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Mason County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Mason County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Mason County District Court, sitting in probate. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Mason County |
| Courthouse | Mason County Justice Center, 100 W. 3rd St., Maysville, KY 41056 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for the clerk's office. Use 100 W. 3rd St., Maysville, KY 41056, and call 606-564-4011 before mailing original papers. |
| Phone | District: 606-564-4011. Circuit: 606-564-4340. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, so start with the District line. |
| Fax | 606-564-0932 |
| 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. Mason 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, money order, local personal check except for restitution, cashier's check, credit and debit cards with a fee, and ePay online through the Kentucky Court of Justice payment portal. For CourtNet, court-date, payment or case-status questions, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. The Mason County courthouse page does not publish a separate Mason County probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate filings through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper in Maysville. |
| Court dates | Mason publishes general District Court sitting days, but no separate probate docket. Call 606-564-4011 for the date assigned to your estate settlement filing. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Mason does not publish probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a matter can be heard remotely. |
| Access | Ramp on the side of the building. Elevator in building. Free street parking and a lot at 126 W. 3rd St.; designated parking on the side of the building for people with a disability parking permit. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Mason.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Mason County, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiaries, and any accounts that may pass outside probate. The right local path depends on what needs a court order, what can transfer by beneficiary designation, and whether a Mason County filing is needed to support the estate settlement.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can find accounts, insurance, benefits, and liabilities before they choose forms or ask the Maysville clerk's office for a court date.
Which court handles jurisdiction
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 Mason County, at the Mason County courthouse in Maysville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Mason Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
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 Mason County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Mason County courthouse in Maysville.
The Mason County Justice Center serves all of Mason County, including Maysville, Dover, Germantown, Sardis, and Mays Lick. Mason County is part of the 19th Judicial District with Bracken and Fleming counties (KRS 24A.030), but a Mason County probate filing remains in Mason County through the Maysville filing office.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the assets and debts. Identify real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, insurance, retirement accounts, debts, funeral expenses, and known beneficiaries so you can decide what the Mason County filing must accomplish.
- Choose the opening paper. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. If a full estate is opened, the application also includes the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015.
- Get the forms. Mason County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846 and AOC-850. The forms are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Maysville can provide paper copies.
- File at the Mason County Justice Center. Take or mail the papers to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Mason County Justice Center, 100 W. 3rd St., Maysville, KY 41056. Because no separate mailing address is published, call the District line, 606-564-4011, before mailing originals.
- 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. Mason 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. Mason accepts cash, money order, local personal check except for restitution, cashier's check, and credit or debit cards with a fee.
- Get a court date. Mason publishes general District Court sittings on Monday and Wednesday, first, second, and third weeks, with District civil, small claims and domestic matters listed on the first and third Monday at 1 p.m. No separate probate docket is published, so call 606-564-4011 for the estate's assigned date.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes remote-court instructions. Whether a Mason County District Court probate matter is in person or remotely is up to the judge, and login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you assume either option.
- After appointment, get proof of authority. When the District Court appoints you, 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 under KRS 395.105 and allows formal letters under KRS 395.110.
- Administer the estate. Kentucky no longer requires bond by default under KRS 395.130 unless the court orders it. File the inventory, form AOC-841, within 90 days after qualifying; the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Track creditor claims under KRS 396.011 and do not distribute estate assets before the six-month rule in KRS 395.190 permits distribution.
- Close the estate. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610. Keep receipts, releases, tax papers, and proof of distributions organized so the estate settlement can be closed cleanly.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Mason County
Mason County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Mason County form set. You file form AOC-805 to open the estate under 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 Maysville will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for probate of will and/or appointment of executor or administrator under KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification, the proof of appointment issued after the court appoints the personal representative. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure required with an application for appointment under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement of estate, due within 90 days and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of estate under KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. |
| AOC-860 | Affidavit for Probate Fee Exemption for a qualifying line of duty death under AOC-860. |
Timeline
- File the opening papers at the Mason County Justice Center in Maysville. Mason publishes general District Court sittings on Monday and Wednesday, first, second, and third weeks, but no separate probate docket, so call 606-564-4011 for the date assigned to your estate settlement matter.
- If an attorney is handling the filing, the attorney must use Kentucky eFiling for eligible probate documents; that attorney mandate has applied since January 1, 2024. A self-represented filer may register for eFiling, but may also file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- After the court appoints a personal representative, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and any letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 needed for banks, title companies, or buyers.
- File the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days after qualification. KRS 395.250 requires the inventory to be confidential and filed under seal.
- Track creditor claims under KRS 396.011. Kentucky also restricts distribution until six months after qualification under KRS 395.190.
- Close with the right settlement form. AOC-850 is used for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits. AOC-846 is used for a settlement under KRS 395.610.
