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Menifee County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Menifee County details |
|---|---|
| Court and filing office | Menifee County District Court, filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Menifee County. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court probate jurisdiction. |
| Courthouse address | Menifee County Courthouse, 12 Main St., Frenchburg, KY 40322 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172 |
| Phone | (606) 768-2461 |
| Fax | (606) 768-2462. The court page gives this as a contact number, not as permission to file by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Check the court holiday calendar before traveling to Frenchburg. |
| 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. Menifee 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 | The office accepts cash, local personal check, money order, and credit or debit cards in person. A card fee applies. Checks require physical and mailing addresses, a phone number, and a driver's license number. Cards require the cardholder's driver's license number. Payment is not accepted over the phone. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Probate forms | Menifee County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. No separate Menifee County probate form set is published by the local court page. |
| E-filing | Attorneys must file eligible Kentucky probate papers electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system beginning January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register but may still file on paper in Frenchburg. |
| Online information | Kentucky does not provide a free public online lookup for District Court probate cases. The Menifee court page links a public court-date docket page that includes Menifee County and warns that it is not an official docket and may change. |
| Remote appearance | The Menifee court page links Kentucky's statewide remote-court instructions but posts no local login information. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing is in person or remote. |
| Accessibility | The court page publishes one accessibility note: elevator. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Menifee.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Frenchburg, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses, and family members involved. Kentucky uses different court paperwork depending on whether the estate needs an appointed personal representative or a court order dispensing with administration under KRS 395.455, and Menifee County's office will expect you to know enough about the assets and liabilities to choose the right starting packet.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families search across 2,300 institutions, organize assets and debts, and prepare for the filing conversation with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. That work is especially useful in Menifee County because the courthouse payment rules and court-date scheduling should be handled before you drive or mail papers to Frenchburg.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Kentucky sends a will to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and an intestate estate goes to that same court (KRS 395.030). If the person lived in Menifee County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Menifee County Courthouse in Frenchburg.
The local court page publishes one Menifee County filing location: 12 Main St., Frenchburg, with mail to P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172. The same courthouse serves estates from Frenchburg and from unincorporated Menifee County communities including Denniston, Korea, Mariba, Means, Pomeroyton, Scranton, and Wellington.
Menifee County is part of Kentucky's 21st Judicial District with Bath, Montgomery, and Rowan counties (KRS 24A.030). That district context matters for scheduling, but the filing remains a Menifee County District Court probate filing through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Frenchburg. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Menifee Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120, KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, and likely heirs or beneficiaries before choosing a filing path. If you are asking the court to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 and KRS 395.455. If an executor or administrator needs appointment, use AOC-805, which cites KRS 394.145, and include the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015 on AOC-808.
- Get the forms from Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts form catalogue or from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Frenchburg. Menifee County uses the statewide forms, including AOC-805, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, and AOC-850.
- File in Menifee County at the Menifee County Courthouse, 12 Main St., Frenchburg, KY 40322, or mail the papers to P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172. Attorneys file eligible probate papers through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system beginning January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may register but may still file on paper.
- Pay the opening cost. The current statewide opening amount is $80: a $50 filing fee set by CR 3.03(1)(c) effective July 1, 2026, plus a $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630 and a $20 court technology fee. Menifee County may add a $10 court facilities fee under KRS 24A.185 and a county law library fee under KRS 453.060, so call (606) 768-2461 for the exact total before filing.
- Plan the payment method before you mail papers or travel. The office accepts cash, local personal check, money order, and credit or debit cards in person, with a card fee. It does not accept payment over the phone, and its page also links Pay online with ePay.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the court date and any notice instructions for your filing. Menifee County publishes general District Court and Circuit Court sitting days, but it does not publish a separate probate docket.
- Ask whether any hearing will be in person or remote. Kentucky publishes statewide remote-court instructions, and Menifee County links them, but the county page posts no local login information. The instruction is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for details.
- If the District Court appoints you as personal representative, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807. That certificate, with a certified copy of the appointment order, is the local proof banks and title companies usually request. KRS 395.105 also calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment.
- Administer the estate under Kentucky deadlines. File the inventory on AOC-841 within ninety days after qualification, and remember that 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 statewide requirements are met. 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 Menifee County
Menifee County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Menifee County form set. You file AOC-805 to open the estate, 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 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The forms are free through the Kentucky Court of Justice form catalogue, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Frenchburg can provide paper copies. The local court page does not publish a Menifee County probate packet, checklist, cover sheet, or fee schedule.
Timeline
- Menifee County District Court sits in Frenchburg as part of the 21st Judicial District with Bath, Montgomery, and Rowan counties (KRS 24A.030). District Court handles probate under KRS 24A.120.
- The county's published District Court schedule lists civil motions on the first, second, and third Tuesday at 9 a.m. It also lists traffic, misdemeanor, and felony arraignment on Tuesday at 9 a.m.; the payment docket on the second Tuesday at 9 a.m.; and juvenile matters on the second and third Tuesday at 1 p.m.
- The county's published Circuit Court motion days are the fourth Thursday for Division 1 and the second Thursday for Division 2. Civil matters are listed at 9 a.m., criminal matters at 10 a.m., and domestic or family matters at 11 a.m. The local page states that Circuit Court motions must be filed one week before motion day and include the defendant and judge on the certificate of service.
- Those schedules do not give a separate probate docket, appointment wait, or estate hearing time. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 768-2461 when your Menifee County estate matter will be called.
