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Trimble County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Trimble County District Court, probate division, with probate jurisdiction under KRS 24A.120(2) |
| Courthouse | Trimble County Courthouse, 30 Highway 42 East, Bedford, KY 40006 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 248, Bedford, KY 40006-0248 |
| Phone | District Court and Driver's Licensing: (502) 255-3525. Circuit Criminal and Circuit Civil: (502) 255-3213. A contested probate dispute is filed in Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. |
| Fax | (502) 255-4953 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 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. Trimble 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. |
| Forms | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. Trimble County does not have a separate local probate form set. |
| Electronic filing | Kentucky probate cases use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must file eligible probate documents electronically. Self-represented filers may register, but may still file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Court-date lookup and records | A free no-login court-date docket page exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and carries a not-official-docket caveat. Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. For a Trimble County estate status question, call the District Court line at (502) 255-3525. |
| Remote hearings | Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020. For Trimble County login details or to ask whether your District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120(2) is in person or remote, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 255-3525. |
| Payment options | Cash, check, credit card, money order. Pay online with ePay. |
| Accessibility note | Parking around the building. Designated parking in front for those with a disability parking permit. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Trimble.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Bedford, make a practical list of assets, debts, likely heirs, and whether any asset passes outside probate. Estate settlement moves faster when you know which accounts, vehicles, real estate, benefits, and bills actually need court action.
Sunset can run 2,300-institution asset discovery, organize what you find, and help you decide whether you are preparing a full Trimble County District Court filing under KRS 24A.120(2) or asking about a narrower court petition.
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 Trimble County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Trimble County Courthouse in Bedford.
The same courthouse serves estates for people who lived anywhere in Trimble County, including Bedford, Milton, Providence, Monitor, and other communities in the county. Trimble County is in Kentucky's 12th Judicial District with Henry and Oldham counties (KRS 24A.030), which matters for scheduling because the judge serves more than one county.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right Kentucky AOC starting form. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator, with KRS 394.145 and KRS 395.015 in mind. Use AOC-830 if you are asking the court to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455.
- Prepare the appointment packet. For a full estate, include the petition, the will if there is one, proposed orders, the oath, and the AOC-808 financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015. Kentucky no longer requires bond by default, but the judge may order one under KRS 395.130.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Trimble County Courthouse, 30 Highway 42 East, Bedford, KY 40006, or mail to P.O. Box 248, Bedford, KY 40006-0248. Probate jurisdiction is in District Court under KRS 24A.120(2), so call the District Court line at (502) 255-3525 if you need filing logistics.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the current 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. Trimble 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.
- Follow the court's notice and hearing directions. Trimble County publishes District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., but it does not publish a separate probate docket. The clerk's office can give court dates, but cannot give legal advice.
- Ask about remote appearance before assuming. Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but whether a particular Trimble County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120(2) is remote or in person is handled through the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
- After appointment, get the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. The AOC-807 certificate, together with a certified copy of the appointment order, is the practical authority document for banks and title companies. KRS 395.105 also calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 lets you ask the clerk for formal letters under seal.
- Administer and close the estate. File the AOC-841 inventory within 90 days under KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and close by AOC-850 informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 or AOC-846 settlement under KRS 395.610 when the estate is ready.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Trimble County
Trimble County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Trimble County form set. AOC-805 opens the estate under KRS 394.145 and KRS 395.015, 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 under KRS 395.610 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.605 closes the estate.
The forms are free from the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms page, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Bedford can provide paper copies. The clerk can provide forms and court-date information, but cannot choose forms for you or give legal advice.
Timeline
- Call the District Court line at (502) 255-3525 before you plan a trip. Trimble County publishes District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., but does not publish a separate probate docket, and probate jurisdiction is in District Court under KRS 24A.120(2).
- If a Circuit Court issue arises, use the Circuit Criminal and Circuit Civil line at (502) 255-3213. A contested probate dispute is filed in Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240.
- For jury service only, Trimble County publishes a separate jury update line at (502) 255-3328. That number is not the probate filing line.
- Use the published courthouse schedule as scheduling context only. The county page lists Circuit Civil on the first Friday at 9 a.m. and third Thursday at 9 a.m., Circuit Criminal on the third Thursday at 9 a.m., Family Court on the first and third Wednesday, and District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Local nuance
Trimble County-specific considerations
Trimble County is a clear example of why probate callers should not rely on a general courthouse phone number. The county publishes separate Circuit and District lines: District Court and Driver's Licensing at (502) 255-3525, and Circuit Criminal and Circuit Civil at (502) 255-3213. Because probate jurisdiction is in District Court under KRS 24A.120(2), the District Court line is the starting point for an uncontested estate.
