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Rockcastle County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Rockcastle County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Rockcastle County District Court, probate division. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Rockcastle County |
| Courthouse address | Rockcastle County Courthouse Annex, 205 E. Main St., Room 102, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456 |
| Mailing | The Rockcastle court page does not publish a separate mailing address. Call before mailing papers to the street address. |
| Phone | 606-256-2581, press option 2. The court page also publishes 606-256-2433 without a division label. |
| Fax | No fax is published on the Rockcastle court page. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 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. Rockcastle 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 | Cash, check, or money order. Cash is required for bond under KRS 395.130, driver's license reinstatement fees, and probation and parole fees. ePay is available online. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms apply. The Rockcastle court page publishes no separate Rockcastle County probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys handling eligible probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system as of January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the Mount Vernon office. |
| Case information | Kentucky does not provide a free full District Court probate case-file search. A statewide court-date lookup is available at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, and estate status questions should go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | No Rockcastle-specific Zoom login or standing probate remote instruction is posted. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming whether a hearing is in person or remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Rockcastle.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Rockcastle County, make a working list of the assets, debts, account holders, real estate, vehicles, insurance, and family members. The right estate settlement path depends on what must pass through court, whether a will exists, and whether anyone is likely to object.
Sunset can help organize estate settlement before the first courthouse trip by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning what is found into a probate-ready packet for the Rockcastle County Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
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 Rockcastle County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Rockcastle County courthouse in Mount Vernon.
Rockcastle County probate filings are handled at one local filing location: Rockcastle County Courthouse Annex, 205 E. Main St., Room 102, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456. The county includes Mount Vernon, Brodhead, Livingston, and unincorporated Rockcastle County.
Rockcastle County is in Kentucky's 28th Judicial District and 28th Judicial Circuit with Pulaski County (KRS 24A.030). That shared district does not move a Rockcastle estate to Pulaski County. File a Rockcastle County estate in Mount Vernon.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets and debts before choosing the filing. This helps you decide whether to ask for appointment through AOC-805, Petition for Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Executor or Administrator (KRS 394.145), or whether a petition to dispense with administration through AOC-830 may fit under KRS 395.455.
- Use Kentucky's statewide AOC forms. Rockcastle County uses the statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 (KRS 394.145), AOC-808 financial disclosure (KRS 395.015), AOC-830 for dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 inventory (KRS 395.250), AOC-846 settlement (KRS 395.610), and AOC-850 informal final settlement (KRS 395.605).
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Rockcastle County Courthouse Annex, 205 E. Main St., Room 102, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456. Attorneys handling eligible probate filings must e-file as of January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may still file on paper at the Mount Vernon office.
- Pay the opening cost and confirm any local add-ons. $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. Rockcastle 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.
- Use the payment methods the Rockcastle court page lists. The office accepts cash, check, and money order, and ePay is available online. Cash is required for bond under KRS 395.130, driver's license reinstatement fees, and probation and parole fees.
- Ask the clerk for the court date and attendance instructions. Rockcastle County's court page does not publish a probate docket schedule. The statewide court-date lookup at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is a court-date tool, not a full probate case-file search.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Rockcastle County does not post probate Zoom login information. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 606-256-2581, press option 2.
- If the District Court appoints you as executor or administrator, get the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. Kentucky law also refers to letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and KRS 395.110.
- After appointment, administer the estate. A personal representative files the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, taxes if required, and any court-ordered bond under KRS 395.130.
