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Nicholas County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Nicholas County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Nicholas County District Court, probate division. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Nicholas County |
| Courthouse address | Nicholas County Judicial Center, 217 N. Broadway St., Carlisle, KY 40311 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109 |
| Phone | (859) 289-2336 |
| Fax | (859) 289-6141 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 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 effective July 1, 2018. Nicholas 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 methods | Cash, check with ID, or money order. The county page also links to ePay through the Kentucky online court payment portal, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can tell you what that portal accepts. |
| County forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms apply. No separate Nicholas County probate form set is listed on the county court page. |
| Electronic filing | Kentucky probate filings can use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible probate filing must e-file. Self-represented filers may register, but may also file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carlisle. |
| Court-date lookup | The county page links to the statewide court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. It is a court-date lookup, not full probate file access. |
| Remote hearing information | No Nicholas County Zoom login is listed on the county page. Kentucky courts have used Zoom for remote proceedings since March 2020, but login details come from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the county where you are scheduled to appear. |
| Accessibility and parking | Ramp in front of the building. Street parking on N. Broadway Street and a side parking lot on E. Chestnut Street, with handicap parking available. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Nicholas.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Nicholas County, make a practical list of the assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, benefits and likely expenses. The right filing depends on what actually has to pass through court, who is entitled to receive it and whether anyone is likely to object.
Sunset's estate settlement workflow starts by helping families find accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, then turns that information into a probate packet for the Nicholas County filing office in Carlisle.
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 Nicholas County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Nicholas County courthouse in Carlisle.
The filing location is the Nicholas County Judicial Center, 217 N. Broadway St., Carlisle, KY 40311. Mail goes to P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109. Carlisle is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Nicholas County; the court also serves the county's unincorporated communities.
Nicholas County is in Kentucky's 18th Judicial District with Harrison, Pendleton and Robertson counties (KRS 24A.030). The District Judge may serve more than one county, but a Nicholas County estate remains a Nicholas County District Court probate filing through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carlisle.
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 Nicholas County, at the Nicholas County courthouse in Carlisle. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Nicholas Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the estate settlement facts: identify probate assets, debts, possible tax issues, the will if there is one and the people who may need notice.
- Choose the filing path. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will and/or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Get the statewide AOC forms from kycourts.gov or from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carlisle. Nicholas County does not list a separate local probate packet.
- File at the Nicholas County Judicial Center, 217 N. Broadway St., Carlisle, KY 40311, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109.
- 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 effective July 1, 2018. Nicholas 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. The Carlisle office lists cash, check with ID, or money order.
- Ask the clerk for the court date and any notice steps. The county page links to the statewide court-date lookup, and creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011.
- 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 Nicholas 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 (859) 289-2336 and ask before you assume either way.
- If the District Court appoints a personal representative, get the authority papers. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification (AOC-807), and Kentucky law also refers to letters of appointment (KRS 395.105, KRS 395.110).
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory within 90 days and under seal as required by KRS 395.250, then close with the proper settlement form, including AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Nicholas County
Nicholas County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Nicholas 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 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 to close. All of them are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carlisle will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Open probate of a will and/or ask for appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification after appointment, used with the order to show authority. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure filed with an appointment request under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-830 | Ask the judge to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement of estate, due within 90 days and filed under seal 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
Nicholas County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Use the judicial center address | File at 217 N. Broadway St., Carlisle, KY 40311, or mail to P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109. |
| Bring the right payment method | The Nicholas County page lists cash, check with ID, or money order. It does not list an in-person card option. |
| Do not confuse Carlisle | Carlisle is the city where the Nicholas County courthouse sits. It is not the separate Kentucky county named Carlisle. |
| Do not rely on D18 local rules for probate steps | The posted District local rules for the 18th Judicial District are a 1978 traffic prepayment schedule and do not give probate instructions. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Nicholas County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | File in Carlisle if the decedent lived in Nicholas County at death (KRS 394.140). A court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit some personal-property-only estates, but a home sale or title issue often means opening an estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset helps gather account and property information, organize the estate settlement file and prepare the probate packet for Nicholas County. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Kentucky does not use a bank affidavit route. If the facts fit, file AOC-830 in Nicholas County District Court under KRS 395.455 or mail papers to P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109. Plan payment before mailing or traveling because the Carlisle office lists cash, check with ID, or money order. | Sunset helps identify assets, generate forms and flag whether a local attorney should review the filing before it goes to Carlisle. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. After appointment, the clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification (AOC-807) and the personal representative uses that authority, along with letters of appointment under KRS 395.105, with banks and title companies. | Sunset helps prepare the estate settlement documents, organize sale-related information and connect the family with a Nicholas County probate attorney if the transaction or family situation is complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Nicholas County | Filing office for Nicholas County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, give the current amount due and provide court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | Nicholas County Judicial Center, 217 N. Broadway St., Carlisle, KY 40311. Mail to P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109. Phone: (859) 289-2336. Fax: (859) 289-6141. |
| 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 | Guided interviews for self-represented people, including Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass | Civil legal aid program listed for Nicholas County. Ask 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 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 Administrative Office of the Courts. Use current statutes and current forms for deadlines and bond under KRS 395.130 because the guide predates July 15, 2026 changes to KRS Chapter 395. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if a Nicholas County estate includes real estate to sell, a family dispute, missing heirs, business assets, unclear debts, tax questions, a contested matter under KRS 24A.120, or a filing that may move to Nicholas Circuit Court under KRS 394.240. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families move from uncertainty to an organized asset list, so the Nicholas County probate filing matches what actually exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the estate settlement information into the Kentucky AOC forms used in Carlisle, including the opening petition and the forms needed later in administration.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate includes a home sale, conflict, tax questions or a court hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, create probate documents and get attorney connections without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Nicholas County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Nicholas County Judicial Center, 217 N. Broadway St., Carlisle, KY 40311. Mail goes to P.O. Box 109, Carlisle, KY 40311-0109. Kentucky sends probate to the District Court of the county where the person lived at death (KRS 394.140), and District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters under KRS 24A.120.
Is Carlisle the same as Carlisle County?
No. Carlisle is the city where the Nicholas County courthouse is located. Carlisle County is a different Kentucky county. For a Nicholas County estate, use the Nicholas County Judicial Center in Carlisle.
What does it cost to open a Nicholas 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 effective July 1, 2018. Nicholas 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 does the Carlisle clerk's office list?
The Nicholas County page lists cash, check with ID, or money order. It does not list an in-person card option. The page also links to ePay through the Kentucky online court payment portal, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can explain what that portal accepts.
Can I e-file probate papers in Nicholas County?
Kentucky probate cases use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible probate filing must e-file. If you are self-represented, you may register for eFiling, but you may also file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carlisle.
How do I find my Nicholas County probate court date?
The county page links to the statewide court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. Use it as a court-date lookup, not as full probate file access. You can also call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Carlisle at (859) 289-2336.
Can I appear remotely for a Nicholas County probate hearing?
No Nicholas County Zoom login is listed on the county page. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but whether a particular probate matter is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (859) 289-2336 before you assume either way.
What probate forms does Nicholas County use?
Nicholas County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening an estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
What authority paper will banks ask for after appointment?
When the District Court appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification (AOC-807) showing that the appointment order is in full force and effect. Kentucky law also uses the phrase letters of appointment for the fiduciary's authority (KRS 395.105, 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.