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McLean County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | McLean County District Court, sitting in probate. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for McLean County |
| Courthouse address | McLean County Courthouse Annex, 210 E. Main St., Calhoun, KY 42327 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 145, Calhoun, KY 42327-0145 |
| Phone | 270-273-3966 or 270-273-5055 |
| Fax | 270-273-5918 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Call if you need an appointment outside regular hours. |
| 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. McLean 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order, credit card, and debit card. A fee applies to card payments. |
| Forms | McLean County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. No separate McLean County form set is published on the county page. |
| E-filing status | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file. A self-represented filer may register for e-filing, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Calhoun. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet is behind the Kentucky Court of Justice account portal, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk is the local contact for McLean County trial-court case information. A separate statewide court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets, but it is not a full case-record search. |
| Remote appearance | No McLean County Zoom login is published on the county page. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a probate matter may be handled remotely. |
| Accessibility | Ramp to access building, elevator, parking on Main and Second streets, parking in the lot behind the building off Walnut and Second streets, and designated disability parking in front of the building. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/McLean.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Calhoun, make a working list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses, and family members involved. Kentucky forms ask for more than a death certificate, and a clear asset and liability list makes the first estate settlement decision easier.
Sunset can help organize the estate settlement work before the court packet is filed, including asset discovery across 2,300 institutions, document collection, and next-step planning for the McLean County filing.
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 McLean County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the McLean County courthouse in Calhoun.
The McLean County filing location is 210 E. Main St., Calhoun, KY 42327. Mail may be sent to P.O. Box 145, Calhoun, KY 42327-0145.
The court serves all of McLean County, including Calhoun, Livermore, Sacramento, Island, Beech Grove, Rumsey, and Buel. McLean County is part of the 45th Judicial District with Muhlenberg County (KRS 24A.030), but a McLean County estate remains a McLean County District Court probate filing under KRS 24A.120.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the assets, debts, family information, and the will if there is one. 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 McLean County, at the McLean County courthouse in Calhoun. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in McLean Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
- Choose the opening paper. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will 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.
- Include current statewide papers that apply to the request, including the financial disclosure form AOC-808 required by KRS 395.015 when seeking appointment as a personal representative. McLean County uses the statewide AOC forms, and the Calhoun office can provide paper copies.
- File at the McLean County Courthouse Annex, 210 E. Main St., Calhoun, KY 42327, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 145, Calhoun, KY 42327-0145. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate papers through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may use paper filing.
- 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. McLean 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. The office publishes cash, check, money order, credit card, and debit card payment options, with a fee for card payments.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the court date and any notice step that applies to your filing. The McLean County page does not publish a separate probate docket, and the office notes that you should call if you need an appointment outside regular hours.
- Ask before assuming the hearing can be handled remotely. 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 McLean County District Court probate matter 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 270-273-3966 and ask before you assume either way.
- After appointment, get the authority document. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807, and Kentucky law also refers to letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
- If a personal representative is appointed, file the inventory and appraisement on AOC-841 within 90 days after qualification. Since July 15, 2026, KRS 395.250 makes the inventory confidential and filed under seal.
