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Webster County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Webster County District Court handles probate matters under KRS 24A.120. |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Webster County, Webster County Judicial Center. |
| Courthouse address | 35 U.S. Highway 41A South, Dixon, KY 42409. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 290, Dixon, KY 42409-0290. |
| Phone | District line for probate questions: (270) 639-9300. Circuit line for contested matters: (270) 639-9160. |
| Fax | The current Webster County court page does not publish a fax number. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is posted. |
| 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. Webster 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 the Circuit Clerk publishes cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards in person, with a card fee, plus Pay online with ePay. |
| Forms | Webster County uses Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms and does not publish a separate Webster County probate form set on its court page. |
| E-filing | Since January 1, 2024, attorneys must e-file eligible Kentucky probate documents. Self-represented filers may register for e-filing but may still file paper documents at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Case status and dates | The Kentucky Court of Justice account portal requires an account. Kentucky also offers a no-login court-date lookup at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/, but it is not an official docket. For Webster County estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote hearings | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Webster County does not post local probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a matter will be heard remotely. |
| Accessibility | The Webster County page lists an elevator and designated disability parking on the front right. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Webster.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Webster County, make a working list of the estate's assets, debts, likely beneficiaries, and whether a will exists. The right estate settlement path depends on what actually needs court authority, not just on family preference.
Sunset can help identify accounts across 2,300 institutions, organize liabilities, and prepare the information needed for Kentucky probate forms before you contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Dixon.
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 anywhere in Webster County, including the town of Clay, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Webster County courthouse in Dixon.
Webster County's incorporated communities include Dixon, Clay, Providence, Sebree, Slaughters, and Wheatcroft. Clay is a town in Webster County, not Clay County, Kentucky, whose courthouse is in Manchester. Webster County is in Kentucky's 5th Judicial District with Union and Crittenden counties (KRS 24A.030), so the court schedule is shared across a multi-county district.
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 Webster County, at the Webster County courthouse in Dixon. If the estate becomes contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Webster Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal (KRS 24A.120(2), KRS 394.240).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Kentucky AOC form that matches the request. Use AOC-805 for probate of a will or appointment of an executor or administrator (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 if you are asking to dispense with administration under KRS 395.455, and include the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015 when appointment is requested.
- File the papers with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Webster County Judicial Center, 35 U.S. Highway 41A South, Dixon, KY 42409, or mail them to P.O. Box 290, Dixon, KY 42409-0290. Attorneys must e-file eligible probate documents through the Kentucky Court of Justice system because attorney e-filing has been required since January 1, 2024; self-represented filers may still 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. Webster 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's office how your Webster County matter will be scheduled. The county page lists District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., but it does not publish a separate probate docket, hearing wait, or courtroom assignment.
- If a hearing is set, ask whether the appearance will be in person or remote. Kentucky courts have held proceedings by Zoom since March 2020, but Webster County does not publish local probate login details, and the Kentucky Court of Justice tells parties to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for event-specific information.
- After the District Court acts under KRS 24A.120, obtain the appointment papers if a personal representative is appointed. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807, and Kentucky law also refers to letters of appointment under KRS 395.105.
- Administer the estate after qualification. File the inventory on AOC-841 within 90 days, and remember that the inventory is confidential and filed under seal under KRS 395.250. Handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, and do not distribute estate property before Kentucky law allows distribution under KRS 395.190.
- Close the estate with the correct Kentucky settlement filing. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when the statutory conditions and waivers fit, or AOC-846 for a formal or periodic settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Webster County
Webster County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Webster County form set published on the county court page. 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 newer Kentucky form set also includes AOC-808 for the financial disclosure required by KRS 395.015 and AOC-807 for the Certificate of Qualification. Forms are available from the Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms catalog, and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Dixon can provide paper copies, but the clerk cannot give legal advice.
Timeline
- Start with the Webster County schedule. The county page lists District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., Family Court on Monday at 9 a.m., and Circuit Court on the first and third Thursday at 9 a.m.
- For a probate matter, call the District line at (270) 639-9300 because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. The published Tuesday District Court time is scheduling context, not a promise that every probate matter is heard then.
- Ask the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for the assigned date, time, appearance format, and any paperwork needed before the hearing. Webster County does not publish a separate probate docket, hearing wait, or courtroom number.
