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Pulaski County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Pulaski County District Court, probate division, under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Pulaski County |
| Courthouse address | Pulaski County Court of Justice, 50 Public Square, Somerset, KY 42501 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 664, Somerset, KY 42502-0664 |
| Phone | (606) 677-4029 |
| Fax | The Pulaski County court page does not publish a fax number. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Filing 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. Pulaski 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 notes | Cash, check, money order, credit and debit cards are accepted, with a card fee. Some fees, court costs and traffic tickets can be paid by phone at (606) 677-4029, but bond and filing fees cannot be paid by phone. CR 3.03, effective July 1, 2026, controls the probate filing fee. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. Pulaski County's court page does not publish a separate local form set. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, attorneys file Kentucky probate matters electronically. Self-represented filers may register for the system but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Somerset. |
| Case lookup | The county page links to the statewide no-login court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. That is a court-date tool, not a full probate case file search. For case status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote hearings | The county page links to statewide remote-court instructions but does not post Pulaski County probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a matter will be remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Pulaski.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Somerset, make a working list of the person's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, and recurring bills. The correct Pulaski County filing path depends on what actually needs court authority, who is asking to serve, and whether assets need to be transferred, sold, or closed.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and benefits, then helps organize the information you need for the court packet and the next steps in Pulaski County.
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 Pulaski County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Pulaski County courthouse in Somerset.
The same Somerset courthouse serves estates from Somerset, Burnside, Eubank, Ferguson, Science Hill, Bronston, Nancy, Shopville, and other Pulaski County communities. Pulaski County is in the 28th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, and Kentucky probate jurisdiction belongs to District Court under KRS 24A.120.
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 Pulaski County, at the Pulaski County courthouse in Somerset. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Pulaski Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Kentucky AOC form that matches the estate. AOC-805 opens a probate estate and cites KRS 394.145; AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455; AOC-808 is the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Pulaski County Court of Justice, 50 Public Square, Somerset, KY 42501. If mailing papers, use P.O. Box 664, Somerset, KY 42502-0664, not the street ZIP.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the total before you file. $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. Pulaski 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. Pulaski County's page says filing fees and bond payments cannot be paid by phone, and bond is governed by KRS 395.130.
- Attorneys use Kentucky's electronic filing system for probate matters filed on or after January 1, 2024. If you are handling the estate yourself, you may register as a self-represented filer, but you may also file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Somerset.
- Ask the clerk how Pulaski County is setting the hearing or review. The county page does not publish a current probate docket day. Kentucky courts have remote-court instructions, but Zoom or other remote details are not published centrally, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming whether you will appear in person or remotely.
- If the District Court appoints you as personal representative under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. KRS 395.105 calls the authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 allows you to ask for formal letters under seal.
- Administer the estate after appointment. File the inventory on AOC-841 within the deadline in KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and keep enough documentation to show what was collected, paid, sold, and distributed under KRS 395.190.
- Close the estate when the Kentucky closing requirements are satisfied. AOC-850 is the informal final settlement route under KRS 395.605, and AOC-846 is the settlement form tied to KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pulaski County
Pulaski County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Pulaski County form set. AOC-805 opens the estate and cites KRS 394.145, AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 is the inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 closes the estate under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605.
The forms are available through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Somerset can provide paper copies. The clerk can provide forms and court-date information, but cannot give legal advice.
Local nuance
Pulaski County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Street and mailing addresses differ | The courthouse is 50 Public Square, Somerset, KY 42501, but mail goes to P.O. Box 664, Somerset, KY 42502-0664. Use the mailing address for mailed filings or correspondence. |
| Phone payment has a filing-fee carveout | Pulaski County accepts some card payments by phone, but the county page excludes bond and filing fees. The probate filing fee is governed by CR 3.03, effective July 1, 2026, and bond is governed by KRS 395.130, so call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before relying on a payment method. |
| No courthouse accessibility note is posted | The Pulaski County court page does not publish a ramp, elevator, or designated-parking note. If courthouse access affects your estate settlement trip, call (606) 677-4029 before you go. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Pulaski County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm what passed outside probate and what still needs District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If appointment is needed, file through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Somerset and use the Pulaski mailing address only for mailed papers. | Sunset helps identify accounts, benefits, debts, and property details so the spouse can decide what belongs in the estate settlement plan. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Ask whether a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 is available, or whether a personal representative must be appointed. Do not rely on the stale 1979 local rule for a hearing time; call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the current setting. | Sunset can help organize the asset list, prepare the Kentucky form packet, and reduce unnecessary travel to Somerset. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires clear authority from the District Court under KRS 24A.120 and a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, with letters of appointment under KRS 395.105. Title questions are a strong reason to involve a Kentucky probate attorney. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the court packet, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a home sale is part of estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Pulaski County | Filing office for Pulaski County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, and tell you current court dates and the current amount due. It cannot give legal advice. | Pulaski County Court of Justice, 50 Public Square, Somerset, KY 42501; mail to P.O. Box 664, Somerset, KY 42502-0664; (606) 677-4029 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide AOC probate form catalogue, 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. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided A2J interviews include 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 | Civil legal aid program listed for Pulaski County by the Kentucky Court of Justice. Ask the program directly about eligibility and whether it can help with your issue. | 866-277-5733; https://ardfky.org |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide attorney referral resource for probate, real estate, and contested matters. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | AOC plain-language introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and current AOC forms for deadlines, bond under KRS 395.130, and inventory under KRS 395.250. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer makes sense in Pulaski County when the estate is contested under KRS 24A.120, when a will contest may be filed in Circuit Court under KRS 394.240, when a home or mineral interest must be sold, when family members disagree about who should serve, or when the paperwork needs to be corrected after filing. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, benefits, and other assets so families can begin estate settlement with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the asset and family information into the Kentucky probate forms you need for Pulaski County, including the opening petition and related documents.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, or help with a contested matter under KRS 24A.120, Sunset can connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next steps, and move through the probate process without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Pulaski County?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Pulaski County at the Pulaski County Court of Justice in Somerset. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, and venue belongs in the county where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140.
What address should I use for Pulaski County probate mail?
Use P.O. Box 664, Somerset, KY 42502-0664 for mail. The courthouse street address is 50 Public Square, Somerset, KY 42501, so do not mix the street ZIP with the P.O. Box.
How much does it cost to open a Pulaski 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. Pulaski 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.
Can I pay the Pulaski County probate filing fee by phone?
No. Pulaski County's page says some fees, court costs, and traffic tickets can be paid by card by phone, but it excludes bond and filing fees. The probate filing fee is controlled by CR 3.03, effective July 1, 2026, and bond is governed by KRS 395.130.
Does Pulaski County have its own probate forms?
Pulaski County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC forms. The county page does not publish a separate Pulaski County 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.
How does electronic filing work for Pulaski County probate?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate matter under KRS 395.030, or petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 files electronically. A self-represented person may register for electronic filing, but may still file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Somerset.
Can I appear remotely for a Pulaski County probate hearing?
The Pulaski County page links to Kentucky's remote-court instructions, but it does not post local Zoom details. Whether a particular District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the statewide instruction is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for login details.
How do I check a Pulaski County probate court date?
The county page links to the statewide no-login court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/. It is a court-date tool, not a full probate case file search. For the current status of a Pulaski County estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Somerset.
What document shows that I have authority over the estate?
After appointment, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. KRS 395.105 calls the authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 allows formal letters under seal.
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.