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Mercer County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Mercer County details |
|---|---|
| Court and filing office | Mercer County District Court, filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Mercer County. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court probate jurisdiction. |
| Courthouse address | Mercer County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Harrodsburg, KY 40330 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing box is listed. Use the courthouse street address. |
| Phone | (859) 734-8452 |
| Fax | (859) 734-8454 |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 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. Mercer 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, check, and money order in person. No credit or debit card option is listed. A Pay online with ePay link is also listed. |
| Probate forms | Statewide Kentucky AOC forms only. No separate Mercer County form set is listed. |
| Electronic filing | Required for attorneys on eligible Kentucky probate filings since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may also file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Online case information | No free full District Court probate case search is listed. A no-login court-date lookup, not an official docket, is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. |
| Remote appearance | No Mercer County probate login information is listed. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming the matter will be in person or remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Mercer.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Harrodsburg, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, and beneficiary information you know about. The right estate settlement path depends on what actually needs court authority, what was jointly owned, and whether someone needs appointment as executor or administrator.
Sunset can help organize the asset search before filing by checking more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and benefits tied to the person who died. That inventory of assets and liabilities makes the Mercer County filing packet more accurate and helps you avoid opening a court case before you know what needs to be settled.
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 Mercer County, at the Mercer County Judicial Center in Harrodsburg. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Mercer 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 Mercer County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Mercer County Judicial Center in Harrodsburg.
The Harrodsburg filing office serves the whole county from one location. Mercer County is in the 50th Judicial District with Boyle County under KRS 24A.030.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, and people with an interest in the estate before choosing the filing path. If the family is asking the court to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 with KRS 395.455. If a personal representative needs appointment, use AOC-805 with KRS 394.145.
- Prepare the statewide Kentucky AOC forms. A full administration packet may include the petition, the proposed order, AOC-808 Financial Disclosure under KRS 395.015, the fiduciary oath, and any AOC-825 bond form if the court orders one under KRS 395.130.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Mercer County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Harrodsburg, KY 40330. Attorneys file electronically under the statewide attorney eFiling rule effective January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may file on paper.
- 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. Mercer 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. Plan for cash, check, or money order in person, because no credit or debit card option is listed.
- Ask the clerk for the court date and appearance instructions. Mercer County does not list a probate docket schedule. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but login details are not published centrally, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming the hearing format.
- If the District Court appoints you, get the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. 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 full force and effect. That certificate, together with a certified copy of the order appointing you, is what banks and title companies accept. Kentucky law also lets you ask the clerk for formal letters in due form under seal (KRS 395.110), and KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment.
- Administer the estate. File the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days and under seal under KRS 395.250, manage creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and make distributions under KRS 395.190 when the estate is ready.
- Close the estate through the correct settlement filing. 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 Mercer County
Mercer County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. There is no separate Mercer County form set listed for probate filings. You file AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 to open an estate, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 for the inventory, and AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 to close.
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Harrodsburg can provide forms and take filings, but it cannot give legal advice or tell you which option to choose. If the estate settlement involves a home sale, disagreement among family members, or uncertainty about who should serve, talk with a Kentucky probate attorney before filing.
Local nuance
Mercer County-specific considerations
The Mercer County court page lists in-person payment options as cash, check, and money order, and also lists Pay online with ePay. It does not list credit or debit card as an in-person option. If you are filing by mail or helping from outside Kentucky, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before sending payment or assuming a card payment will be accepted.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Mercer County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming whether the home passes outside probate and what assets still need District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If only limited assets require court action, ask whether AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 fits before opening full administration. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, debts, and title issues so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path before filing in Harrodsburg. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 734-8452 before traveling. Kentucky does not use a bank affidavit route; if administration can be dispensed with, AOC-830 is filed in District Court under KRS 395.455. If appointment is needed, the child may need a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and authority under KRS 395.105. | Sunset organizes the known assets and can help generate the probate packet so the child knows what to bring or mail to Harrodsburg. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires formal authority from the District Court under KRS 24A.120. The person seeking appointment usually starts with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and, if appointed, uses the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, plus the appointment order when dealing with banks, buyers, and title companies. | Sunset helps find assets, organize debts, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when title, sale timing, or family consent needs legal review. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Mercer County | The filing office for Mercer County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, give current cost information, and provide court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Mercer County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Harrodsburg, KY 40330; (859) 734-8452; fax (859) 734-8454 |
| 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 under KRS 395.455 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 Mercer County. Ask the program directly what help is available. | 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 find a Kentucky attorney when the estate involves a home sale, family conflict, or title issues. | 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 and required filings because the booklet predates the July 15, 2026 changes. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate is contested under KRS 24A.120, a home must be sold, heirs do not agree, the will raises questions, or you are handling the estate settlement from outside Kentucky. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk can provide forms, but it cannot give legal advice. 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 benefits, and other assets that may affect what needs to be filed in Mercer County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the estate information you provide into an organized Kentucky probate packet, including the Mercer County filing location and the statewide AOC forms that fit the estate settlement path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, missing information, or questions about who should serve, Sunset can connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney who can review the next step.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, prepare for probate, and understand what to file in Harrodsburg without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Mercer County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Mercer County Judicial Center, 224 S. Main St., Harrodsburg, KY 40330. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court, and KRS 24A.120 gives District Court probate jurisdiction.
Is Mercer County probate filed with the County Clerk?
No. Probate filings go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Mercer County. The County Clerk is not the probate filing office for District Court matters under KRS 24A.120.
How much does it cost to open probate in Mercer 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. Mercer 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.
What payment methods are listed for Mercer County probate filings?
The Mercer County court page lists cash, check, and money order, and it also lists Pay online with ePay. No credit or debit card option is listed for in-person payment, so call (859) 734-8452 before assuming a card will work.
Does Mercer County have its own probate forms?
No separate Mercer County probate form set is listed. Mercer County uses the statewide Kentucky AOC forms, including 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 e-file a Mercer County probate case?
Kentucky attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents under the statewide attorney eFiling rule effective January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling, but you are not required to do so and may file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Harrodsburg.
Does Mercer County publish probate hearing days?
No Mercer County probate docket schedule is listed on the county court page. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 734-8452 for court-date information before you travel.
Can I attend a Mercer County probate hearing 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 Mercer County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 734-8452 before you assume either way.
Can I look up a Mercer County probate case online?
No free full District Court probate case search is listed. A no-login court-date lookup, not an official docket, is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. For case status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Harrodsburg.
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.