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Knox County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Knox County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Knox County District Court, probate division. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Knox County |
| Courthouse address | Knox County Courthouse Annex, 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 760, Barbourville, KY 40906 |
| Phone | District: 606-546-3232. Circuit: 606-546-3075. |
| Fax | The Knox County page does not publish a fax number. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before sending probate papers by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to noon; closed Sunday. |
| 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. Knox 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 | The Knox County Office of Circuit Court Clerk accepts cash, check and money order for court payments. No card option is published. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. No separate Knox County probate form set is published on the Knox County page. |
| E-filing status | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate case must file eligible papers electronically. A self-represented filer may use paper filing at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky has a free no-login court-date docket lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, with a not-official-docket caveat. For case status or copies, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Barbourville. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts publish statewide remote-court instructions. Whether a Knox County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is in person or remote is handled by the judge and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, so call 606-546-3232 before you assume either way. |
| Website | www.kycourts.gov, Knox County information page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Knox County, make a first list of the person's assets, debts, titled property, account owners and beneficiary designations. District Court probate under KRS 24A.120 depends on what must pass through the estate, not just whether there is a will.
Sunset can search across more than 2,300 institutions to help find accounts and policies before you start estate settlement. That asset picture helps you decide what to ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Barbourville, what forms to prepare and whether you need a local probate attorney.
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 Knox County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Knox County Courthouse Annex in Barbourville.
Knox County is in Kentucky's 27th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, shared with Laurel County. The Knox filing office serves probate filings for people whose proper Kentucky county is Knox County, including all communities in the 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 Knox County, at the Knox County Courthouse Annex in Barbourville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Knox Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the starting form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). If you are asking the judge to dispense with administration instead, use AOC-830 (KRS 395.455). If appointment is requested, include the new financial disclosure form, AOC-808 (KRS 395.015), and the proposed oath and order forms required for your situation.
- File with the Knox County Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Knox County Courthouse Annex, 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906, or mail to P.O. Box 760, Barbourville, KY 40906. Use the District line, 606-546-3232, for probate questions because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the exact 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. Knox 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 what notice or publication the court requires for your filing. If a personal representative is appointed, creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011, and Kentucky law bars many claims not presented within the statutory claims period.
- Ask how the hearing will be scheduled. The Knox County page does not publish probate motion days or hearing days, so use the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the current District Court schedule under KRS 24A.120.
- Ask before assuming a remote appearance. 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 Knox 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 606-546-3232 and ask before you assume either way.
- If the court appoints you, 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 full force and effect. That certificate, together with a certified copy of the order appointing you, is what banks and title companies accept. Kentucky law also lets you ask the clerk for formal letters in due form under seal (KRS 395.110), and KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment.
- Administer and close the estate. A personal representative files the inventory and appraisement on AOC-841 no later than 90 days from qualification, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal (KRS 395.250). Kentucky no longer requires a bond by default; since July 15, 2026, KRS 395.130 says no bond is required unless the court orders one. When administration is ready to close, use AOC-850 for informal final settlement if the requirements of KRS 395.605 are met, or AOC-846 for a formal or periodic settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Knox County
Knox County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Knox County form set published on the Knox County page. You file AOC-805 to open the estate and seek appointment, with AOC-805 tied to KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-808 for the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015, AOC-841 for the inventory required by KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Barbourville can provide paper copies of court forms, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or tell you what legal choice to make.