Local nuance
Menifee County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Two clerk offices share the same street address | Probate papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Menifee County Courthouse. The separate Menifee County Clerk at the same 12 Main Street address handles land records, deeds, motor vehicles, delinquent taxes, and elections, not probate filings. |
| Payment cannot be made by phone | The Menifee court page states that payment is not accepted over the phone. If you are mailing an estate packet or coming from outside Frenchburg, call first so you know the total and the acceptable payment method. |
| Card payments have an added fee | The office accepts credit and debit cards in person and states that a fee applies, but it does not publish the amount. Ask before relying on a card. |
| Identification details may be needed for payment | A local personal check requires physical and mailing addresses, a phone number, and a driver's license number. A card payment requires the cardholder's driver's license number. |
| Public court-date page is limited | The Menifee court page links a public court-date docket page that includes Menifee County and warns that it is not an official docket and may change. It should not be treated as an estate case lookup. |
| One published accessibility note | The local court page lists an elevator. It does not publish parking, ramp, security, or courtroom details. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Menifee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying what passes outside the estate and what still needs court action. If court papers are needed, file in Menifee County District Court through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Frenchburg. A court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit some personal-property estates, but a co-owned home often needs deed and title review. | Sunset helps organize accounts, real estate information, debts, and beneficiary details so the spouse can decide whether to file AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 or open a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Mailing may be realistic because the Menifee filing office accepts papers by mail at P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172. Plan payment carefully because the office does not accept payment over the phone. A self-represented child is not required to e-file, while an attorney must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system beginning January 1, 2024. | Sunset gives the family an estate settlement checklist, helps locate accounts, and prepares information for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before anyone books travel to Frenchburg. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Selling real property usually means opening a full estate and getting appointment as personal representative. File AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 in Frenchburg, then use the Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 and the appointment order for banks and title companies. If a dispute arises, it goes to Menifee Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | Sunset can assemble the asset list, generate a probate packet, and help the parent connect with a Kentucky probate attorney for the real estate and any dispute. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Menifee County | The filing office for Menifee County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current filing amount, and give court-date information. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice. | Menifee County Courthouse, 12 Main St., Frenchburg, KY 40322; mail to P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172; (606) 768-2461; fax (606) 768-2462 |
| 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 interviews. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | The civil legal aid program listed for Menifee 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 Kentucky attorney to answer. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | A statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney when the estate involves a home sale, family conflict, or tax and title issues. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | The Administrative Office of the Courts' plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and current forms for deadlines and bond questions under KRS 395.130 because the booklet predates the July 15, 2026 changes. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel makes sense in Menifee County when the estate includes real property that must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor issue affects distribution under KRS 396.011, the will is challenged in Circuit Court under KRS 394.240, or you live far from Frenchburg and need someone to handle hearings and title work. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families look for bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets, vehicles, real estate clues, and debts before the first court filing. That turns estate settlement from guesswork into a checklist.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Kentucky forms and gives you a cleaner starting point for AOC-805, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and the closing forms used under KRS 395.605 or KRS 395.610.
Find a local probate attorney. When the Menifee County estate involves real property, conflict, or a court appearance you cannot attend, Sunset can help you connect with a probate attorney who works in Kentucky.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps, and decide when professional help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Menifee County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Menifee County Courthouse, 12 Main St., Frenchburg, KY 40322. You can also mail papers to P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
Which clerk at 12 Main Street handles an estate?
Use the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Menifee County. The separate Menifee County Clerk at the same address handles land records, deeds, vehicles, delinquent taxes, and elections. Probate papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Menifee County?
The statewide opening amount is $80: a $50 filing fee set by CR 3.03(1)(c) effective July 1, 2026, plus a $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630 and a $20 court technology fee. Menifee County may add a $10 court facilities fee under KRS 24A.185 and a county law library fee under KRS 453.060, so call (606) 768-2461 for the exact amount before filing.
Can I pay the Menifee probate filing amount by card or by phone?
You can pay in person by credit or debit card, and a card fee applies. The office also accepts cash, local personal check, and money order in person. Payment is not accepted over the phone. The county page also links Pay online with ePay.
Are there Menifee County probate forms?
Menifee County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The local court page does not publish a separate county probate packet. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening an estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file a Menifee County probate case?
An attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate filing must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system beginning January 1, 2024. If you are representing yourself, you may register for eFiling, but you may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Frenchburg.
When does the court sit in Frenchburg?
The county's published District Court schedule lists civil motions on the first, second, and third Tuesday at 9 a.m. It does not publish a separate probate docket or appointment wait. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 768-2461 for the date assigned to your estate matter.
Can I appear remotely for a Menifee County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have used remote proceedings by Zoom since March 2020 and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide remote-court instructions. Whether a Menifee County District Court probate matter is heard in person or remote is up to the judge, and Menifee's page posts no local login information. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming either way.
Can I check a Menifee County estate online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public online lookup for District Court probate cases. The Menifee court page links a public court-date docket page that includes Menifee County and warns that it is not an official docket and may change, but the way to learn where an estate stands is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Frenchburg.
Do I have to travel to Frenchburg to start probate?
Not always. Papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 172, Frenchburg, KY 40322-0172, and the county page links an online payment option. Because payment is not accepted over the phone and remote appearance details are not posted locally, call (606) 768-2461 before making travel plans.
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.