Local nuance
Mason County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Mason County filing |
|---|---|
| Separate District phone line | The courthouse publishes Circuit at 606-564-4340 and District at 606-564-4011. Because probate is in District Court under KRS 24A.120, use 606-564-4011 first for probate questions. |
| General court schedule | District Court is listed for Monday and Wednesday, first, second, and third weeks. District civil, small claims and domestic matters are listed for the first and third Monday at 1 p.m. No separate probate docket is published. |
| Payment detail | Mason accepts local personal checks except for restitution. Out-of-county families may prefer a cashier's check, money order, card payment with a fee, or ePay through the Kentucky Court of Justice payment portal. For CourtNet and ePay questions, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Access and parking | The courthouse page lists a side ramp, elevator, free street parking, a lot at 126 W. 3rd St., and designated parking on the side of the building for people with a disability parking permit. |
| 19th Judicial District | Mason shares the 19th Judicial District with Bracken and Fleming counties under KRS 24A.030, but Mason County filings are still filed at the Mason County Justice Center in Maysville. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| District phone line for probate calls | The Mason County courthouse page publishes both Circuit and District phone lines. Because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, this page directs probate callers to 606-564-4011. |
| Current Kentucky probate filing cost | The page uses the current statewide $80 opening cost tied to the $50 filing fee effective July 1, 2026 under CR 3.03(1)(c), plus the required statewide add-ons and conditional local add-ons. |
| Current Kentucky inventory rule | The page uses the 90-day inventory deadline and under-seal treatment under KRS 395.250. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Mason County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes outside probate or whether a Mason County filing is needed. If court authority is needed, file at the Mason County Justice Center and call the District line, 606-564-4011. A personal-property-only estate may support a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, but a home sale often requires opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, home-related documents, and beneficiary designations before the spouse chooses the estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Because Mason publishes no separate mailing address, call 606-564-4011 before mailing original papers to 100 W. 3rd St., Maysville, KY 41056. Kentucky does not use a small estate affidavit; the court option is a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. For payment, a cashier's check, money order, card with a fee, or ePay may be easier than a local personal check. | Sunset helps gather the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and flag when local counsel may save a trip to Maysville. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A home sale usually means filing AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 to open a full estate, then using the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and any letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 for banks and title companies. If a dispute becomes contested, it is filed in Mason Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps organize property, debts, documents, and attorney introductions so the estate settlement can move toward sale and closing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Mason County | Filing office for Mason County estates. Can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current amount due under CR 3.03, and give court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | Mason County Justice Center, 100 W. 3rd St., Maysville, KY 41056. District: 606-564-4011. Circuit: 606-564-4340. Fax: 606-564-0932. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, AOC-850, and AOC-860. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | 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 |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | Civil legal aid program listed for Mason County. Ask the program directly what help is available for your situation. | 859-431-8200. https://lablaw.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 | Statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | Plain-language introduction from the Kentucky Court of Justice. Use current statutes and forms for bond, inventory, and other 2026 changes. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes real estate to sell, disputes among heirs, unclear debts, missing beneficiaries, inheritance tax questions under KRS 140.070, a business interest, or a contested matter that may move to Mason Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney when legal help would make the estate settlement safer or faster.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate accounts, insurance, benefits, debts, and property information before they file in Mason County. A cleaner asset picture helps you choose between a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 and a full estate opening.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized probate packet using Kentucky's statewide forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and closing forms such as AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate settlement needs counsel, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney who understands District Court probate under KRS 24A.120 and Mason County filing logistics.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next steps, and decide whether to file on their own or get legal help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Mason County, Kentucky?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Mason County, Mason County Justice Center, 100 W. 3rd St., Maysville, KY 41056. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter, and KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate.
Which phone number should I call for a Mason County probate case?
Call the District line, 606-564-4011, because probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120. The courthouse also publishes a Circuit line, 606-564-4340.
How much does it cost to open probate in Mason 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. Mason 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.
Can I e-file a Mason County probate case?
An attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate filing must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system; that attorney mandate has applied since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling, but you may also file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Maysville.
Does Mason County publish its own probate forms?
Mason County uses the statewide Kentucky AOC probate forms. The county courthouse page does not publish a separate Mason County probate packet. 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 are Mason County probate hearings?
Mason publishes general District Court sittings for Monday and Wednesday, first, second, and third weeks. District civil, small claims and domestic matters are listed for the first and third Monday at 1 p.m. No separate probate docket is published, so call 606-564-4011 for your estate's hearing date.
Can I appear remotely for Mason County probate?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes remote-court instructions. Whether a Mason County probate matter is heard remotely is up to the judge, and login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 606-564-4011 before you assume either way.
Can I look up a Mason County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet is account-based, and the Administrative Office of the Courts states that it does not hold trial-court case records. A separate statewide court-date lookup exists, but it is not a full case record. For a Mason County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Maysville.
Do I have to travel to Maysville to file probate?
Not always. Attorneys must use eFiling for eligible probate filings since January 1, 2024, and self-represented filers may ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether paper filings can be mailed. Because no separate mailing address is published, call 606-564-4011 before mailing original papers or relying on remote appearance.
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.