Trimble County is also in the 12th Judicial District with Henry and Oldham counties (KRS 24A.030). The county publishes District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., but not a separate probate docket. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you assume a hearing date, a remote login, or a filing cutoff.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Trimble County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating jointly owned property from assets that need District Court action under KRS 24A.120(2). If the estate consists mainly of personal property, ask whether AOC-830 and a petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 fits before opening a full estate. | Sunset organizes accounts, debts, titles, and beneficiary details so the spouse can see what belongs in the Trimble County filing and what may pass outside the estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call the District Court line at (502) 255-3525 before mailing papers to P.O. Box 248, Bedford, KY 40006-0248. Kentucky's small estate path is a court petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit, and AOC-830 is the petition form. | Sunset helps collect balances, prepare a document checklist, and coordinate the packet so the child can reduce unnecessary travel to Bedford. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually requires a full estate filing with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and appointment in Trimble County District Court under KRS 24A.120(2). After appointment, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues the AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, and KRS 395.105 calls the authority letters of appointment. | Sunset helps find the accounts, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a Kentucky probate attorney if title, sale, or family issues make the estate settlement more complicated. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Use | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Trimble County | Filing office for Trimble County estates. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2), so use the District Court line first for an uncontested estate. | Trimble County Courthouse, 30 Highway 42 East, Bedford, KY 40006. Mail: P.O. Box 248, Bedford, KY 40006-0248. District Court: (502) 255-3525. Circuit Civil and Criminal: (502) 255-3213. Fax: (502) 255-4953. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-807 Certificate of Qualification, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, AOC-850 under KRS 395.605, and AOC-860 for the narrow line-of-duty probate fee exemption. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided 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 |
| Legal Aid Society | Civil legal aid program listed for Trimble County. Ask the program whether your probate-related question is within its services. | (502) 584-1254. https://yourlegalaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Kentuckians can post a civil legal question online. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide lawyer referral listing for finding Kentucky counsel. | 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, real estate clues, vehicles, and debts so the Trimble County estate settlement starts with a clearer picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you know into an organized Kentucky probate packet, including the local filing destination in Bedford and the statewide AOC forms that fit your situation.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Kentucky probate attorney who understands District Court probate under KRS 24A.120(2).
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, prepare next steps, and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Trimble County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Trimble County Courthouse, 30 Highway 42 East, Bedford, KY 40006, or mail to P.O. Box 248, Bedford, KY 40006-0248. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120(2).
Which Trimble County phone number should I call for probate?
Call the District Court and Driver's Licensing line at (502) 255-3525 for an uncontested probate matter under KRS 24A.120(2). The Circuit Criminal and Circuit Civil line is (502) 255-3213 and is the more relevant line if a contested dispute becomes an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240.
Can I e-file a probate case in Trimble County?
Kentucky probate cases use the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling a probate, intestate, or petition to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455 must file eligible documents electronically. A self-represented filer may register, but may also file paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
What is the Trimble County probate filing fee?
$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. Trimble 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.
Does Trimble County publish probate hearing days?
Trimble County publishes District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., and probate jurisdiction is in District Court under KRS 24A.120(2). The county does not publish a separate probate docket, so call (502) 255-3525 for your court date.
Can I appear remotely for a Trimble County probate hearing?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but login details are not published centrally. For a Trimble County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120(2), contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 255-3525 before assuming the hearing is remote or in person.
Can I look up a Trimble County probate case online?
A free no-login court-date docket page exists at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ and carries a not-official-docket caveat. Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases under KRS 24A.120(2). For an estate status question, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk's District Court line at (502) 255-3525.
Does Trimble County have its own probate forms?
No separate Trimble County probate form set is used. Use Kentucky AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 and KRS 395.015, AOC-830 for 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, or AOC-846 for settlement under KRS 395.610.
Do I have to travel to Bedford to handle the estate?
Not always. Some filings may be mailed to P.O. Box 248, Bedford, KY 40006-0248, and attorneys use electronic filing under the January 1, 2024 eFiling rules. If you are handling the estate yourself, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (502) 255-3525 before you travel.
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.