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Shelby County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Shelby County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Shelby County District Court. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2). |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Shelby County |
| Courthouse | Shelby County Judicial Center, 401 Main St., Suite 101, Shelbyville, KY 40065 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published on the Shelby County court page. |
| Phone | District line: 502-633-4736. Circuit line: 502-633-1287. |
| Fax | No fax number is published on the Shelby County court page. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| 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. Shelby 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, personal check, money order, and credit or debit card are listed, with card fees possible. Shelby County also lists phone card payments and Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. Shelby County does not publish a separate local probate form set on its court page. |
| Attorney electronic filing | Required for attorneys in probate case types since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Shelbyville. |
| Case information | For case status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 502-633-4736. A free court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, but it is a court-date tool, not full trial-court case access. |
| Remote court | Shelby County says Zoom requests for Circuit and District Court should be made directly to the Judge's Office. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk first to confirm the correct office and current instruction. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Shelby.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Shelby County, make a working list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses and possible heirs or beneficiaries. The right estate settlement path depends on what actually needs court authority and who is entitled to receive it.
Sunset can help you search across 2,300 institutions for accounts and benefits before you choose forms or pay the filing fee under CR 3.03, effective July 1, 2026. That matters in Shelby County because the clerk's page does not publish a local fee schedule or asset checklist.
Which court handles jurisdiction
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 Shelby County, at the Shelby County courthouse in Shelbyville. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Shelby Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
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 Shelby County, Kentucky, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Shelby County Judicial Center in Shelbyville.
The same Shelbyville courthouse serves the whole county, including Shelbyville, Pleasureville, Simpsonville, Bagdad, Finchville, Waddy and unincorporated areas. Shelby County shares the 53rd Judicial District with Anderson and Spencer counties (KRS 24A.030), but a Shelby County estate is still filed in Shelby County.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate assets, debts and family structure before choosing forms. This avoids opening a full estate settlement when a narrower Kentucky procedure may fit.
- Get the statewide AOC forms. AOC-805 is used to petition for probate of a will or appointment under KRS 394.145, AOC-808 is the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015, AOC-830 is used when asking to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, and AOC-841 is the inventory under KRS 395.250.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Shelby County Judicial Center, 401 Main St., Suite 101, Shelbyville, KY 40065. Attorneys must file eligible Kentucky probate papers electronically through the Kentucky Court of Justice system since January 1, 2024. If you are self-represented, you may register for that system, but you may still file on paper at the clerk's office.
- 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. Shelby 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 about scheduling. Shelby County District Court calls its probate docket on Mondays at 10:30 a.m., but that standing docket time does not promise when a specific estate will be heard.
- If you need remote court access, ask early. Shelby County says Zoom requests for Circuit and District Court should be made directly to the Judge's Office, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can tell you where to start for your scheduled matter.
- If the District Court appoints you as executor or administrator, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, form AOC-807. Kentucky also recognizes letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and formal letters under KRS 395.110.
- Administer the estate using Kentucky's statewide deadlines. The inventory is due within 90 days and is filed under seal under KRS 395.250, creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011, and any distribution before closing must account for KRS 395.190.
- Close the estate. AOC-850 is used for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, and AOC-846 is used for a formal or periodic settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Shelby County
Shelby County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. Shelby County's court page does not publish a separate local probate form set.
| Form | Use in Shelby County |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for probate of will or appointment of executor or administrator, tied to KRS 394.145. |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure filed with an appointment request under KRS 395.015. |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification issued after appointment. |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and appraisement under KRS 395.250. |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of estate under KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. |
You can get the forms from kycourts.gov or ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Shelbyville for paper copies. The clerk can provide forms and fee information, but cannot give legal advice.
Timeline
- Shelby County District Court publishes a probate docket on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.
- After filing, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 502-633-4736 when your specific matter will be placed on the docket.
- If the matter may be remote, ask early because Shelby County says Zoom requests for Circuit and District Court should be made directly to the Judge's Office, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can direct you to the current contact.
- After appointment, the personal representative files the inventory within 90 days under KRS 395.250, handles creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and closes by the settlement route that fits under KRS 395.605 or KRS 395.610.
