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Hickman County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Hickman County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Hickman County District Court, probate matters, under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Hickman County |
| Courthouse address | Hickman County Courthouse Annex, 109 S. Washington St., Clinton, KY 42031 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk |
| Phone | (270) 653-3901. The county court page also lists 270-653 2026 as a second, unlabelled line. |
| Fax | (270) 653-3989 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday |
| Counter cost to open | $80 current as of July 1, 2026 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. Hickman 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, check, money order, or credit or debit card with a fee. Cash is required for a bond if the court orders one under KRS 395.130. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Statewide Kentucky AOC probate forms apply. No separate Hickman County probate form set is published on the county court page. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys handling Kentucky probate papers must file electronically for eligible case types beginning January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for electronic filing, but may still file on paper in Clinton. |
| Case lookup | The state offers a free no-login court-date lookup that is not an official docket. For the status of a Hickman County probate case under KRS 24A.120, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Clinton. |
| Phone or video attendance | Rule 103 of the 1st Judicial District local rules allows a person to ask for phone or video attendance at least one business day ahead and show good cause. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before relying on remote attendance. |
| Website | Hickman County Office of Circuit Court Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Clinton, list the assets, debts, co-owned property, beneficiary designations, and any will. That first asset map tells you whether the estate settlement needs an appointment, whether a dispense-with-administration petition under KRS 395.455 might fit, and what the clerk can accept from you.
Sunset helps families start that inventory by searching for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, then organizing the information into a practical estate settlement plan before paperwork goes to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Kentucky sends a will to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and an estate with no will goes to the same court (KRS 395.030). If the person lived in Hickman County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Hickman County Courthouse Annex in Clinton.
KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. If a Hickman County estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Hickman Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
Hickman County is in Kentucky's 1st Judicial District with Ballard, Carlisle, and Fulton counties (KRS 24A.030). Hickman County also includes Columbus, but the probate filing office is the single published court location in Clinton.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets and debts first. If the surviving spouse's $30,000 exemption under KRS 391.030, as amended effective July 15, 2020, and any preferred claim paid under KRS 396.095 fit the statutory comparison, the family may ask to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. Otherwise, plan for appointment of a personal representative.
- Choose the statewide Kentucky forms. AOC-805 opens a will or appointment case under KRS 394.145, AOC-808 is the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015, AOC-830 asks 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.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Hickman County Courthouse Annex, 109 S. Washington St., Clinton. Make sure you are at the Circuit Court Clerk's office, not the separate Hickman County Clerk on East Clay Street, which handles deeds and land records.
- Use the correct filing method. An attorney must electronically file eligible Kentucky probate papers beginning January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for electronic filing, but you may also file paper forms at the clerk's counter in Clinton.
- Pay the opening cost and ask for the exact counter total. $80 current as of July 1, 2026 opens a probate case: the $50 filing fee set by CR 3.03(1)(c), effective July 1, 2026, plus the $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630 and the $20 court technology fee. Hickman County may add a $10 court facilities fee under KRS 24A.185 and a county law library fee under KRS 453.060.
- Ask how notice and the court date will be handled in your filed case. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk can provide forms, court-date information, and the current fee amount, but the clerk cannot give legal advice.
- Calendar the local probate docket. Under Rule 205 of the 1st Judicial District local rules, Hickman County's Probate, Civil, Small Claims, and Domestic Violence docket begins at 9:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. Rule 207 allows dates to change for extraordinary circumstances, so call before you travel.
- If you want to attend by phone or video, ask early. Rule 103 of the 1st Judicial District local rules requires a request at least one business day before the court event and a showing of good cause, such as extraordinary travel, a medical emergency, a conflict in another venue, or another substantial hardship. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the specific hearing.
- If the court appoints you, ask for your authority papers. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and a certified appointment order; Kentucky law also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
- Administer and close the estate. File the AOC-841 inventory within ninety days under KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and use AOC-846 for a formal settlement under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when the estate is ready to close.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hickman County
Hickman County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Hickman 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 catalogue, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Clinton can provide paper copies. The clerk can provide forms and court-date information, but cannot tell you which legal choice to make.
Timeline
- Hickman District Court probate matters under KRS 24A.120 are placed on the local Probate, Civil, Small Claims, and Domestic Violence docket.
- Rule 205 of the 1st Judicial District local rules sets that Hickman County docket for 9:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.
- Rule 207 allows a court date to change or be cancelled for extraordinary circumstances, with the matter moved to the next regular session or another date approved by the court and parties.
- Before traveling to Clinton, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 653-3901 to check the date, the counter cost under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and any phone or video attendance option for that hearing.
