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Oldham County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court and filing office | Oldham County District Court, filed through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Oldham County. KRS 24A.120 gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Courthouse address | Oldham County Judicial Center, 100 W. Main St., La Grange, KY 40031. |
| Phone | Start with District Civil at (502) 222-5621 for an estate. The office also publishes Circuit at (502) 222-9837 and District Traffic at (502) 222-0522. |
| Fax | (502) 222-3047. 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 La Grange. |
| 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. Oldham County adds a $10 court facilities fee in probate cases under its own fiscal court ordinance, collected since September 1, 2003 (KRS 24A.185; Oldham County Code of Ordinances Section 36.01), and a county law library fee may also apply 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, money order or credit card, with an additional fee on cards. The county page also links Pay online with ePay. |
| Probate forms | Oldham County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. No separate Oldham County probate form set is published on the local court page. |
| E-filing | Since January 1, 2024, attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate papers must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Self-represented filers may register but may still file on paper in La Grange. |
| Online lookup | There is no free public case search for District Court probate case files. The Court of Justice publishes a free court-date lookup that includes Oldham County and says it is not an official docket. |
| Remote appearance | Login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming an Oldham County probate matter will be heard in person or by video. |
| Parking | The county publishes one facility note: parking lot. |
| Judicial district | 12th Judicial District, with Henry and Trimble counties (KRS 24A.030). |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Oldham.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or call the court, list the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts and likely beneficiaries. In Oldham County, that first inventory of the situation helps you decide whether the estate settlement needs an appointed personal representative or whether a Kentucky court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help you find accounts before you file, then turn that information into a local estate settlement plan for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in La Grange.
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 Oldham County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Oldham County Judicial Center in La Grange.
The same La Grange filing office serves estates for Oldham County residents from La Grange, Crestwood, Goshen, Orchard Grass Hills, Pewee Valley, River Bluff, Buckner, Westport, Ballardsville, Brownsboro, Centerfield, Floydsburg, Park Lake, Skylight and the Oldham County portion of Prospect. Prospect crosses the Oldham and Jefferson county line, so for a Prospect resident the county where the person actually lived controls where the estate is filed under KRS 394.140.
Oldham County is in Kentucky's 12th Judicial District with Henry and Trimble counties (KRS 24A.030). That district context matters for scheduling, but the filing is still made with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Oldham County in La Grange.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts and family situation first. This decides whether you are asking for appointment of a personal representative or asking the District Court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Get the statewide Kentucky forms. Oldham County uses the Administrative Office of the Courts forms: AOC-805 to open an estate and probate a will under KRS 394.145, AOC-808 Financial Disclosure under KRS 395.015, AOC-830 if you ask 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.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Oldham County Judicial Center, 100 W. Main St., La Grange, KY 40031. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must file eligible probate papers electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system; a self-represented filer may register but may still file on paper in La Grange.
- 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. Oldham County adds a $10 court facilities fee in probate cases under its own fiscal court ordinance, collected since September 1, 2003 (KRS 24A.185; Oldham County Code of Ordinances Section 36.01), and a county law library fee may also apply where one is in force (KRS 453.060), so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
- Follow the court's instructions for any required notice and hearing. Oldham County publishes Circuit Court and Family Court motion days, but it does not publish a District Court probate docket, so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for your court date.
- Ask about remote appearance before you make travel plans. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but whether an Oldham County District Court probate matter is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the Court of Justice tells you to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for login information.
- If the District Court appoints you, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. That certificate, together with a certified copy of the appointment order, is what banks and title companies accept. KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 lets you ask for formal letters under seal.
- Administer and close the estate. A personal representative files the inventory on AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, handles creditor claims under KRS 396.011, waits to distribute under KRS 395.190, and closes with AOC-846 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 when the estate is ready.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Oldham County
Oldham County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Oldham County form set published on the local court page. Use AOC-805 to open an estate and probate a will 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.
The statewide form set also includes AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, AOC-808 Financial Disclosure under KRS 395.015, and AOC-860 for the narrow probate fee exemption. Forms are free through the Kentucky Court of Justice, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in La Grange can provide paper copies.
Fees
$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. Oldham County adds a $10 court facilities fee in probate cases under its own fiscal court ordinance, collected since September 1, 2003 (KRS 24A.185; Oldham County Code of Ordinances Section 36.01), and a county law library fee may also apply where one is in force (KRS 453.060), so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
The county says payment may be made by cash, check, money order or credit card, with an additional fee for a credit card. It does not publish the card fee amount. The local court page also links Pay online with ePay.