Local nuance
Shelby County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Shelby County estate |
|---|---|
| Use the District line first | Shelby County publishes 502-633-4736 as the District phone line. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2), so this is the first number to call for routine estate settlement questions. |
| Monday probate docket | The county page lists Probate Docket, Monday, 10:30 a.m. Treat that as the standing docket time, not as a promised hearing date for your filing. |
| Phone card payments | Shelby County lists phone payments by debit or credit card, with fees possible. That may help an out-of-county personal representative pay court charges, but call 502-633-4736 before relying on it. |
| Zoom request instruction | The county page says Zoom requests for Circuit and District Court should be made directly to the Judge's Office. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk to confirm the current process for your scheduled matter. |
| Shared judicial district | Shelby County is in the 53rd Judicial District with Anderson and Spencer counties under KRS 24A.030, but Shelby County estates are still filed at the Shelbyville courthouse. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Archetype | Likely Shelby County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating assets that already pass outside probate from assets needing Shelby County District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If only a narrow transfer is needed, ask whether a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 fits before opening a full estate. | Sunset helps find accounts, insurance and benefits before you decide whether the Shelbyville filing should be limited or full. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call the District line at 502-633-4736 before traveling. Kentucky uses a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit, and the spouse or children exemption is tied to KRS 391.030. | Sunset can organize the asset list, generate the likely AOC forms and help you decide what must be handled in Shelbyville. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually requires clear authority from Shelby County District Court under KRS 24A.120. If you are appointed, use the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, together with the appointment order, and track the inventory under KRS 395.250 and creditor claims under KRS 396.011. | Sunset helps collect account information, prepare the probate packet and connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney if the home sale needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Shelby County | Shelby County Judicial Center, 401 Main St., Suite 101, Shelbyville, KY 40065. District line: 502-633-4736. | The filing office for Shelby County estates. The office can provide forms, fee information under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, and court-date guidance, but cannot give legal advice. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx | Statewide probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-808, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, AOC-850 and AOC-860. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky | Free guided interviews, including Dispense with Administration under KRS 395.455 and Probate Estate. |
| Legal Aid Society | 502-584-1254. https://yourlegalaid.org/ | The civil legal aid program listed for Shelby County. Ask the program directly about eligibility and whether your issue is within its services. |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ | Online civil legal questions answered by volunteer Kentucky attorneys. |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv | Statewide lawyer referral information for families who need legal advice. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if heirs disagree, a will contest is possible under KRS 394.240, real estate must be sold, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are unclear, or you are unsure whether to ask for appointment or to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, benefits and other estate assets so the Shelby County filing reflects what actually exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the estate settlement facts into an organized Kentucky probate packet, including the local court address and the statewide AOC forms that fit the path.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney familiar with District Court probate under KRS 24A.120.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize probate, asset discovery and estate settlement tasks without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Shelby County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Shelby County Judicial Center, 401 Main St., Suite 101, Shelbyville, KY 40065. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2), and venue is based on where the person lived at death under KRS 394.140. If there is no will, the same court handles administration under KRS 395.030.
Which Shelby County phone number should I call for probate?
Call the District line, 502-633-4736, for routine probate questions because probate is heard in District Court under KRS 24A.120(2). Shelby County also publishes a Circuit line, 502-633-1287, which may matter if a contested matter becomes an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240.
When is the Shelby County probate docket?
Shelby County publishes Probate Docket, Monday, 10:30 a.m. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 502-633-4736 to ask when a specific estate will be scheduled.
How much does it cost to open probate in Shelby 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. Shelby 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 pay Shelby County probate costs by phone?
Shelby County lists cash, personal check, money order, credit and debit cards, with card fees possible, and also lists phone card payments. Before paying a filing fee under CR 3.03 effective July 1, 2026, call 502-633-4736 to confirm the current total and accepted payment method.
Does Shelby County have its own probate forms?
Shelby County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms and does not publish a separate local probate form set on its court page. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening under KRS 394.145, AOC-808 for financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, AOC-830 for a petition 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.
Is electronic filing required for Shelby County probate?
For attorneys, yes. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling eligible Kentucky probate case types must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register for the Kentucky Court of Justice electronic filing system, but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Shelbyville.
Can I appear remotely for a Shelby County probate hearing?
Remote access is not automatic. Shelby County says Zoom requests for Circuit and District Court should be made directly to the Judge's Office, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk can help you confirm the current contact for your scheduled matter.
Can I look up a Shelby County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. The state guest portal at kcoj.kycourts.net requires an account, and the Administrative Office of the Courts states that it is not the source of trial-court case records. A free court-date lookup exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, but for estate status you should contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Shelbyville at 502-633-4736.
Do I have to travel to Shelbyville if I live out of state?
Not always for every step, but do not assume remote handling. Attorneys must use electronic filing for eligible probate papers since January 1, 2024, self-represented filers may file on paper, and Shelby County says Zoom requests go to the Judge's Office. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at 502-633-4736 before making travel plans.
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.