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McCracken County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | McCracken County details |
|---|---|
| Court | McCracken County District Court, probate division. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for McCracken County |
| Courthouse address | McCracken County Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published on the McCracken County court page. Call the probate line before mailing filings. |
| Probate phone | (270) 575-7273 |
| Other published lines | Circuit: (270) 575-7280. District: (270) 575-7270. Civil Circuit: (270) 575-7281. |
| Fax | The McCracken County court page does not publish a fax number. Call the probate line before sending anything by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order. No two-party checks. Pay online with ePay. |
| Filing fee | $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. McCracken 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. |
| Local forms | McCracken County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The county court page does not publish a separate McCracken County form set. |
| E-filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Paducah. |
| Court-date lookup and records | The county page links to kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ for court-date lookup. It is not a full probate case search. CourtNet runs behind an account portal, and trial-court records questions go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote appearances | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but McCracken County does not publish probate login details on its county page. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 575-7273 before assuming a hearing is remote or in person. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/McCracken.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or call the McCracken County probate line, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, and likely beneficiaries. The right estate settlement path depends on what has to pass through court, what is already jointly owned, and whether the family is asking for a personal representative to be appointed.
Sunset helps families look for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions before they file, so the probate packet can match what actually exists. That matters in McCracken County because the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can provide forms and filing information, but it cannot give legal advice or decide which assets belong in the estate.
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 McCracken County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the McCracken County courthouse in Paducah.
The same Paducah courthouse serves estates for people who lived anywhere in McCracken County, including Paducah, Lone Oak, Future City, Grahamville, West Paducah, and other unincorporated communities. McCracken County is the 2nd Judicial District under KRS 24A.030 and has its own district, unlike many Kentucky counties that share a District Judge across several counties.
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 McCracken County, at the McCracken County courthouse in Paducah. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in McCracken Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Kentucky AOC form that fits the filing. AOC-805 opens a will probate or appointment case and cites KRS 394.145. AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. If appointment is requested, include the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the McCracken County Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003. Attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate papers through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may file on paper at the clerk's office.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the exact 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. McCracken 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.
- Give any notice the court requires for the type of filing and for the people affected by the estate. If a creditor claims issue is part of administration, Kentucky's creditor claims period is governed by KRS 396.011.
- Ask the probate line how the matter will be scheduled. McCracken County's page does not publish probate hearing days or wait times, so use (270) 575-7273 rather than guessing from another county's calendar.
- Ask about remote appearance before the court date. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but McCracken County does not publish probate login details on its county page, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the place to ask for event-specific instructions.
- If the District Court appoints you as personal representative, get the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. The Certificate of Qualification, together with the appointment order, is the document banks and title companies usually request. Kentucky also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and formal letters under seal under KRS 395.110.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory and appraisement on AOC-841 within ninety days of qualifying, and note that the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. For closing, 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.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in McCracken County
McCracken County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate McCracken County form set. AOC-805 opens the estate and cites KRS 394.145, AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 is the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 is used to close the estate.
The statewide forms are free through the Kentucky Court of Justice, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Paducah can provide paper copies. The clerk can provide forms, the amount of the required filing fee under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and court-date information, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or tell you which form to choose.
Local nuance
McCracken County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use the probate line | McCracken County publishes a dedicated probate phone number, (270) 575-7273. The circuit line is different, so estate settlement questions should start with the probate line. |
| Use the correct courthouse office | Probate filings go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the courthouse on Clarence Gaines Street. The separate McCracken County Clerk's office handles matters such as deeds, marriages, vehicle titles, and elections, not probate filings. |
| Plan payment before you arrive | The McCracken County court page lists cash, check, and money order, and says no two-party checks. It does not list a card option for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, so call before relying on a card. |
| Use the street ZIP shown by the court | The McCracken County court page lists the courthouse as 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003. Use that courthouse address for in-person filing. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely McCracken County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating jointly owned property from assets that actually need McCracken County District Court action under KRS 24A.120. If probate papers are needed, file with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Paducah. | Sunset helps identify accounts, real estate, debts, and beneficiary designations so the surviving spouse does not open a larger estate settlement process than needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the McCracken County probate line before traveling. Kentucky does not use a bank affidavit route; a request to dispense with administration is filed on AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, and any $30,000 exemption analysis must be tied to KRS 391.030. | Sunset helps organize the asset list and generate the Kentucky packet so an out-of-state child can ask better questions before mailing papers or coming to Paducah. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually needs clear authority. If 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, and Kentucky recognizes letters of appointment under KRS 395.105. | Sunset helps gather title, mortgage, account, and debt information and can connect the parent with a local probate attorney when a sale, title question, or disagreement makes self-help risky. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, McCracken County | Filing office for McCracken County estates. The clerk can provide probate forms, the current filing fee under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and court-date information, but cannot give legal advice. | McCracken County Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003. Probate line: (270) 575-7273. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-807, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided A2J interviews for self-represented people, including Dispense with Administration and Probate Estate topics. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for McCracken County. Ask the program whether your estate issue is within its services. | 270-782-1924 or 800-782-1924. https://klaid.org |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide attorney referral resource for estate, title, fiduciary, or court disputes. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | AOC plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and forms for deadlines and bond rules under KRS 395.130 because Kentucky probate law changed on July 15, 2026. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the estate includes real estate that must be sold, unclear title, business interests, tax questions, missing heirs, creditor disputes under KRS 396.011, or a challenge that could become an original adversary proceeding in McCracken Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. Counsel also helps when family members disagree about who should serve as personal representative or who receives estate property. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a practical asset picture before filing, including bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, vehicles, and real estate that may affect the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses what you provide to help prepare the Kentucky probate packet for McCracken County, including the forms commonly used to open, administer, and close an estate.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate needs legal judgment, a house sale, title work, or help with a dispute, Sunset can help connect you with a probate attorney familiar with Kentucky practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand the next step, and move from asset discovery to court paperwork without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in McCracken County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the McCracken County Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, even though the filing office is called the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
What phone number should I call for McCracken County probate?
Use the dedicated probate line: (270) 575-7273. McCracken County also publishes separate circuit and district lines, so the probate number is the most direct starting point for estate settlement questions.
Can I e-file a McCracken County probate case?
Attorneys handling Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration matters must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system for eligible filings since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling, but you may also file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Paducah.
What does it cost to open probate in McCracken 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. McCracken 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 McCracken County publish local probate forms?
McCracken County uses the statewide Kentucky AOC probate forms and does not publish a separate county form set on its court page. 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.
Can I look up a McCracken County probate case online?
The county page links to kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ for court-date lookup, but that is not a full District Court probate case search. CourtNet access runs behind an account portal, and questions about trial-court estate records should go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Paducah.
Are McCracken County probate hearings remote?
McCracken County's court page links to statewide remote-court instructions but does not publish probate Zoom details. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but you should contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 575-7273 for instructions for your specific court event.
Do I have to travel to Paducah if I live out of state?
Do not assume either way. Self-represented filers may file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents since January 1, 2024, and remote appearance details depend on the court event. Call (270) 575-7273 before planning travel.
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.