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Laurel County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Laurel County District Court, with papers filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Laurel County. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2). |
| Courthouse address | Laurel County Judicial Center, 305 S. Main St., London, KY 40741. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1798, London, KY 40743-1798. |
| Phone | Main office: (606) 330-2078. District line: (606) 330-2055. Circuit line: (606) 330-2079. |
| Fax | (606) 330-2084. |
| 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. Laurel 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 (KRS 453.060) where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Separate county packet | Laurel County's court page does not publish an extra local probate packet. Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms apply. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys handling Kentucky probate, intestate administration under KRS 395.030, or a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 must file electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper in London. |
| Case lookup | The Kentucky court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is a no-login court-date tool, not a full probate case record search. For estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in London. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings, but Laurel County does not publish probate login details on its county page. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing will be remote. |
| Payments and access | Cash, check, money order, credit and debit cards are accepted, with a fee for cards. Pay online with ePay. Parking is at the side of the building, with a drop-off lane and ramp in front, plus designated parking and ramps on the left side for those with a disability parking permit. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Laurel.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Laurel County, make a working list of the estate's assets, debts, titled property, beneficiaries, and likely creditor claims under KRS 396.011. The form path changes if the estate needs a personal representative, if everyone is asking the judge to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, or if a home sale is needed.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families organize that picture before they call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in London. Sunset can search across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, which helps you decide whether a Laurel County District Court filing under KRS 24A.120 is the right next step.
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 for an intestate estate (KRS 395.030). If the person lived in Laurel County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Laurel County Judicial Center in London.
Laurel County is in the 27th Judicial District (KRS 24A.030). The same London courthouse serves estates from across Laurel County, including London, Bernstadt, Keavy, Lily, Pittsburg, and the part of Corbin that extends into Laurel County.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct statewide Kentucky AOC form. Use AOC-805 for a petition to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455). AOC-808 is the financial disclosure required with an application for appointment (KRS 395.015).
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Laurel County Judicial Center, 305 S. Main St., London, KY 40741, or mail papers to P.O. Box 1798, London, KY 40743-1798. Attorneys file electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024, while self-represented filers may still file on paper in London.
- 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. Laurel 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 (KRS 453.060) where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
- Ask the clerk's office how the District Court will handle notice, oath, any bond under KRS 395.130, and the first hearing. Laurel County's page does not publish a probate hearing day or a probate Zoom link, so call the main office at (606) 330-2078 or the District line at (606) 330-2055 before you assume how the event will be held.
- If the 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 in due form under seal.
- Administer the estate after appointment. File the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days of qualification, and remember that the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Track creditor claims under KRS 396.011 and keep receipts for all payments.
- Close the estate with the correct settlement form. AOC-850 is used for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when the statutory conditions and waivers fit. AOC-846 is used for a formal or periodic settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Laurel County
Laurel County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. Laurel County's court page does not publish a separate Laurel County form set. AOC-805 opens an estate or asks for appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 is the inventory (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 closes the estate through settlement (KRS 395.610 and KRS 395.605).
The forms are free through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms catalogue. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in London can also provide paper copies, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or tell you which legal choice to make.
Local nuance
Laurel County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Laurel publishes separate phone lines | The main office number is (606) 330-2078, the Circuit line is (606) 330-2079, and the District line is (606) 330-2055. Because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2), callers should ask for the District probate connection if the main office does not route the call directly. |
| The street ZIP and mailing ZIP differ | The courthouse street address is 305 S. Main St., London, KY 40741. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1798, London, KY 40743-1798. Use the box address for mailed filings or correspondence. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Laurel County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether any assets need District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If probate is needed, file at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in London and ask whether appointment, a survivorship exemption motion, or a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 fits the assets. | Sunset helps organize deeds, accounts, debts, and beneficiary information before you choose the Laurel County filing path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Laurel County Office of Circuit Court Clerk before traveling. Kentucky's small estate path is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit, and Laurel County does not publish a probate Zoom link or hearing schedule on its county page. | Sunset helps identify accounts, prepare a document checklist, and coordinate with a Kentucky attorney if travel or signing logistics become difficult. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real estate sale usually requires clear authority from the District Court under KRS 24A.120 and careful handling of creditor claims under KRS 396.011. File in London if the child lived in Laurel County at death under KRS 394.140, then use the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and appointment order to work with title companies. | Sunset helps build the estate settlement inventory, locate accounts, and connect the family with a local probate attorney for title and sale issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Laurel County | The filing office for Laurel County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, state current costs under CR 3.03, and give court-date information, but it cannot give legal advice. | Laurel County Judicial Center, 305 S. Main St., London, KY 40741. Mail: P.O. Box 1798, London, KY 40743-1798. Phone: (606) 330-2078. Fax: (606) 330-2084. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Statewide AOC probate forms for opening, administering, and settling Kentucky estates. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided interviews, 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 |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | The civil legal aid program listed for Laurel County. Ask the program directly whether it can help with your estate issue. | 866-277-5733. https://ardfky.org |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | A statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney for probate, real estate, title, or contested matters under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | The AOC's plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and forms for 2026 deadlines and bond rules under KRS 395.250 and KRS 395.130. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the will may be challenged, if a Laurel County home must be sold, if family members disagree, if creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are significant, or if a contested matter could move into Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance, and other accounts so the Laurel County estate settlement starts with a clearer asset list.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized packet for the Kentucky AOC forms, including the opening petition, appointment materials, and settlement paperwork for review before filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When a real estate sale, creditor issue, family dispute, or court appearance needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a structured way to move through estate settlement without adding another bill at the start of the process.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Laurel County?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Laurel County Judicial Center, 305 S. Main St., London, KY 40741. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 1798, London, KY 40743-1798. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2).
Which phone number should I call for a Laurel County probate question?
Start with the main office at (606) 330-2078. The District line is (606) 330-2055, and probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120(2). The Circuit line is (606) 330-2079.
Can I e-file a Laurel County probate case?
Attorneys handling Kentucky probate, intestate administration under KRS 395.030, or a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 must file electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for electronic filing, but you may also file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in London.
Does Laurel County publish its own probate forms?
Laurel County's court page does not publish an extra county probate packet. Use the statewide AOC forms: AOC-805 for opening an estate (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 for a request to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 for the inventory (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 for settlement (KRS 395.610 and KRS 395.605).
How much does it cost to open probate in Laurel 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. Laurel 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 (KRS 453.060) where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Can I look up a Laurel County probate case online?
The Kentucky court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is a no-login tool for court dates, not a full probate case record search. For the status of a Laurel County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in London.
Can I appear remotely for a Laurel County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings, and the Court of Justice provides statewide remote-court instructions. Laurel County does not publish probate login details on its county page. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 330-2078 or the District line at (606) 330-2055 before assuming the hearing format.
Do I have to travel to London if I live out of state?
Not always for every step, but Laurel County does not publish a probate hearing schedule or remote appearance rule on its county page. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you mail papers, plan travel, or rely on a remote appearance.
What authority document do banks need after appointment in Laurel County?
After the District Court appoints you under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. KRS 395.105 calls the authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 allows formal letters under seal if needed.
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.