Local nuance
Hickman County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Hickman County filing |
|---|---|
| Clinton, not Hickman | The courthouse city is Clinton. The city of Hickman is in Fulton County, and Clinton County is a different Kentucky county. |
| Two clerk offices | Probate papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 109 S. Washington St. The separate Hickman County Clerk at 110 E. Clay St. handles deeds, land records, motor vehicles, and elections, not probate filings. |
| Second phone line | The county court page lists (270) 653-3901 and a second unlabelled line, 270-653 2026. Use (270) 653-3901 as the primary probate contact unless the office directs you otherwise. |
| Local phone or video rule | Rule 103 of the 1st Judicial District local rules allows phone or video attendance only after a timely request and good cause. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk about the specific Hickman County hearing. |
| Payment at the counter | The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card with a fee. If the court orders a bond under KRS 395.130, cash is required for that bond. |
| Accessibility planning | The Hickman County court page does not publish an accessibility or parking note. A person with mobility needs should call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before traveling to the courthouse annex. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Clinton. The spouse may need to discuss the $30,000 exemption under KRS 391.030, as amended effective July 15, 2020, and a possible dispense-with-administration request under KRS 395.455, but a co-owned home may still need title review beyond that court order. | Sunset organizes the assets, debts, title questions, and beneficiary information so the spouse can see whether estate settlement can stay simple or needs appointment papers. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate question | Do not travel to the city of Hickman. The probate filing office is in Clinton, and the Hickman County probate docket is at 9:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Monday. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk about the date and any phone or video attendance request before booking travel. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the form list, and flag whether AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 or AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 is the better starting point to discuss with counsel or the court. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Plan on full administration unless a lawyer identifies another route. File AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 in Clinton, then use the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and certified appointment order to work with banks, insurers, and title professionals. A contested issue belongs in Hickman Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. | Sunset builds the estate settlement checklist, helps prepare a probate packet, and can connect the family with a local probate attorney when real estate must be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Hickman County | Filing office for Hickman County probate matters under KRS 24A.120. Provides forms, current counter cost information under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | Hickman County Courthouse Annex, 109 S. Washington St., Clinton, KY 42031; (270) 653-3901; fax (270) 653-3989 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Statewide probate form catalogue, including 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. | kycourts.gov legal forms |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided interviews for Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate topics. | Self-Help Portal; A2J Kentucky |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for Hickman County in Region 1. Ask the program directly what help is available for your situation. | 270-782-1924; klaid.org |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question service. | ky.freelegalanswers.org |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide lawyer referral information. | kybar.org lawyer referral services |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Hickman County when a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are disputed, the family needs a phone or video attendance request under the local rule, or a will contest under KRS 394.240 and KRS 24A.120 may move the dispute into Circuit Court. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, insurance, property, and debts before the first filing, so the Hickman County estate settlement starts with a clear asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized packet for Kentucky forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and closing forms under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, real estate work, tax review, or a contested filing under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, Sunset helps connect the family with a probate attorney familiar with Kentucky practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, prepare for the clerk's office in Clinton, and move forward without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hickman County, Kentucky?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Hickman County, Hickman County Courthouse Annex, 109 S. Washington St., Clinton, KY 42031. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
Is the Hickman County courthouse in a town called Hickman?
No. Hickman County's courthouse city is Clinton. The city of Hickman is in Fulton County, a different Kentucky county, and Clinton County is another Kentucky county with its own courthouse elsewhere.
Which clerk handles estates in Hickman County?
Use the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 109 S. Washington St. for District Court probate filings under KRS 24A.120. The separate Hickman County Clerk on East Clay Street handles deeds, land records, motor vehicles, and elections, not probate filings.
What does it cost to open a Hickman County probate case?
$80 current as of July 1, 2026 opens a probate case: the $50 filing fee set by CR 3.03(1)(c), effective July 1, 2026, plus the $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630 and the $20 court technology fee. Hickman County may add a $10 court facilities fee under KRS 24A.185 and a county law library fee under KRS 453.060, so call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the exact total.
Can I pay by card at the Hickman County clerk's counter?
The county court page lists cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card, with a fee for card payments. It also says cash is required for bond if the court orders one under KRS 395.130, and the page links Pay online with ePay.
Are there Hickman County probate forms?
Hickman County uses the statewide Kentucky AOC probate forms. There is no separate Hickman County form set on the county 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.
When is probate heard in Hickman County?
Rule 205 of the 1st Judicial District local rules sets Hickman County's Probate, Civil, Small Claims, and Domestic Violence docket for 9:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk because Rule 207 allows court dates to move for extraordinary circumstances.
Can I attend a Hickman County probate hearing by phone or video?
Rule 103 of the 1st Judicial District local rules lets a person ask for phone or video attendance at least one business day before the court event and show good cause, such as extraordinary travel, medical emergency, a conflict in another venue, or another substantial hardship. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before relying on remote attendance.
Can I use electronic filing for Hickman County probate?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate papers must file electronically beginning January 1, 2024. A self-represented person may register for electronic filing, but may still file paper forms with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Clinton.
How do I check a Hickman County probate court date?
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a free no-login court-date lookup that is not an official docket. For the status of a Hickman County probate matter under KRS 24A.120, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Clinton at (270) 653-3901.
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.