Back to Kentucky
Metcalfe County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Metcalfe County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Metcalfe County District Court for probate matters under KRS 24A.120, filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Courthouse | Metcalfe County Courthouse, 201 E. Stockton St., Edmonton, KY 42129. |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 27, Edmonton, KY 42129-0027. |
| Phone | 270-432-3663. |
| Fax | 270-432-4437. Call before relying on fax filing or fax communication. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| 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. Metcalfe 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, certified check, or money order. Personal check only with office approval. |
| Forms | Uses Kentucky statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The county page does not publish a separate Metcalfe probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys must use Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling for eligible probate filings since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register but may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Case information | A free court-date lookup is available at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets, but it is a court-date lookup, not full District Court probate case access. For estate status, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | No Metcalfe-specific Zoom details are posted. The Kentucky Court of Justice directs parties to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for login details for any remote court event. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Metcalfe.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Edmonton, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, accounts, home interests, vehicles, and unpaid expenses. That list drives whether you ask Metcalfe County District Court under KRS 24A.120 to appoint a personal representative, or whether a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit.
Sunset can support estate settlement before the courthouse step by helping identify accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, then organizing what you need for the Kentucky AOC forms and a lawyer conversation if one is needed.
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 Metcalfe County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Metcalfe County courthouse in Edmonton.
Metcalfe County is part of Kentucky's 43rd Judicial District with Barren County under KRS 24A.030. The filing remains a Metcalfe County District Court probate filing through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Edmonton.
The courthouse serves all of Metcalfe County. Edmonton is the county seat, and the county also includes unincorporated communities such as Summer Shade, Center, Sulphur Well, Beaumont, Willow Shade, and Randolph.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm the county and the estate path. If the person lived in Metcalfe County at death, venue is in Metcalfe County District Court under KRS 394.140, and an intestate estate goes to the same court under KRS 395.030.
- Choose the starting form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator, with AOC-805 tied to KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 only if you are asking to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Prepare the current Kentucky AOC forms. A full administration filing may include the petition, proposed order, oath, AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, and any court-required bond form under KRS 395.130 if the judge orders one.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 201 E. Stockton St., Edmonton, KY 42129, or mail to P.O. Box 27, Edmonton, KY 42129-0027. Attorneys must use Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling for eligible probate filings since 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. Metcalfe 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 Metcalfe office lists cash, certified check, and money order; a personal check needs office approval.
- Ask the clerk for the court date. Metcalfe's county page does not publish a separate probate docket. The public court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets may help with dates, but call 270-432-3663 for your own estate matter.
- Ask before assuming a remote appearance. 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 Metcalfe 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 270-432-3663 and ask before you assume either way.
- After appointment, get proof of authority. When the District Court under KRS 24A.120 appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky also uses letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
- Administer the estate. File the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days of qualification, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011 and keep records for estate settlement.
- Close the estate. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when the statutory conditions fit, or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Metcalfe County
Metcalfe County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Metcalfe 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 or AOC-850 to close under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605. All of them are free at kycourts.gov, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Edmonton 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-807 | Certificate of Qualification, the authority document banks and title companies commonly ask for after appointment. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure required with an appointment application under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate 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
Metcalfe County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Payment is narrow | The Metcalfe office lists cash, certified check, and money order. A personal check requires office approval, and the county page does not list a card option. |
| Mailing is practical, but plan payment first | The court lists P.O. Box 27, Edmonton, KY 42129-0027. If you mail a filing, call 270-432-3663 before sending payment. |
| No separate probate schedule is posted | Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date, time, and appearance method for your own case. |
| Accessibility details are not posted on the county page | If courthouse access matters for your visit, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before going to 201 E. Stockton St. |
| Local rules are posted as scans | The 43rd Judicial District and Circuit local-rules PDFs are posted as scanned documents. Call the clerk or ask counsel before relying on them for probate procedure. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Metcalfe County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File at the Metcalfe County Courthouse in Edmonton if a court order or authority document is needed. A petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit a personal-property-only estate, but a home sale or title issue often requires opening an estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps gather account and asset information, organize the estate settlement file, and prepare questions for a Kentucky probate attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Use the Edmonton mailing address, P.O. Box 27, Edmonton, KY 42129-0027, and call first about payment. A certified check or money order is safer than a personal check because the office lists personal check only with office approval. If AOC-830 is used, it must be tied to KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps find accounts, create an organized task list, and identify whether a local attorney should review the filing before you mail it. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full Metcalfe County District Court estate under KRS 24A.120 with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. After appointment, use the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 for banks and title companies. If a dispute becomes contested under KRS 24A.120, it is filed as an original action in Metcalfe Circuit Court, with will contest timing governed by KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps assemble asset details, prepare the probate packet, and connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Metcalfe County | Filing office for Metcalfe County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, tell you the current amount due under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and give court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Metcalfe County Courthouse, 201 E. Stockton St., Edmonton, KY 42129. Mail to P.O. Box 27, Edmonton, KY 42129-0027. Phone 270-432-3663. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-807, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, AOC-850 under KRS 395.605, 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 tied to KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | The civil legal aid program listed for Metcalfe 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 | A statewide place to look for a Kentucky attorney. | 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 bond under KRS 395.130, because Kentucky probate law changed in 2026. | 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, a business, tax questions, beneficiaries who disagree, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, a possible will contest under KRS 394.240, or uncertainty about whether KRS 395.455 can dispense with administration. Counsel also helps when a title company or bank will not act without clearer authority from Metcalfe County District Court under KRS 24A.120. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families move from uncertainty to a working estate settlement inventory by identifying accounts, property leads, and financial institutions to check before filing in Metcalfe County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Kentucky's AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 when that route fits, and AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 after appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves real estate, a dispute, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, or a sale that needs a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, Sunset can connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand what to ask the Metcalfe County Office of Circuit Court Clerk, and decide when legal help is worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Metcalfe County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Metcalfe County Courthouse, 201 E. Stockton St., Edmonton, KY 42129, or mail to P.O. Box 27, Edmonton, KY 42129-0027. 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 Metcalfe County, at the Metcalfe County courthouse in Edmonton. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Metcalfe Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
What does it cost to open a Metcalfe County probate case?
$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. Metcalfe 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.
How can I pay the Metcalfe County probate filing fee?
The Metcalfe office lists cash, certified check, and money order. A personal check requires office approval. If you are mailing a filing, call 270-432-3663 before sending payment. The probate filing fee sentence above is governed by CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026.
Are there Metcalfe County probate forms?
Metcalfe County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The county page does not publish a separate Metcalfe 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.
Can I use electronic filing for probate in Metcalfe County?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must use Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for electronic filing, but they may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Edmonton.
How do I find my Metcalfe County probate court date?
Metcalfe's county page does not publish a separate probate docket. The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a public court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets, but it is a court-date lookup, not full District Court probate case access. For the status or date of a Metcalfe County estate, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 270-432-3663.
Can I appear remotely for a Metcalfe County probate hearing?
Do not assume either way. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but no Metcalfe-specific Zoom login details are posted. The Court of Justice tells parties to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where they are scheduled to appear, so call 270-432-3663.
What proof do banks need after I am appointed in Metcalfe County?
After appointment by Metcalfe County District Court under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky also uses 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.