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Union County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Union County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Union County District Court, sitting in probate under KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Union County |
| Courthouse address | Union County Courthouse Annex, 121 S. Morgan St., Morganfield, KY 42437 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 59, Morganfield, KY 42437 |
| Probate phone | District: (270) 389-0800 |
| Other published lines | Circuit: (270) 389-1811; Circuit jury: (270) 389-2264; District jury: (270) 389-0804 |
| Fax | The Union County court page does not list a fax number. Ask the District line before sending anything by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday |
| Fee 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. Union 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 | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Union County accepts cash, checks and money orders made payable to the Union County Circuit Clerk, and credit or debit cards with fees in person. It also accepts payment by phone and links Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Union County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. The Union County court page does not publish an additional probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate case must file electronically. A self-represented filer may register for electronic filing but may also file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morganfield. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet runs behind an account portal at kcoj.kycourts.net. A free court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ includes Union County, but it is not the official docket and is not a full case search. For an estate status, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 389-0800. |
| Remote appearances | Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely by Zoom since March 2020, but Union County probate appearance details are not published centrally. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 389-0800 before assuming a hearing will be in person or remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Union.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Morganfield, list the assets, debts, beneficiary information, and whether the person had a will. That first inventory of facts determines whether the Union County filing should ask for appointment of an executor or administrator, or whether a court order dispensing with administration under KRS 395.455 may fit the estate.
Estate settlement is easier when the asset picture is complete before the first courthouse visit. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions, helps organize accounts and liabilities, and turns what it finds into a probate packet you can review before filing with the 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 Union County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Union County Courthouse Annex in Morganfield.
Union County is in the 5th Judicial District with Crittenden and Webster counties. KRS 24A.030(5) lists the district as "Crittenden, Union, and Webster." The Morganfield courthouse serves Morganfield and the rest of Union County.
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 Union County, at the Union County Courthouse Annex in Morganfield. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Union Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening packet. Use AOC-805 for a petition to probate a will or appoint an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), and include the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015 on AOC-808 when appointment is requested. If you are asking the judge to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 and cite KRS 395.455.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Union County Courthouse Annex, 121 S. Morgan St., Morganfield, KY 42437, or by mail to P.O. Box 59, Morganfield, KY 42437. If an attorney represents the estate, Kentucky requires eligible probate filings to be made electronically beginning January 1, 2024. A self-represented filer may file on paper.
- Pay the opening cost or confirm the current total before filing. $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. Union 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.
- Ask the clerk what notice, hearing date, or judge review applies to your filing. The Union County page publishes general District civil hearings on the second and fourth Thursday at 1:30 p.m., but it does not publish a separate probate hearing day or a wait time.
- If the judge sets a hearing, ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether your Union County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 will be in person or remote. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but login details are not published centrally.
- After appointment, obtain the authority document. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 showing the appointment is in force, and KRS 395.105 describes the fiduciary's authority as letters of appointment.
- Administer the estate. The personal representative files the inventory on AOC-841 within ninety days under KRS 395.250, handles creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and follows any District Court orders entered in the Union County case.
- Close the estate. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a formal settlement under KRS 395.610. Sunset can help keep the estate settlement file organized for the closing packet.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Union County
Union County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The Union County court page does not publish an additional county probate packet.
| Form | Use in Union County |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for Probate of Will; and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator, used to open an estate under KRS 394.145 |
| AOC-808 | Financial Disclosure, used with an appointment request under KRS 395.015 |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification, the clerk-issued authority document after appointment |
| AOC-830 | Petition to Dispense with Administration, used when the court is asked to transfer assets without appointing an executor or administrator under KRS 395.455 |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate, filed within ninety days under KRS 395.250 |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of Estate, used for a formal settlement under KRS 395.610 |
| AOC-850 | Application for Informal Final Settlement, used when KRS 395.605 allows informal closing |
The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morganfield can provide paper copies of the statewide forms. The clerk cannot give legal advice or choose the forms for you.
Timeline
- Union County District Court publishes Traffic Court on Thursday at 9 a.m., Civil on the second and fourth Thursday at 1:30 p.m., and Juvenile on the first and third Thursday at 1:30 p.m. KRS 24A.120 places probate in District Court, but the county page does not publish a separate probate docket.
- Union Circuit Court publishes the second and fourth Monday at 9 a.m. If a probate dispute becomes an original adversary proceeding in Circuit Court, KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240 control that routing.
- Call the District line at (270) 389-0800 for the hearing date assigned to your specific estate. Do not assume the District civil schedule is the probate schedule.
- For remote participation, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before the hearing. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Union County probate login details are not published centrally.