- Administer and close the estate. Track creditor claims under KRS 396.011, make any permitted distribution only after the timing allowed by KRS 395.190, and close with AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 when the estate qualifies for that closing path.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in McLean County
McLean County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate McLean County form set. You file form AOC-805 to open the estate, AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration, AOC-841 for the inventory and AOC-846 or AOC-850 to close. All of them are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Calhoun will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for Probate of Will; and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator, tied to KRS 394.145 |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015 when applying for appointment |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification showing court authority after appointment |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement filed under KRS 395.250 |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of estate under KRS 395.610 |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 |
Local nuance
McLean County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a McLean County filing |
|---|---|
| Payment choices | The Calhoun office publishes cash, check, money order, credit card, and debit card as payment options. A fee applies to card payments. |
| Appointment note | The county page says to call if you need an appointment outside regular hours. Use 270-273-3966 or 270-273-5055. |
| Jury-service line | The county page also publishes 270-273-5296 for jury service. Use the main clerk numbers for probate filing questions. |
| Accessibility and parking | The courthouse annex publishes a ramp, elevator, parking on Main and Second streets, parking behind the building off Walnut and Second streets, and designated disability parking in front of the building. |
| Shared judicial district | McLean County is in the 45th Judicial District with Muhlenberg County (KRS 24A.030). Probate papers for a McLean County resident still go through the McLean County Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Calhoun. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start at the McLean County Courthouse Annex in Calhoun. If the estate involves only personal property, ask whether a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 fits. A co-owned home commonly means checking title and may require opening the estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps identify accounts, collect title and account information, and prepare a cleaner estate settlement packet before the Calhoun filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Mailing is practical because the office publishes P.O. Box 145, Calhoun, KY 42327-0145. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 or AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 is the right starting form, and confirm the current payment total before mailing. | Sunset helps organize documents, locate assets, and reduce back-and-forth before you call or mail the McLean County office. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, then using the Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 for banks and title companies. If the matter becomes contested, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 send the dispute to McLean Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, generate the court packet, and connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for McLean County | Filing office for McLean County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current filing amount under CR 3.03, and give court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | McLean County Courthouse Annex, 210 E. Main St., Calhoun, KY 42327; mail to P.O. Box 145, Calhoun, KY 42327-0145; 270-273-3966 or 270-273-5055; fax 270-273-5918 |
| 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 | Free guided interviews for self-represented people, including Dispense with Administration and Probate Estate. AOC-830 is the Kentucky petition tied to KRS 395.455. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for McLean County. Ask directly what help is available for your situation. | 270-782-1924 or 800-782-1924; https://www.klaid.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 | A plain-language Kentucky probate guide from the court system. Use current statutes and current forms for deadlines, financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, inventory under KRS 395.250, and bond under KRS 395.130, because the guide predates the July 15, 2026 statutory changes. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if real estate must be sold, family members disagree, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are significant, a will contest under KRS 394.240 is possible, or the estate may become an adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families move from a rough list to a usable estate settlement inventory by finding accounts, organizing balances, and identifying the documents that matter before a McLean County filing.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you collect into a Kentucky probate packet, including the forms that fit the path you choose, so the Calhoun filing is easier to review before you submit it.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home sale, family dispute, tax question, or court appearance makes the estate settlement more complicated, Sunset can connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, generate probate paperwork, and decide what help they need without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in McLean County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for McLean County at the McLean County Courthouse Annex, 210 E. Main St., Calhoun, KY 42327. Mail may be sent to P.O. Box 145, Calhoun, KY 42327-0145. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
What is the McLean County probate 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. McLean 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 under KRS 453.060, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
What payment methods does the Calhoun clerk's office publish?
The McLean County page lists cash, check, money order, credit card, and debit card. A fee applies to card payments.
Can I use e-filing for a McLean County probate case?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file. A self-represented person may register for e-filing, but may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Calhoun.
Are there McLean County probate forms?
McLean County uses the statewide AOC probate forms. No separate McLean County form set is published on the county page. Common starting forms include AOC-805 with KRS 394.145, AOC-830 with KRS 395.455, AOC-841 with KRS 395.250, AOC-846 with KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 with KRS 395.605.
How do I find my McLean County probate court date?
The McLean County page does not publish a separate probate docket. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 270-273-3966 or 270-273-5055. A statewide court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets, but it is not a full case-record search.
Can I appear remotely for probate in McLean County?
No McLean County Zoom login is published on the county page. Kentucky courts have used remote proceedings since March 2020, but login information is handled through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the county where you are scheduled to appear. Call 270-273-3966 before assuming the matter can be handled remotely.
How do I look up a McLean County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet is behind the Kentucky Court of Justice account portal, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Calhoun is the local contact for McLean County trial-court case information.
What authority do I receive after appointment in McLean County?
After 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. Kentucky law also refers to letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
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.