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Powell County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Powell County District Court. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Powell County |
| Courthouse address | Powell County Courthouse, 525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 578, Stanton, KY 40380-0578 |
| Phone | (606) 663-4141 and (606) 663-4142. The Powell County court page publishes both numbers and does not label either one as a fax. |
| Fax | No fax number appears on the Powell County court page or the kyjustice.org county listing. Call before sending anything by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff appears on the court page. |
| 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. Powell 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file. |
| Payment | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk lists cash, money order, and credit or debit cards in person, with a card fee. It also links to Pay online with ePay. Ask before mailing a check because the court page ties check language to fines. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms apply. Powell County does not publish a separate local probate form set on its court page. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, attorneys must use Kentucky's court eFiling system for eligible probate filings. Self-represented filers may register, but may also file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Case information | No free public case search gives full District Court probate status. A public court-date lookup exists, but it is not an official docket. For estate status, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom for some proceedings since March 2020, but Powell County does not post probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing format. |
| Accessibility and parking | The court page lists parking around the building and on the right behind the Farm Bureau building, with designated parking on the right side of the courthouse for vehicles with a disability parking permit. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Powell.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Stanton, make a practical estate settlement list: real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, debts, funeral expenses, beneficiaries, and whether the person left a will. Powell County uses the statewide Kentucky probate forms, but the correct filing path depends on what property exists and who has authority to act.
Sunset can help find accounts and benefits before paperwork is filed by searching across 2,300 institutions. That asset picture makes the estate settlement conversation with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk or a Kentucky probate attorney more concrete.
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 Powell County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Powell County courthouse in Stanton.
The same Stanton courthouse serves estates for people who lived anywhere in Powell County, including Stanton, Clay City, Slade, Nada, Cat Creek, Piggville, Rosslyn and other unincorporated communities. Powell County is in Kentucky's 39th Judicial District with Breathitt and Wolfe counties (KRS 24A.030), but a Powell County estate is still filed with the Powell County Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
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 Powell County, at the Powell County courthouse in Stanton. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Powell Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, funeral expenses and the names and addresses of people who may inherit. This first step keeps the estate settlement focused before you choose a form.
- Choose the filing path. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of a personal representative under KRS 394.145. Use AOC-830 only if you are asking the District Court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. If appointment is requested, the application includes the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 525 Washington St. in Stanton, or mail to P.O. Box 578, Stanton, KY 40380-0578. Attorneys must eFile eligible probate papers through the statewide system as of January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for eFiling, but may still file paper documents with the clerk.
- 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. Powell 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
- Ask the clerk how the hearing or review date will be set. Powell County's court page does not publish a separate District Court probate docket, so do not assume a hearing day. If a remote appearance is being considered, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for instructions.
- If the District Court appoints you, get the Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. That certificate, together with a certified copy of the appointment order, shows your authority. Kentucky also refers to letters of appointment under KRS 395.105.
- Administer the estate. Creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011. If you are appointed as personal representative, the inventory on AOC-841 is due under KRS 395.250, and Kentucky's current rule makes that inventory confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250.
- Close the estate when the statutory requirements are met. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a periodic or final settlement under KRS 395.610. Keep copies of the closing order for banks, buyers, title companies and beneficiaries.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Powell County
Powell County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Powell County form set. You file AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment 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 forms are available through kycourts.gov, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Stanton can provide paper copies.
The most common mistake is treating Kentucky's dispense-with-administration process as if it were an out-of-court affidavit. It is not. AOC-830 is filed with the District Court under KRS 395.455, and the judge decides whether to enter an order.
Timeline
- For a Powell County probate filing, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date assigned to your matter. The Powell County court page does not publish a separate District Court probate schedule.
- Powell County's page does publish a Circuit Court schedule: Circuit Court is held in continuous session, and Circuit Court motion hours are the first and third Wednesday following the first Monday of each month. That schedule matters mainly if a probate dispute becomes an adversary proceeding in Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240.
- For remote participation, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before the court date. Powell County does not post probate Zoom login details on its court page.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Powell County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and whether any assets need District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If a court order is needed, file in Stanton with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. If the estate can be resolved by a petition to dispense with administration, AOC-830 must be tied to KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps organize accounts, debts, real estate information and beneficiary details so the spouse can decide whether a court filing is needed for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Do not travel until you call the Powell County Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Kentucky's small estate route is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not an affidavit. If appointment is needed instead, AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 starts the case. | Sunset helps identify assets, prepare a probate packet, and reduce back-and-forth when the child is coordinating from outside Kentucky. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires clear authority. File the appropriate Powell County District Court papers in Stanton under KRS 24A.120. If the court appoints a personal representative, the clerk issues the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and Kentucky recognizes letters of appointment under KRS 395.105. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, title, account and debt information, then connects the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Powell County | The filing office for estates in Powell County. The clerk can provide forms, state the current amount due at filing under CR 3.03, and tell you court dates. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | 525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380. Mail: P.O. Box 578, Stanton, KY 40380-0578. Phone: (606) 663-4141 or (606) 663-4142. Website: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Powell.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-807, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided interviews for Kentucky users, 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 |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | The regional civil legal aid program serving Powell County. Ask the program directly what help is available for your situation. | 866-277-5733. https://ardfky.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal questions for income-eligible Kentuckians, answered by volunteer attorneys. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide referral resource for finding a Kentucky attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets that may belong in the estate settlement plan before papers are filed in Stanton.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Kentucky forms, including the Powell County courthouse address, mailing address, and the form path that matches the estate.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney who understands District Court probate under KRS 24A.120 and local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand the next steps, and decide what to file without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Powell County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Powell County Courthouse, 525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380, or mail papers to P.O. Box 578, Stanton, KY 40380-0578. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, and venue is based on the county where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
What phone number should I call for Powell County probate?
The Powell County court page lists two Office of Circuit Court Clerk phone numbers: (606) 663-4141 and (606) 663-4142. Neither number is labeled as a fax on the court page, so call before sending documents by fax.
How much does it cost to open a Powell 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. Powell 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 under KRS 453.060 where one is in force, so confirm the exact total with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you file.
Can I use eFiling for a Powell County probate case?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must use the statewide eFiling system as of January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for eFiling, but may also file paper documents with the Powell County Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Stanton.
Does Powell County have its own probate forms?
Powell County does not publish a separate local probate form set on its court page. Use the 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.
When are Powell County probate hearings?
The Powell County court page does not publish a separate District Court probate schedule. It does publish that Circuit Court is in continuous session and that Circuit Court motion hours are the first and third Wednesday following the first Monday of each month. Because probate begins in District Court under KRS 24A.120, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the date assigned to your matter.
Can I attend a Powell County probate hearing remotely?
Kentucky courts have used Zoom for some proceedings since March 2020, but Powell County does not post probate login details. Whether a particular probate matter is heard in person or by remote connection is a court decision, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before the court date.
Is there an online case search for Powell County probate?
Kentucky does not provide a free public search that shows full District Court probate case status. A public court-date lookup is available, but it is not an official docket. For the status of a Powell County estate, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Stanton.
Do I have to travel to Stanton to start estate settlement?
Not always. Paper filings can be mailed to the Powell County Office of Circuit Court Clerk, and attorneys use statewide eFiling as of January 1, 2024. Before you rely on mail, call the clerk to confirm the current total due under CR 3.03, accepted payment method, and whether the court will require your participation on a specific date.
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.