Local nuance
Union County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Union County filing |
|---|---|
| Use the District phone first | The Union County page lists District at (270) 389-0800, Circuit at (270) 389-1811, Circuit jury at (270) 389-2264, and District jury at (270) 389-0804. Probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120, so start with the District line. |
| Payment options | The Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Union County accepts cash, checks and money orders made payable to the Union County Circuit Clerk, and credit or debit cards with fees in person. It also accepts payment by phone and links Pay online with ePay. |
| Large bond postings | The Union County page says posting a bond of $10,000 or more requires contacting the Circuit Clerk directly at (270) 389-1811. Do not treat that courthouse payment note as a probate fiduciary-bond rule. Kentucky's fiduciary bond rule is KRS 395.130. |
| Access and security | Accessible parking is published for the back off Spring Street and in front on Morgan Street, with designated front parking for visitors with a disability parking permit. Visitors must enter through the front for security screening. The page also lists a ramp outside, an elevator, and equipped bathrooms. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Union County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating nonprobate property from assets that need a Union County District Court order under KRS 24A.120. If personal property is small enough for a request to dispense with administration, the filing uses AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title details before the spouse decides whether to seek appointment or a transfer order. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate question | If there is no surviving spouse, a child may need to ask the Union County District Court whether dispensing with administration under KRS 395.455 fits. Filing can be mailed to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morganfield, and the child should call (270) 389-0800 about hearing and remote options. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement information into a packet the child can review with the clerk or a Kentucky attorney before traveling. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority from the Union County District Court under KRS 24A.120, appointment documents, and title-company coordination. If appointed, the personal representative will use the Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 and follow inventory duties under KRS 395.250. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a vetted local probate attorney when real estate needs to be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Union County Office of Circuit Court Clerk | Provides forms, filing information, court dates, and fee totals for Union County District Court probate matters under KRS 24A.120. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | District: (270) 389-0800; Union County Courthouse Annex, 121 S. Morgan St., Morganfield, KY 42437 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice self-help portal | Offers guided interviews for Probate Estate and Dispense with Administration filings, including the AOC-830 path under KRS 395.455. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | State court booklet that explains the Office of Circuit Court Clerk and basic probate concepts. Use current statutes and current AOC forms when a form or deadline has changed. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | Regional civil legal aid program listed for Union County. Ask the program directly about eligibility and whether it can help with the issue you have. | 270-782-1924 or 800-782-1924; https://www.klaid.org/ |
| KY Free Legal Answers | Online question and answer resource for eligible Kentucky residents. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Helps families look for a Kentucky lawyer when the estate settlement needs legal advice. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is worth considering if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, a creditor claim under KRS 396.011 is significant, real estate must be sold, the family needs tax advice, or the personal representative is unsure which Kentucky form fits. The Union County clerk can provide forms and court-date information, but cannot give legal advice. When counsel makes sense, Sunset connects to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other institutions so the family starts estate settlement with a clearer asset list.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Kentucky probate packet, including the local courthouse details for filing with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morganfield.
Find a local probate attorney. If the Union County estate needs legal advice, real estate work, or help with a contested matter under KRS 24A.120, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, prepare for the courthouse, and understand next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Union County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Union County Courthouse Annex, 121 S. Morgan St., Morganfield, KY 42437, or by mail to P.O. Box 59, Morganfield, KY 42437. Kentucky sends probate to District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Which phone number should I call for a Union County probate filing?
Call the District line at (270) 389-0800. The Union County page also lists Circuit at (270) 389-1811, Circuit jury at (270) 389-2264, and District jury at (270) 389-0804, but probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120.
Can I file electronically in Union County if I am not a lawyer?
Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate filing must use electronic filing. If you are self-represented, you may register for electronic filing, but you may also file paper with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morganfield.
What is the fee to open probate in Union 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. Union 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 Union County publish a probate hearing day?
No dedicated probate hearing day is published on the Union County court page. The page publishes general District civil hearings on the second and fourth Thursday at 1:30 p.m., but you should call (270) 389-0800 for the date assigned to the specific estate.
Can I appear remotely for a Union County probate hearing?
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 Union County District Court probate matter under KRS 24A.120 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 (270) 389-0800 before you assume either way.
Can I search a Union County probate case online?
Kentucky does not publish a free public docket search for District Court probate cases. CourtNet runs behind an account portal at kcoj.kycourts.net, and the Administrative Office of the Courts says it is not the source of trial-court case records. A free court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ includes Union County, but it is not the official docket and is not a full case search. For estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Morganfield at (270) 389-0800.
Does Union County have its own probate forms?
Use Kentucky's statewide AOC forms in Union County. The Union County court page does not publish an additional probate packet. Common forms include AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, and AOC-850 under KRS 395.605.
Do I have to travel to Morganfield to start an estate?
Not always. A self-represented filer can ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk whether the packet may be mailed to P.O. Box 59, Morganfield, KY 42437, and an attorney must use electronic filing for eligible Kentucky probate filings beginning January 1, 2024. If a hearing is set, call the District line at (270) 389-0800 to ask how the Union County District Court under KRS 24A.120 will handle your appearance.
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.