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Warren County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Warren County District Court. KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Warren County, Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center St., Suite 102, Bowling Green, KY 42101. |
| Mailing | The court lists the same Justice Center address for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk and does not list a separate mailing box. |
| Phone | (270) 746-7400. Ask for probate at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Fax | (270) 746-7501. The court lists this as a contact fax, not as a filing method. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Warren County is on Central time. |
| 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. Warren 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 | Payment options: cash, check, money order. Pay online with ePay. |
| County form set | Warren County uses Kentucky statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. No separate Warren County probate packet is listed. |
| E-filing | Kentucky probate cases are e-filed through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney must e-file eligible probate filings. A self-represented filer may register but can still file on paper at the Justice Center. |
| Case lookup | Kentucky does not offer a free public case-status lookup for District Court probate cases. The Court of Justice court-date page includes Warren County and says it is not an official docket. |
| Remote appearance | Warren County links the statewide remote-court instructions but does not list local login details. Call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 746-7400 before assuming a hearing will be in person or remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Warren.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Bowling Green, make a practical list of the decedent's accounts, debts, real estate, vehicles, benefits, refunds and likely creditors. That inventory of facts drives the estate settlement path, the form set, the need for an appointed personal representative and the questions you should ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they commit to a court filing. In Warren County, that preparation matters because the clerk's office publishes one general probate contact number, no local fee schedule and no local probate checklist.
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 Warren County, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green.
The same filing office serves Bowling Green, Oakland, Plum Springs, Smiths Grove, Woodburn, Plano and unincorporated Warren County communities such as Alvaton, Bristow, Drake, Girkin, Richardsville, Riverside, Rockfield and Tuckertown. Warren County is the whole 8th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, and its District Court sits in three divisions. If a probate matter becomes contested, it moves to Warren Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240, and the 8th Judicial Circuit covers Edmonson and Warren counties under KRS 23A.020.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the starting form. Warren County uses Kentucky's statewide AOC probate forms. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), and use AOC-830 if you are asking the District Court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455).
- Prepare the appointment papers. A full administration packet may include the petition, the will if there is one, the proposed order, the oath and the AOC-808 financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015. Warren County does not list a separate local cover sheet for probate.
- File at the correct Bowling Green office. File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center St., Suite 102. An attorney handling the case must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system as of January 1, 2024; a self-represented filer may file on paper at the clerk's office.
- Pay the opening cost and ask about the exact total. The current statewide opening amount is $80 as of July 1, 2026, built from the $50 CR 3.03(1)(c) probate filing fee, the $10 Access to Justice Fee under KRS 27A.630 and the $20 court technology fee. Warren County may add a $10 court facilities fee under KRS 24A.185 and a county law library fee under KRS 453.060 where those charges apply. The county lists cash, check, money order and Pay online with ePay.
- Expect assignment within Warren County District Court. Warren County District Court sits in three divisions, and its local rules assign non-criminal matters by random electronic draw. No division is listed as a standing probate division.
- Get the court date from the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. Warren County lists a Circuit Court Division V schedule, but it does not list a District Court probate docket. Call (270) 746-7400 before planning travel to Bowling Green.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Kentucky courts have used remote proceedings, and Warren County links the statewide instructions, but local login details are not listed. The Court of Justice directs you to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for event-specific information.
- Receive proof of authority if the court appoints you. When the District Court appoints a personal representative, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. KRS 395.105 calls the fiduciary's authority letters of appointment, and KRS 395.110 lets you request formal letters under seal.
- Administer the estate after appointment. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, keep estate funds separate and file the AOC-841 inventory no later than ninety (90) days after qualification under KRS 395.250. Since July 15, 2026, that inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250.
- Close the estate when the statewide closing requirements are met. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when that route fits, or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610. Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk what filing date or hearing date applies in Warren County.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Warren County
Warren County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Warren 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 at kycourts.gov, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Bowling Green can provide paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for probate of will and/or appointment of executor or administrator (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 of estate, due no later than ninety (90) days after qualification under KRS 395.250. |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of estate under KRS 395.610. |
| AOC-850 | Application for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605. |
Timeline
- File first at Suite 102. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk takes Warren County probate filings at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green.
- Assignment is local to Warren County District Court. Warren County is the entire 8th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, and its District Court sits in three divisions.
- Non-criminal matters are assigned by random electronic draw under Warren District Court local rules. A probate case is not routed to a listed standing probate division.
- Do not use the Circuit Court Division V schedule as a probate calendar. Warren County lists that Circuit Court schedule, but District Court probate matters are controlled by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk and the judge assigned under KRS 24A.120.
- For hearing timing, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 746-7400. The county does not list a probate docket, appointment wait or hearing interval.
