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Todd County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Todd County District Court, probate division. Kentucky probate is in District Court under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Todd County |
| Courthouse | Todd County Court of Justice, 204 W. Main St., Elkton, KY 42220 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 337, Elkton, KY 42220-0337 |
| Phone | (270) 265-5631 |
| Fax | (270) 265-2122 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is posted for Todd County. |
| 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. Todd 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 lists cash, a local check, and money order. Confirm by phone before relying on a card or an out-of-area check. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms apply. Todd County does not have a separate local probate form set on its court page. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. A self-represented filer may register but may still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Elkton. |
| Case information | The state court portal requires an account and is not a free public probate case-status search. Todd County links the statewide court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, which is not an official docket. For estate status, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020. Todd County posts no local probate login information, so contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a hearing will be remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Todd.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Todd County, make a working list of the person's assets, debts, possible heirs, and whether there is a will. That first inventory helps you choose between asking the court to appoint a personal representative and asking for a narrower court order such as dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can help families search across 2,300 institutions for accounts and benefits before they build the probate packet. In a rural county like Todd, that preparation also helps you avoid repeat trips or repeat mailings to the courthouse in Elkton.
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 Todd County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Todd County courthouse in Elkton.
The same Elkton courthouse serves estates from Todd County's incorporated cities, including Elkton, Guthrie, and Trenton, and from unincorporated communities including Allegre, Claymour, Clifty, Kirkmansville, and Sharon Grove. Todd County is in Kentucky's 7th Judicial District with Logan County (KRS 24A.030), so call the clerk for the date assigned to your probate matter rather than assuming a standing local probate day.
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 Todd County, at the Todd County courthouse in Elkton. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Todd Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path and gather the right statewide AOC forms. AOC-805 opens an estate and asks for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145). AOC-830 asks the District Court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. If appointment is requested, include the required financial disclosure, AOC-808, under KRS 395.015.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Todd County at 204 W. Main St., Elkton, KY 42220, or mail papers to P.O. Box 337, Elkton, KY 42220-0337. Attorneys use Kentucky eFiling for probate cases because the attorney rule has applied since January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may use paper filing at the clerk's office.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the exact total before mailing. $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. Todd 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 what notice, hearing, or order presentation the judge requires for your filing. Todd County's court page does not post a District Court probate schedule, so use (270) 265-5631 for the assigned date and payment instructions.
- Do not assume the hearing format. 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 Todd County District Court probate matter is heard in person or remotely is up to the judge, and the login details are not published centrally: the Court of Justice's own instruction is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you are scheduled to appear. Call (270) 265-5631 and ask before you assume either way.
- If the court appoints you, get the authority papers. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, showing that the appointment order is in force. Kentucky law also lets you ask the clerk for formal letters in due form under seal (KRS 395.110), and KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment.
- Administer the estate and calendar the statewide deadlines. The personal representative files the AOC-841 inventory within ninety days, and the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Creditor claims are governed by KRS 396.011. Kentucky no longer requires a bond by default; since July 15, 2026, KRS 395.130 says no bond is required of a personal representative unless the court orders one.
- Close the estate when the requirements are met. Use AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for settlement of estate under KRS 395.610. Sunset can help keep the estate settlement checklist organized while you gather account information, pay expenses, and prepare the closing packet.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Todd County
Todd County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Todd County form set. You file AOC-805 to open the estate 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 free through the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms catalogue, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Elkton can provide paper copies. The clerk can provide forms and filing information, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or choose the form for you.
Local nuance
Todd County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use (270) 265-5631 for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk | Older directory listings may show a different Todd County number. For probate filing, payment, remote appearance, and court-date questions, use the number on the Todd County court page: (270) 265-5631. |
| Plan payment before you mail papers | Todd's office lists cash, a local check, and money order. If you are filing from outside Todd County, plan for a money order or call before relying on a card or an out-of-area check. The $80 opening cost uses the July 1, 2026 CR 3.03(1)(c) fee structure, with conditional county add-ons described above. |
Recent updates
| Update | What Todd County filers should know |
|---|---|
| Current clerk contact | The Todd County court page lists (270) 265-5631 for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Use that number for probate filing questions, court dates, payment, and remote appearance instructions. |
| 2026 Kentucky probate changes | Kentucky's statewide probate forms and rules now reflect 2026 changes, including AOC-808 financial disclosure under KRS 395.015, the ninety-day sealed inventory under KRS 395.250, and the July 1, 2026 CR 3.03(1)(c) probate filing fee. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Todd County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating jointly owned property from assets that need a Todd County District Court order under KRS 24A.120. If court action is needed, file at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Elkton and ask whether AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 or AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 fits the assets. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize deed and beneficiary information, and build an estate settlement packet before you contact the clerk or an attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call (270) 265-5631 before mailing. Todd's listed payment methods are cash, local check, and money order, so do not assume a card or out-of-area check will work. If you are asking to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 with KRS 395.455. | Sunset helps gather asset information remotely, generate a filing checklist, and prepare questions for the Elkton clerk so one mailing can be as complete as possible. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually calls for careful authority documents. If the District Court appoints a personal representative under KRS 24A.120, the clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and Kentucky letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 may also be requested for banks or title work. | Sunset helps organize mortgage, tax, insurance, and sale-related documents, then connects the family with a local probate attorney when a real estate sale needs legal review. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Todd County | Filing office for Todd County estates. The office can provide forms, accept filings, state the current amount due, and give court-date information. It cannot give legal advice. | Todd County Court of Justice, 204 W. Main St., Elkton, KY 42220; mailing address P.O. Box 337, Elkton, KY 42220-0337; (270) 265-5631; fax (270) 265-2122; https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Todd.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846, AOC-850, and AOC-807. | 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 |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program serving Todd County. Ask whether your estate issue fits its services. | 270-782-1924; https://klaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question service for income-eligible Kentuckians. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Referral resource for finding a Kentucky probate attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, benefits, and other assets that may belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet, with the Todd County courthouse address, the right Kentucky form numbers, and reminders for follow-up items.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Todd County estate has a dispute, a home sale, tax questions, or a difficult beneficiary situation, Sunset can connect the family with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps, and prepare for the filing conversation without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Todd County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Todd County Court of Justice, 204 W. Main St., Elkton, KY 42220. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 337, Elkton, KY 42220-0337. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120, but the filing office is the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
What phone number should I use for Todd County probate questions?
Use (270) 265-5631 for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Call that number for filing instructions, payment questions, court dates, and whether your scheduled matter has any remote appearance option.
How much does it cost to open a Todd 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. Todd 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.
What payment methods does the Todd County clerk list?
The Todd County office lists cash, a local check, and money order. If you are filing from outside the county, call before relying on a card or an out-of-area check.
Does Todd County have its own probate forms?
Todd County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. There is no separate Todd County form set on the county court page. Common forms include AOC-805 for opening an estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250, AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605, and AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610.
Can I e-file a Todd County probate case?
Kentucky probate cases use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration case must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register for the system but may still file on paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Elkton.
Does Todd County post probate hearing days online?
Todd County's court page does not post a District Court probate schedule. Call (270) 265-5631 for the date assigned to your matter. Todd County is in the 7th Judicial District with Logan County under KRS 24A.030.
Can I appear remotely for a Todd County probate hearing?
Do not assume either way. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Todd County posts no probate login information. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before the hearing and ask whether the judge has set your matter in person or remotely.
Can I look up a Todd County probate case online?
Kentucky does not provide a free public probate case-status search for District Court matters. The state court portal requires an account, and Todd County links a statewide court-date lookup that is not an official docket. For the status of an estate, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Elkton.
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.