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Knott County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Knott County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120. |
| Courthouse address | Knott County Judicial Center, 53 W. Main St., Hindman, KY 41822. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1317, Hindman, KY 41822. |
| Phone | (606) 785-5021. The Knott County page lists one phone line and does not split Circuit and District lines. |
| Fax | (606) 785-3994. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure is listed on the Knott County page. |
| 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. Knott 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Payment | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Knott County accepts cash, cashier's check, money order, and personal check with address and phone number required in person. Payment by phone is accepted. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Knott County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. No separate Knott County probate form set is listed on the county page. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings have had to e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. A self-represented filer may register for eFiling, but can still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Court-date lookup | A free, no-login court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and includes Knott County, but it is not an official docket and may change. CourtNet is behind a Kentucky Court of Justice account portal. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the status of a Knott County estate. |
| Remote events | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Knott County does not publish probate login details centrally. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your event is in person or remote. |
| Accessibility | Call ahead to request assistance. The Knott County page does not list separate parking, ramp, or elevator details. |
| Website | Kentucky Court of Justice county page for Knott County. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path, make a practical list of the assets, debts, titled property, accounts, and family contacts. Knott County District Court under KRS 24A.120 can only act on the estate settlement question you bring to it, so the paperwork is easier when you know what needs court authority and what may pass another way.
Sunset can help you look for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions before you file. That gives you a cleaner starting point for an estate settlement packet, whether you are asking for appointment as personal representative or asking whether Kentucky's dispense-with-administration process under KRS 395.455 fits.
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 Knott County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Knott County Judicial Center in Hindman.
Knott County is in the 36th Judicial District with Magoffin County under KRS 24A.030. The Hindman courthouse serves Hindman and the rest of Knott 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 Knott County, at the Knott County Judicial Center in Hindman. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Knott Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right Kentucky AOC packet for the local filing. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), and include the current financial disclosure, AOC-808, when appointment is requested (KRS 395.015). If you are asking the judge to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 with KRS 395.455.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Knott County Judicial Center, 53 W. Main St., Hindman, KY 41822, or mail to P.O. Box 1317, Hindman, KY 41822. Attorneys have had to e-file eligible Kentucky probate papers since January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may register for eFiling, but may file paper documents with the clerk.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the current total before filing. $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. Knott 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The office accepts cash, cashier's check, money order, and personal check with address and phone number required in person, accepts payment by phone, and links Pay online with ePay.
- Handle notices, consents, and creditor issues for the filing you chose. Creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011, and the clerk can tell you court dates, provide forms, and state the amount due, but cannot give legal advice.
- Ask how hearings are scheduled. Knott County's page does not publish a District Court motion-day or probate docket schedule, so call (606) 785-5021 before planning travel to Hindman.
- Ask before assuming an event is remote. 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 Knott County District Court probate matter 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 (606) 785-5021 and ask before you assume either way.
- After appointment, get proof of authority. When the District Court appoints you under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, showing that the appointment order is in force. Kentucky law also refers to letters of appointment in KRS 395.105.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory and appraisement on AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, follow the court's directions, address claims under KRS 396.011, and close with AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610 when the estate is ready.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Knott County
Knott County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Knott County form set listed on the county page. You file form AOC-805 to open the estate or seek appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 for the inventory and appraisement (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 to close through settlement under KRS 395.610 or informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hindman can provide paper copies.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by listing the home, account titles, debts, and any assets that may need Knott County District Court action under KRS 24A.120. If appointment is needed, file AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hindman. If the facts support dispensing with administration, use AOC-830 under KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps organize assets, liabilities, and documents so the spouse can decide what belongs in the Knott County estate settlement packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 785-5021 before traveling. Kentucky does not use a bank affidavit for this path; a small estate request is a District Court filing under KRS 24A.120, usually AOC-830 for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 when that route fits. | Sunset helps collect account information, generate a probate packet, and prepare questions for the Hindman clerk or a Kentucky attorney. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If someone must be appointed to handle estate business and sale-related paperwork, the local filing starts with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 in Knott County District Court under KRS 24A.120. After appointment, the clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and letters of appointment are addressed by KRS 395.105. | Sunset helps the parent identify assets and debts, assemble the opening forms, and connect with a local probate attorney when real estate or family issues make counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Knott County Office of Circuit Court Clerk | Provides probate forms, filing fee information under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and court-date information for filings at the Hindman courthouse. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | (606) 785-5021, Knott County Judicial Center, 53 W. Main St., Hindman, KY 41822. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Offers guided interviews for Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration filings, including the dispense-with-administration process under KRS 395.455. | kycourts.gov Legal Help Self-Help Portal and A2J.org Kentucky interviews. |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | Knott County is listed in the AppalReD region for civil legal aid. Contact the program to ask about eligibility and whether it can help with your issue. | 866-277-5733, ardfky.org. |
| KY Free Legal Answers | Online legal question service for eligible Kentucky residents. | ky.freelegalanswers.org. |
| Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services | Referral information for people who want to speak with a Kentucky lawyer. | kybar.org. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a Kentucky probate attorney if family members disagree, a will contest may be filed in Knott Circuit Court as an original action under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are disputed, real estate must be sold, or you are unsure whether to seek appointment or use AOC-830 to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a clearer asset picture before filing in Knott County, so the estate settlement process starts with fewer unknowns.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized Kentucky probate forms and filing materials for the path you choose, including appointment papers or a dispense-with-administration request under KRS 395.455.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney who understands District Court probate under KRS 24A.120.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset for estate settlement organization, asset discovery support, probate packet preparation, and attorney matching without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Knott County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Knott County Judicial Center, 53 W. Main St., Hindman, KY 41822. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 1317, Hindman, KY 41822. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, and venue is tied to where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
What is the phone number for Knott County probate questions?
Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 785-5021. The Knott County page lists one phone line and does not publish separate Circuit and District phone numbers.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Knott 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. Knott 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Does Knott County have its own probate forms?
Knott County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The county page does not list a separate Knott County form set. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening and appointment under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file a Knott County probate case?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings have had to e-file since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system, but may also file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hindman.
Can I look up a Knott County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. The Kentucky Court of Justice's CourtNet system runs behind an account portal at kcoj.kycourts.net. The Administrative Office of the Courts states that it does not hold trial-court case records at all. A free, no-login court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and includes Knott County, but it carries a caveat that it is not an official docket and may change; it is a court-date lookup, not a case-record search. To find out where a Knott County estate stands, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hindman at (606) 785-5021.
Does Knott County publish probate hearing days?
The Knott County page does not publish a District Court motion-day or probate docket schedule. Call (606) 785-5021 to ask for court dates before you plan travel to Hindman.
Can I attend a Knott County probate hearing by Zoom?
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 Knott County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 785-5021 before you assume either way.
What document proves I can act for the estate?
When the District Court appoints a personal representative under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky law also uses the term letters of appointment in KRS 395.105.
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.