Local nuance
Oldham County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an estate |
|---|---|
| New La Grange judicial center | The current court address is Oldham County Judicial Center, 100 W. Main St., La Grange, KY 40031. The temporary courthouse at 6822 Central Ave. in Crestwood closed when court operations moved in early 2026. |
| Separate phone lines | The court page labels (502) 222-5621 as District Civil, (502) 222-9837 as Circuit, and (502) 222-0522 as District Traffic. A Kentucky probate matter is a District Court civil matter under KRS 24A.120, so start with District Civil for an estate. |
| County court facilities fee | Oldham County Code of Ordinances Section 36.01 adds a $10 court facilities fee in probate cases, collected since September 1, 2003, under KRS 24A.185. The law library fee remains a separate item to ask about under KRS 453.060. |
| Payment methods | The court page lists cash, check, money order and credit card, with an additional fee for cards, and links Pay online with ePay. |
| Parking | The county's facility note says there is a parking lot. No room number or probate counter inside the building is published. |
| 12th Judicial District | Oldham County shares the 12th Judicial District with Henry and Trimble counties (KRS 24A.030), so ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date assigned to your matter. |
| Contested estates | If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Oldham Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240). Oldham County publishes Circuit Civil motion days on the first, second and fourth Friday at 1 p.m., with motions due by 4 p.m. the preceding Friday. |
| Two different clerks | Probate papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the judicial center on West Main Street. The separate Oldham County Clerk handles vehicles, land records, delinquent taxes and elections, not estate filings. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local change |
|---|---|
| March 2, 2026 | The Oldham County Judicial Center at 100 W. Main St. in La Grange opened to the public. All local court operations, including the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, moved there from the temporary courthouse at 6822 Central Ave. in Crestwood, which closed February 23 to 27, 2026 for the move. Court schedules and phone numbers stayed the same. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | File any needed estate papers with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Oldham County Judicial Center in La Grange. Whether Kentucky's court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 fits depends on the statewide exemption rules, and that path does not transfer real property by itself. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before you decide whether the estate settlement needs a full appointment or a narrower court order. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | You can mail papers to 100 W. Main St., La Grange, KY 40031. Call District Civil at (502) 222-5621 before filing so you have the exact cost, because Oldham County adds a local court facilities fee under KRS 24A.185 and a library fee may also apply under KRS 453.060. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must e-file, but a self-represented filer may still file on paper. Ask about court dates and remote appearance before planning travel. | Sunset turns the asset list into an estate settlement packet and helps you understand whether a trip to La Grange may be needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means opening a full administration with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and getting a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, after appointment. If anyone contests the case, the dispute moves to Oldham Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps gather account and property information, generate the probate packet, and connect you with a local attorney when a sale or dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Oldham County | The filing office for estate papers in Oldham County. The office can provide forms, tell you the amount to pay, and give court-date information, but it cannot give legal advice. | Oldham County Judicial Center, 100 W. Main St., La Grange, KY 40031; District Civil (502) 222-5621; Circuit (502) 222-9837; fax (502) 222-3047; https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Oldham.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-830, AOC-807, AOC-841, AOC-846 and AOC-850. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided interviews include Dispense with Administration and Probate Estate for self-represented people preparing Kentucky court forms. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Legal Aid Society | The civil legal aid program listed by the Administrative Office of the Courts for Oldham County. Ask the program directly what help is available for your situation. | 502-584-1254; https://www.yourlegalaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | An online service where an income-eligible Kentuckian can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Kentucky attorney. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | A referral starting point when you need a Kentucky attorney for a contested estate, real property sale or other probate issue. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv; Louisville Bar Association Kentucky Lawyer Referral Service 502-583-1801 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the estate includes a home that must be sold, beneficiaries disagree, the will may be challenged, the person lived near a county line such as Prospect, or you are unsure whether to ask for appointment or for a court order dispensing with administration under KRS 395.455. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, insurance, real property clues and debts so the estate settlement starts with a clear picture instead of guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses what you enter to prepare a county-aware probate packet for Oldham County, including the Kentucky form path that fits the estate and the local filing office in La Grange.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney for the issues that should not be handled alone.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next filing step and decide when local counsel is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Oldham County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Oldham County Judicial Center, 100 W. Main St., La Grange, KY 40031. 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 Oldham County.
Did the Oldham County courthouse move?
Yes. The Oldham County Judicial Center in La Grange opened to the public on March 2, 2026. The temporary courthouse at 6822 Central Ave. in Crestwood closed February 23 to 27, 2026 while court operations moved. Court schedules and phone numbers stayed the same.
Which Oldham County number should I call about an estate?
The court page publishes three lines: District Civil at (502) 222-5621, Circuit at (502) 222-9837 and District Traffic at (502) 222-0522. Because probate is a District Court civil matter under KRS 24A.120, start with District Civil for an estate.
What does it cost to open probate in Oldham 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. Oldham County adds a $10 court facilities fee in probate cases under KRS 24A.185 and its own ordinance, collected since September 1, 2003. A county law library fee may also apply under KRS 453.060, so call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the exact total.
Can I pay by card in Oldham County?
The county lists cash, check, money order and credit card, with an additional fee for credit cards. It does not publish the card fee amount. The county page also links Pay online with ePay.
Are there local Oldham County probate forms?
Oldham County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms and does not publish a separate local probate form set. 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 e-file an Oldham County probate case?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling eligible Kentucky probate papers must file electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. If you are representing yourself, you may register for that system, but you may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in La Grange.
When will my Oldham County probate matter be heard?
Oldham County publishes Circuit Court and Family Court motion days, but it does not publish a District Court probate docket. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for your court date. The public court-date lookup includes Oldham County and says it is not an official docket, so do not rely on it without checking with the clerk.
Can I appear by phone or video for Oldham County probate?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020 and the Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide remote-court instructions. Whether an Oldham County District Court probate matter is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and login details are not published centrally. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 222-5621 before you assume either way.
My relative lived in Prospect. Do I file in Oldham County or Jefferson County?
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). Prospect crosses the Oldham and Jefferson county line, so the right filing county depends on the side of the line where the person actually lived.
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.