what assets are outside the deed. A personal-property-only estate may fit a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, but a home sale or title issue often means opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 in New Castle. | Sunset helps identify accounts and real estate questions, organize the filing packet, and prepare the family for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call 502-845-7551 before mailing papers to P.O. Box 359, New Castle, KY 40050-0359. Kentucky's small-estate path is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not an affidavit handed to a bank. | Sunset turns the asset list into a practical estate settlement plan and can help decide whether a local attorney should handle the filing. |
| 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. After appointment, the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, is the proof banks and title companies look for. If a dispute develops, the case moves to Henry Circuit Court as an adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2). | Sunset helps collect account information, build the probate packet, and connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Henry County | Filing office for Henry County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, give the current cost, and provide court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Henry County Courthouse, 30 N. Main St., New Castle, KY 40050. Mail to P.O. Box 359, New Castle, KY 40050-0359. Phone 502-845-7551. Fax 502-845-2969. |
| 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. AOC-860 is the narrow probate fee exemption form for a qualifying line-of-duty death. | 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 Society | Civil legal aid program listed for Henry County. Ask 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 | AOC plain-language guide to Kentucky probate. Use the current statutes and current AOC forms for deadlines, bond under KRS 395.130, and financial disclosure because the guide predates the July 15, 2026 changes. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes a home sale, disputed heirs, a contested will, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, tax questions, or a need to file an adversary proceeding in Henry Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. An attorney also must use Kentucky eFiling for eligible probate filings since January 1, 2024. 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 the family can make informed estate settlement decisions before filing in Henry County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Kentucky AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and the closing forms used for settlement under KRS 395.605 and KRS 395.610.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves real estate, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, a dispute, or a contested matter under KRS 24A.120, Sunset can help connect the family with a Kentucky attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand the Henry County filing path, and move from asset discovery to the probate packet without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Henry County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Henry County Courthouse, 30 N. Main St., New Castle, KY 40050. Mail filings to P.O. Box 359, New Castle, KY 40050-0359. Kentucky probate is filed in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
What phone number should I call for a Henry County probate filing?
Call 502-845-7551 and say the matter is a District Court probate filing under KRS 24A.120. The county page also lists 502-845-2868 as the Circuit Court line.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Henry 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. Henry 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.
Does Henry County have its own probate forms?
Henry County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the 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 Henry County probate case?
Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate filings through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling, but you may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in New Castle.
Does Henry County publish probate hearing days?
Henry County publishes general District Court days on Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m., but not a separate probate docket. Because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date assigned to your estate.
Can I attend a Henry County probate hearing remotely?
For an ordinary Henry County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your event is in person or remote. Kentucky courts have used Zoom for some proceedings, but login details are not published centrally for District Court probate matters. If the estate is contested and filed in Henry Circuit Court as an adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2), the 12th Judicial Circuit civil docket is a video-conference docket, although people may appear in person.
Can I check a Henry County probate case online?
The statewide court-date lookup can show court dates, but it is not a full probate case file search. CourtNet runs behind a Kentucky Court of Justice portal that requires an account. For the status of a Henry County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in New Castle.
What proof do I get after appointment as executor or administrator?
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky also uses the phrase letters of appointment in KRS 395.105, and KRS 395.110 allows formal letters under seal when requested.
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.