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Leslie County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Leslie County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Leslie County District Court, probate division, under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Leslie County |
| Courthouse address | Leslie County Courthouse, 22010 Main St., Hyden, KY 41749 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 1750, Hyden, KY 41749-1750 is the box tied to the court address information, but call before mailing because the current court address line also prints 22010 Main St. Unit 1, Box 7. |
| Phone | 606-672-2503 or 606-672-2505 |
| Fax | 606-672-5128 |
| Office schedule | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday |
| Filing 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. Leslie 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 methods | Cash, check, or money order. No card payment option is published for the Leslie County office. |
| Local form set | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. No separate Leslie County probate packet is published by the county court page. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys are required to e-file eligible Kentucky probate cases through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hyden. |
| Case and date lookup | CourtNet runs behind an account portal for trial-court records, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for case information. A free court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, but it is not a full probate case-record search. |
| Remote question | Kentucky courts have used Zoom for some proceedings since March 2020, but Leslie County does not publish probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing can be handled remotely. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Leslie.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Leslie County probate filing, make a list of the decedent's assets, debts, account locations, real estate, vehicles, and known beneficiaries. Kentucky estate settlement choices depend on what must pass through court, whether a will exists, whether anyone may object, and whether the District Court can issue an order without appointing a personal representative.
Sunset helps families begin estate settlement by finding accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, organizing what was found, and turning that information into a practical probate packet for the Leslie County clerk's 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 Leslie County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Leslie County courthouse in Hyden.
Leslie County is part of Kentucky's 41st Judicial District with Clay and Jackson counties under KRS 24A.030. The filing remains a Leslie County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, handled through the Hyden courthouse.
The court serves all of Leslie County. Hyden is the county's only incorporated city and county seat, and the county also includes unincorporated communities such as Thousandsticks, Hoskinston, Wooton, Confluence, and Smilax.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with assets, debts, and title. Identify accounts, vehicles, real estate, funeral expenses, unpaid bills, beneficiaries, and whether there is a will before you decide which Leslie County filing to use.
- Choose the opening form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and/or appointment of an executor or administrator, with KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Get the forms from Kentucky's statewide AOC form catalogue or from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hyden. Common forms include AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, AOC-841 inventory under KRS 395.250, and the closing forms AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
- File at the Leslie County Courthouse, 22010 Main St., Hyden, KY 41749. If you plan to mail papers, call 606-672-2503 or 606-672-2505 first because the mailing box and current address line do not match cleanly.
- 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. Leslie 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. The published in-office payment methods are cash, check, and money order.
- Ask the clerk for the hearing date or next court event. Leslie County does not publish a current probate docket schedule on its county court page, and the public court-date lookup is only a date tool, not a full case-record search.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your Leslie County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 will be in person or remote. Kentucky courts have held some proceedings by Zoom since March 2020, but login details are not posted centrally.
- After appointment, obtain the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky law also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110, and banks or title companies commonly ask for proof that the appointment is still in force.
- Administer the estate. A personal representative must file the AOC-841 inventory no later than 90 days after qualification, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011.
- Close the estate when the work is complete. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a formal or periodic settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Leslie County
Leslie County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Leslie County form set. You file form AOC-805 to open the estate, with 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 Hyden will also hand you paper copies.
For an opening appointment, expect the statewide forms to ask for the will if there is one, the proposed executor or administrator, heirs or beneficiaries, and the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015. If you are unsure whether AOC-805 or AOC-830 fits, ask an attorney before filing because the clerk cannot give legal advice.
Local nuance
Leslie County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two phone numbers are published | Call 606-672-2503 or 606-672-2505 for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. The county page does not label one as Circuit and the other as District, so use either number to ask for probate help through Leslie County District Court under KRS 24A.120. |
| Mailing should be checked before use | The long-standing box tied to the Leslie court address is P.O. Box 1750, Hyden, KY 41749-1750, while the current address line also prints 22010 Main St. Unit 1, Box 7. Call before mailing original documents. |
| Payment methods are limited | The county court page lists cash, check, and money order. It does not publish a card option for probate payments. |
| No current probate schedule is posted | Ask the clerk for your hearing date or filing follow-up. Do not rely on older Circuit Court motion-hour schedules for Leslie County District Court probate under KRS 24A.120. |
| Parking note | The county court page says parking is on Dryhill Road. It does not publish a separate accessibility statement. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Leslie County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | File in Hyden if the decedent lived in Leslie County. A petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit a personal-property-only estate, but a home sale or title issue often points to a full opening with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues before you decide whether a court order or full estate settlement is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate question | Call 606-672-2503 or 606-672-2505 before mailing papers because the mailing address should be checked first. Kentucky does not use a bank affidavit route for this situation; a request to dispense with administration uses AOC-830 under KRS 395.455. | Sunset organizes the asset list and probate packet so you can make one clearer filing trip or mailing plan. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full Leslie County District Court estate under KRS 24A.120 with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. After appointment, use the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 for banks and title companies. | Sunset helps gather financial information, prepare the packet, and connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney for sale and title questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it can help | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Leslie County | Filing office for Leslie County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current amount due under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and give court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Leslie County Courthouse, 22010 Main St., Hyden, KY 41749; 606-672-2503 or 606-672-2505; fax 606-672-5128 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-807, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, AOC-850 under KRS 395.605, and AOC-860. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free 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 |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | The civil legal aid program listed for Leslie County. Ask directly what help is available for your situation. | 866-277-5733; https://www.ardfky.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 | A statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | 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 current forms for deadlines, financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, inventory timing under KRS 395.250, and bond under 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, heirs disagree, the estate includes a home that must be sold, debts may exceed assets, tax filings may be needed, or you are unsure whether AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 or AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 is the right Leslie County filing. If the estate becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 move the dispute to Leslie Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, so legal counsel becomes especially important. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, policies, and property clues so the family can start Leslie County estate settlement with a better asset list.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you know into a cleaner filing packet for Kentucky forms such as AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, creditor claim under KRS 396.011, or title issue makes the case harder, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next filing step, and prepare for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hyden at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Leslie County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Leslie County Courthouse, 22010 Main St., Hyden, KY 41749. Kentucky probate is a Leslie County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 when venue belongs in Leslie County under KRS 394.140.
Which phone number should I call for a Leslie County estate?
The Leslie County court page publishes 606-672-2503 and 606-672-2505 for the clerk's office. Use either number to ask about probate filings, court dates, remote instructions, and the exact amount due under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026.
Can I mail probate papers to Leslie County?
Call before mailing originals. P.O. Box 1750, Hyden, KY 41749-1750 is tied to the Leslie court address information, but the current court address line also prints 22010 Main St. Unit 1, Box 7. The safest step is to ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk which mailing address to use.
How much does it cost to open probate in Leslie 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. Leslie 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 Leslie County take card payments for probate?
The county court page lists cash, check, and money order. It does not publish a card option for probate payments, so ask the clerk before relying on a card.
Are there Leslie County probate forms?
Leslie County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. Common forms include AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 to open an estate, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 to dispense with administration, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 for the inventory, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 to close.
Can I e-file a Leslie County probate case?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings are required to e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for e-filing, but you may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Hyden.
Can I appear remotely for a Leslie County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have held some proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but Leslie County does not publish probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming either remote or in-person handling for your court event.
Can I look up a Leslie County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet runs behind an account portal for trial-court records, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. The court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is only a date tool, not a full case-record search.
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.