Local nuance
Webster County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Separate District and Circuit phone lines | Webster County publishes a District line, (270) 639-9300, and a Circuit line, (270) 639-9160. Probate starts in District Court under KRS 24A.120, so the District line is the better first call for most estate questions. The Circuit line matters if a contested matter becomes an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. |
| The town of Clay is in Webster County | Clay is an incorporated town in Webster County, not Clay County, Kentucky. If the person lived in Clay, Kentucky within Webster County, the estate is filed in Dixon under the Webster County venue path in KRS 394.140 and KRS 395.030. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Webster County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Separate assets that pass outside the estate from assets needing Webster County District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If court action is needed, file with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Dixon and call the District line at (270) 639-9300 for scheduling. | Sunset helps inventory accounts, debts, and title questions so the surviving spouse can decide whether a court filing is needed for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the facts fit Kentucky's court petition to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 and KRS 395.455 in Webster County District Court. Self-represented filers may file on paper in Dixon or by mail, while attorneys must e-file eligible documents because attorney e-filing has been required since January 1, 2024. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the probate packet, and coordinate local attorney help if travel to Dixon is difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale that needs estate authority usually points toward full administration with AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, appointment in Webster County District Court under KRS 24A.120, and a Certificate of Qualification on AOC-807 before banks or title companies act. | Sunset organizes the asset list, debt list, and documents a Webster County attorney or title company will ask for during estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Webster County | Filing office for Webster County estates. The office can provide forms, take filings, state the current amount due under CR 3.03 rules, and give court-date information, but cannot give legal advice. | Webster County Judicial Center, 35 U.S. Highway 41A South, Dixon, KY 42409; mail to P.O. Box 290, Dixon, KY 42409-0290; District (270) 639-9300; Circuit (270) 639-9160. |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Free statewide AOC form catalog for probate forms used in Webster County. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided A2J interviews, including 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 Webster County. Ask the program what help may be available for your situation. | 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 searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other estate information so families can begin estate settlement with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Kentucky probate packet for Webster County, including the forms and supporting details a clerk or attorney will expect.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Webster County matter needs legal advice, a home sale, contested issues, or help choosing between administration and a KRS 395.455 dispense request, Sunset helps connect the family with local probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and move through the Webster County estate settlement process without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Webster County?
File at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Webster County, Webster County Judicial Center, 35 U.S. Highway 41A South, Dixon, KY 42409. Mail filings to P.O. Box 290, Dixon, KY 42409-0290. Kentucky probate is handled in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Which phone number should I call for a Webster County estate?
Call the District line, (270) 639-9300, for probate questions because probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. The Circuit line is (270) 639-9160 and becomes more relevant if a contested matter is filed fresh in Circuit Court under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240.
Is Clay, Kentucky filed in Webster County or Clay County?
Clay is a town in Webster County. If the person lived in the town of Clay in Webster County, the estate is filed in Dixon under the Kentucky venue rule in KRS 394.140 and KRS 395.030, not at the Clay County courthouse in Manchester.
How much does it cost to open probate in Webster 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. Webster 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 Webster County have local probate forms?
Webster County uses the statewide Kentucky AOC probate forms and does not publish a separate county probate form set on its court page. Common 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.
Do attorneys have to e-file Webster County probate cases?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, an attorney handling an eligible Kentucky probate, intestate, or dispense-with-administration matter must e-file. A self-represented filer may register for e-filing, but may also file paper documents with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Dixon.
When are Webster County probate hearings held?
The Webster County page lists District Court on Tuesday at 9 a.m., and probate is a District Court matter under KRS 24A.120. The page does not publish a separate probate docket or hearing wait, so call (270) 639-9300 for the specific date and time assigned to your matter.
Can I attend a Webster County probate hearing remotely?
Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Webster County does not post probate login details. Whether a particular matter is heard in person or remotely is case-specific, and the Kentucky Court of Justice tells parties to contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for event information.
Can I check a Webster County probate case online?
Kentucky does not offer a free public District Court probate case search. The Kentucky Court of Justice account portal requires an account, and the no-login court-date tool is only a court-date lookup, not an official docket. For Webster County estate status, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the District line, (270) 639-9300.
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.