Local nuance
Warren County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Two different clerk offices | Probate papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Warren County Justice Center on Center Street. The separate Warren County Clerk on East 10th Street handles land filings, vehicles, marriage licenses, elections, notaries and delinquent taxes, not the opening of an estate. |
| Suite 102 matters | The filing office is listed as Suite 102 at 1001 Center St. Use that address for counter filing and mail because no separate mailing box is listed for the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| District and circuit footprints differ | Warren County is the full 8th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, but the 8th Judicial Circuit covers Edmonson and Warren under KRS 23A.020. That difference matters only if an estate becomes contested and is filed fresh in Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. |
| Three District Court divisions | Warren County District Court sits in three divisions, and non-criminal matters are assigned by random electronic draw. Do not assume a standing probate division or a specific judge. |
| Payment options are short | The county lists cash, check, money order and Pay online with ePay. Call before assuming a card payment or any other method. |
| Central time | The clerk's office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time, which matters if you are calling from another part of Kentucky. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Warren County Justice Center, Suite 102. If the court path involves a request to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 under KRS 395.455. Deed or title questions for the home are separate from opening the estate and may involve the Warren County Clerk's land office after the court authority question is handled. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and jointly held assets so the spouse can decide whether a court filing is needed and what questions to ask before visiting Bowling Green. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a modest estate | Use the same Justice Center address for mail because no separate mailing box is listed. A self-represented filer can still file on paper, while an attorney must e-file through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system as of January 1, 2024. Call (270) 746-7400 about the total due and any hearing instructions before booking travel. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement picture, helps generate the packet and can connect the child with local help if a trip to Warren County is not practical. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually requires appointment of a personal representative and a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807. File the AOC-805 path under KRS 394.145 at Suite 102. The case is assigned among Warren County District Court's three divisions, and a contest would be filed fresh in Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240. | Sunset helps locate financial accounts, gather property information and connect the parent with a vetted probate attorney when title work or a dispute makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Warren County | The filing office for Warren County estates. The clerk can provide court forms, take filings and tell you the current amount due, but the clerk cannot give legal advice. | Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center St., Suite 102, Bowling Green, KY 42101. (270) 746-7400. Fax: (270) 746-7501. https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Warren.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805, AOC-807, AOC-830, AOC-841, AOC-846 and AOC-850. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Guided interviews for self-represented users, including estate topics for probate estate filings and requests to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/Self-Help-Portal.aspx and https://a2j.org/#Kentucky |
| Kentucky Legal Aid | The civil legal aid program for Warren County. Ask the program whether your estate-related question fits its services. | 1700 Destiny Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42104. 270-782-1924 or 800-782-1924. https://www.klaid.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal Q and A for income-eligible Kentucky residents. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | A statewide starting point for finding a Kentucky attorney who handles probate, real estate title issues or contested estate matters. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | The Administrative Office of the Courts' plain-language statewide introduction to Kentucky probate. Use current statutes and current AOC forms for deadlines and bond rules under KRS 395.130. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes real estate that must be sold, heirs disagree, a will contest may be filed under KRS 394.240, creditor claims under KRS 396.011 are disputed, or you live outside Kentucky and need someone to handle filings and hearings in Bowling Green. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families uncover bank, investment, insurance, retirement and other assets so the estate settlement plan starts from a fuller picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized probate packet using the Warren County filing location and Kentucky AOC form path that fits the situation.
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 filings and Warren County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand next steps and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Warren County, Kentucky?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center St., Suite 102, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Kentucky probate is a District Court matter, and KRS 24A.120(2) gives District Court exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving probate.
Which clerk in Bowling Green handles an estate?
Use the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Warren County Justice Center on Center Street. The separate Warren County Clerk on East 10th Street handles land filings, vehicles, marriage licenses, elections, notaries and delinquent taxes. It is not the office that opens a District Court probate case under KRS 24A.120.
How much does it cost to open a probate case in Warren 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. Warren 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.
How can I pay the Warren County probate opening cost?
The Warren County court page lists cash, check and money order, and it links Pay online with ePay. Call (270) 746-7400 before assuming any other payment method is accepted.
Are there local Warren County probate forms?
Warren County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms. The main forms include AOC-805 for opening an estate under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 for a request to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, AOC-841 for the inventory under KRS 395.250 and AOC-850 for informal final settlement under KRS 395.605.
Can I e-file a Warren County probate case?
An attorney handling a Kentucky probate, intestate or dispense-with-administration case must e-file eligible documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice eFiling system as of January 1, 2024. A self-represented person may register for eFiling but can still file on paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Bowling Green.
Which Warren County District Court division gets my probate case?
Warren County has the 8th Judicial District to itself under KRS 24A.030, and its District Court sits in three divisions. Local rules assign non-criminal matters by random electronic draw, so no division is listed as a standing probate division under KRS 24A.120.
When will my Warren County probate hearing be?
Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (270) 746-7400. Warren County lists a Circuit Court Division V schedule, but it does not list a District Court probate docket or a filing-to-hearing interval. Probate remains in District Court under KRS 24A.120 unless the matter becomes contested.
Can I appear remotely in a Warren County probate matter?
Kentucky courts have held proceedings remotely, and Warren County links the statewide remote-court instructions. Whether a particular Warren County District Court probate matter is in person or remote is up to the judge, and the Court of Justice directs you to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for event-specific login information. Call (270) 746-7400 before making travel plans.
Can I look up a Warren County estate online?
Kentucky does not offer a free public case-status lookup for District Court probate cases. The Court of Justice has a court-date page that includes Warren County and says it is not an official docket, but the way to learn where a Warren County estate stands is to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Bowling Green at (270) 746-7400.
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.