Local nuance
Knox County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Knox filing |
|---|---|
| Use the District line | The Knox County page publishes Circuit 606-546-3075 and District 606-546-3232. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, so use 606-546-3232 first for probate questions. |
| Courthouse name | The local page names the building the Knox County Courthouse Annex at 401 Court Square in Barbourville, with mail to P.O. Box 760. |
| Saturday hours | The Knox office hours include Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Call before relying on Saturday for a filing deadline or a hearing issue. |
| Payment methods | The Knox County Office of Circuit Court Clerk accepts cash, check and money order for court payments. No card option is published, and the county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Shared district | Knox County is in the 27th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, shared with Laurel County, so hearing schedules may not be available on demand. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Knox County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Confirm whether the home passes outside probate by title or survivorship language. If other assets require court authority, file in Knox County District Court under KRS 24A.120 at the Courthouse Annex in Barbourville. If you seek to dispense with administration, AOC-830 must be tied to KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps find accounts, insurance and debts so the spouse can see whether estate settlement requires appointment, a dispense-with-administration petition under KRS 395.455, or attorney review. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Kentucky does not use an out-of-court affidavit. If the facts support asking the judge to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, the filing is AOC-830 in Knox County District Court under KRS 24A.120. Call 606-546-3232 to ask about paper filing by mail, hearing scheduling and whether any appearance can be remote through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. | Sunset organizes the asset list and can generate a probate packet so you know what to mail or bring before traveling to Barbourville. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A court appointment may be needed before someone can sign closing papers for estate property. File AOC-805 in Knox County District Court under KRS 394.145 and KRS 24A.120, then obtain the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 if the court appoints you. | Sunset helps identify lienholders, accounts and title issues early, then connects the family with a local probate attorney if a sale, creditor issue under KRS 396.011, or contested matter under KRS 24A.120 needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers | How to use it in Knox County |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided interviews for Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration, including the court route under KRS 395.455. | Use the interview before filing with the Knox County Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | A statewide AOC probate guide. Some 2026 law changes are newer than the guide, so use current KRS sections and current AOC forms where they differ. | Helpful background before asking the Knox clerk for forms or court dates. |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | Regional civil legal aid program for Knox County. Phone: 866-277-5733. Website: ardfky.org. | Ask whether your estate settlement issue is within its services. |
| KY Free Legal Answers | Online question-and-answer service for eligible Kentucky residents. | Use it for a limited legal question before filing or before a hearing. |
| Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services | Statewide lawyer referral information. | Use it if the estate has a home sale, family dispute, creditor issue under KRS 396.011, or tax question. |
| Knox County Office of Circuit Court Clerk | Provides court forms, fee totals under CR 3.03 and court-date information. | Call the District line at 606-546-3232. The clerk cannot give legal advice. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes real estate to sell, a dispute among heirs or beneficiaries, a creditor problem under KRS 396.011, a will contest filed as an original Circuit Court action under KRS 394.240, uncertainty about the inventory under KRS 395.250, or questions about whether a bond might be ordered under KRS 395.130. If you want help, Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a clearer estate settlement inventory by locating accounts, policies and financial relationships that may not be obvious from the person's papers at home.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you know about the estate into a county-ready probate packet, including the Kentucky AOC forms that match the path you choose for Knox County.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate has a home sale, a dispute, a creditor issue or a question that needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a practical estate settlement starting point without charging them for the core help of organizing assets, forms and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Knox County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Knox County Courthouse Annex, 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, and venue generally follows the county where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
Which phone number should I use for a Knox County probate question?
Use the District line, 606-546-3232. The Knox County page also lists Circuit 606-546-3075, but probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Can I e-file a Knox County probate case?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate case must file eligible papers electronically. If you are handling the estate yourself, you may file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Barbourville.
Does Knox County have its own probate forms?
No separate Knox County probate form set is published on the Knox County page. Use Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805 for probate or appointment under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-850 or AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.605 or KRS 395.610.
How much does it cost to open probate in Knox 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. Knox 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.
Are Knox County probate hearings remote?
Do not assume either way. Kentucky courts publish remote-court instructions, but whether a particular Knox County District Court probate hearing under KRS 24A.120 is remote is handled through the judge and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Call 606-546-3232 before the hearing date.
Can I check a Knox County probate court date online?
Kentucky provides a free no-login court-date docket lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, with a not-official-docket caveat. For estate status, copies or case-specific questions, contact the Knox County Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Barbourville.
Do I have to travel to Barbourville to handle a Knox County estate?
Maybe not for every step. You can call the District line, 606-546-3232, to ask about paper filing by mail, court scheduling and whether any appearance can be handled remotely through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. If a hearing is set, confirm the appearance method before making travel plans.
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.