- Close the estate when ready. Use AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610 when the estate needs a settlement hearing or accounting.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Rockcastle County
Rockcastle County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Rockcastle County form set. You file form AOC-805 to open the estate (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 for the inventory (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 to close (KRS 395.610 and KRS 395.605). All of them are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Mount Vernon will also hand you paper copies.
| Form | When it is used |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Opening a probate estate, with or without appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145) |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure filed with the application for appointment (KRS 395.015) |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification after appointment |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455) |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement due within 90 days and filed under seal (KRS 395.250) |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of Estate when a settlement filing is needed (KRS 395.610) |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement (KRS 395.605) |
Local nuance
Rockcastle County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Annex filing location | Use the Rockcastle County Courthouse Annex, 205 E. Main St., Room 102, in Mt. Vernon, rather than assuming the filing is at another county office. |
| Two published phone numbers | Call 606-256-2581 and press option 2 first. The court page also lists 606-256-2433 without a division label, so do not assume what that second line reaches. |
| No posted probate schedule | Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the hearing date, attendance instructions, and any remote-login details. |
| Payment details | The Rockcastle court page lists cash, check, and money order, and says cash is required for bond under KRS 395.130, driver's license reinstatement fees, and probation and parole fees. |
| Different county office | The county clerk's land-records and vehicle office is not the Office of Circuit Court Clerk that takes probate filings. |
| Parking note | The court page lists parking on the side and front of the annex and in the lot across the street in front of the courthouse. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Rockcastle County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File in Mount Vernon if the decedent lived in Rockcastle County. A personal-property-only estate may support a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, but a home sale or title issue often means opening an estate with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. | Sunset identifies accounts, debts, and title issues so the spouse can see whether the estate settlement likely needs appointment or a narrower filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Kentucky does not use a small-estate affidavit. If KRS 395.455 applies, file AOC-830 with the Rockcastle County District Court through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Call 606-256-2581, press option 2, before mailing papers because no separate mailing address is posted. | Sunset organizes the asset list, prepares the form packet, and helps the child ask the right Rockcastle County filing questions before traveling. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a full estate opening with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. After appointment, the executor or administrator uses the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, for banks and title companies. A contested matter goes to Rockcastle Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps find the accounts, build the estate settlement packet, and connect the family with Kentucky probate counsel when a sale or dispute is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Rockcastle County | Filing office for Rockcastle County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, give court-date information, and tell you the current amount due. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | Rockcastle County Courthouse Annex, 205 E. Main St., Room 102, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456; 606-256-2581, press option 2 |
| 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 Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455. | 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 Rockcastle County. Ask what help is available for your situation. | 866-277-5733; https://www.ardfky.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 | Plain-language AOC introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and current AOC forms for deadlines, bond under KRS 395.130, and the 2026 form changes. | 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 to sell, a business, unclear heirs, a dispute, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, inheritance-tax questions under KRS 140.070, or a contested matter that may move to Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property so the family can start estate settlement with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into a Kentucky probate packet for the Rockcastle County Office of Circuit Court Clerk, including the forms that fit the estate's path.
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 filings and Rockcastle County procedure.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, prepare for the courthouse, and understand next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Rockcastle County?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Rockcastle County, Rockcastle County Courthouse Annex, 205 E. Main St., Room 102, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
What phone number should I call for a Rockcastle County estate?
Call 606-256-2581 and press option 2. The Rockcastle court page also lists 606-256-2433 without a division label, so use the main line first and ask where your probate question should go.
How much does it cost to open probate in Rockcastle 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. Rockcastle 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 file Rockcastle County probate papers electronically?
Attorneys handling eligible Kentucky probate filings must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice system as of January 1, 2024. If you are handling the estate without a lawyer, you may register for electronic filing, but you may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Mount Vernon.
Does Rockcastle County have its own probate forms?
No separate Rockcastle County probate packet is published on the court page. Use Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805 for opening an estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for inventory under KRS 395.250, and AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Can I look up a Rockcastle County probate case online?
Kentucky does not provide a free full District Court probate case-file search. A statewide court-date lookup is available at https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Mount Vernon is the place to ask about the status of a Rockcastle County estate.
Does Rockcastle County post probate hearing days?
The Rockcastle court page does not publish a local probate docket schedule. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for your court date when you file or when you receive notice.
Can I attend a Rockcastle County probate hearing remotely?
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 Rockcastle County District Court probate matter is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the login details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 606-256-2581, press option 2, before you assume either way.
What document shows I can act for the estate?
When the District Court appoints you under KRS 24A.120, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. Kentucky law also uses the term 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.