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Whitley County, KY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Whitley County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Whitley County District Court, probate division, KRS 24A.120 |
| Filing office | Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Whitley County |
| Courthouse address | Whitley County Judicial Center, 100 Main St., Williamsburg, KY 40769 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 329, Williamsburg, KY 40769-0329 |
| Phone | (606) 549-5162, District line for probate matters under KRS 24A.120 |
| Fax | (606) 549-3393, District fax |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Check the court holiday calendar before traveling. |
| 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. Whitley 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. |
| Form set | Kentucky statewide AOC probate forms are used. Whitley County does not publish a separate county probate packet. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys must e-file Kentucky probate matters through the court system since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register but can still file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamsburg. |
| Court-date lookup | The public docket generator at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is a free court-date lookup and is not an official docket. For estate status, call the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Remote court | Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020. Whitley County does not publish probate login details; contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before assuming a Whitley County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 will be remote. |
| Website | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Whitley.aspx |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Whitley County, make a working list of the person's accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, and family contacts. The right filing path depends on what actually needs court authority, and estate settlement moves faster when you know what assets exist before you ask the District Court for appointment under KRS 24A.120.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance, and other accounts before they prepare the probate packet. That gives you a clearer Whitley County estate settlement plan before you call or visit the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamsburg.
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 Whitley County, including the Whitley County part of Corbin, the papers go to the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Whitley County Judicial Center in Williamsburg.
The Whitley County court page publishes one filing location: 100 Main St., Williamsburg, with mail to P.O. Box 329. It does not publish a Corbin probate filing address. Whitley County is its own 34th Judicial Circuit and 34th Judicial District under KRS 24A.030, unlike many rural Kentucky districts that share a District Judge across multiple counties.
Communities covered include Williamsburg, the Whitley County part of Corbin, Emlyn, Pleasant View, and Rockholds.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing path and gather the AOC forms. For a standard estate, AOC-805 opens the estate and cites KRS 394.145. If you are asking the court to dispense with administration, use AOC-830 and KRS 395.455. If appointment is requested, include the required financial disclosure under KRS 395.015.
- File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk for Whitley County at the Whitley County Judicial Center, 100 Main St., Williamsburg, KY 40769, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 329, Williamsburg, KY 40769-0329. Use the District line, (606) 549-5162, for probate filing questions under KRS 24A.120.
- Pay the 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. Whitley 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, or order-setting step applies to your filing. Whitley County's page does not publish probate hearing days or wait times. If the matter is contested, the dispute is filed fresh in Whitley Circuit Court as an original adversary proceeding, not as an appeal, under KRS 24A.120(2) and KRS 394.240.
- Ask before relying on a remote appearance. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Whitley County does not publish probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk to learn whether your Whitley County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 will be handled in person or remotely.
- After appointment, get the authority documents. The clerk issues a Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and Kentucky law also recognizes letters of appointment under KRS 395.105 and formal letters under seal under KRS 395.110.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory under KRS 395.250, handle creditor claims under KRS 396.011, follow any bond order under KRS 395.130, and keep records needed for closing.
- Close the estate when it is ready. Use AOC-850 for an informal final settlement under KRS 395.605 when the requirements are met, or AOC-846 for a settlement under KRS 395.610.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Whitley County
Whitley County uses Kentucky's statewide Administrative Office of the Courts probate forms; there is no separate Whitley County form set. AOC-805 opens the estate (KRS 394.145), AOC-830 asks the court to dispense with administration (KRS 395.455), AOC-841 is the inventory (KRS 395.250), and AOC-846 or AOC-850 closes the estate (KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605). All are free at kycourts.gov and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamsburg will also hand over paper copies.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| AOC-805 | Petition for Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Executor/Administrator, KRS 394.145 |
| AOC-808 | Financial disclosure filed with an appointment request, KRS 395.015 |
| AOC-807 | Certificate of Qualification issued after appointment |
| AOC-830 | Petition to dispense with administration, KRS 395.455 |
| AOC-841 | Inventory and Appraisement of Estate, KRS 395.250 |
| AOC-846 | Settlement of Estate, KRS 395.610 |
| AOC-850 | Application for Informal Final Settlement, KRS 395.605 |
Local nuance
Whitley County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use the District phone line | For probate under KRS 24A.120, call (606) 549-5162. The Circuit line is for Circuit Court matters, including a contested adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240. |
| File in Williamsburg | The court page publishes the Whitley County Judicial Center at 100 Main St., Williamsburg, as the filing location and P.O. Box 329 as the mailing address. It does not publish a Corbin filing office for probate. |
| Call ahead for accessibility needs | Whitley County's court page does not publish a ramp, elevator, or parking note. If accessibility affects your trip to Williamsburg, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk before you go. |
Recent updates
| Local update | What to do |
|---|---|
| District phone for probate | Use (606) 549-5162 for Whitley County District Court probate matters under KRS 24A.120. |
| Williamsburg filing location | File or mail estate papers to the Whitley County Judicial Center in Williamsburg. The court page does not publish a Corbin probate filing office. |
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking whether anything needs Whitley County District Court authority under KRS 24A.120. If appointment is needed, file AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 in Williamsburg and ask the clerk about the current CR 3.03 filing cost effective July 1, 2026. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize home and debt information, and prepare the estate settlement packet before you contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call (606) 549-5162 before traveling. Kentucky's court route is a petition to dispense with administration using AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, not a bank affidavit. File by mail to P.O. Box 329 if the clerk says your papers can be mailed. | Sunset helps collect asset information, generate forms, and connect you with local counsel if you do not want to manage the Williamsburg filing from out of state. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a deed, buyer, or title company needs court authority, open the estate in Whitley County District Court under KRS 24A.120 and request appointment through AOC-805 under KRS 394.145. After appointment, obtain the Certificate of Qualification, AOC-807, and letters of appointment under KRS 395.105. | Sunset helps organize title-company requests, assets, debts, and closing steps so the estate settlement work is not scattered across calls, forms, and mail. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Whitley County | Filing office for Whitley County estates. The clerk can provide forms, accept filings, tell you the current CR 3.03 filing cost effective July 1, 2026, and give court-date information. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | 100 Main St., Williamsburg, KY 40769; mail to P.O. Box 329, Williamsburg, KY 40769-0329; (606) 549-5162; fax (606) 549-3393 |
| Kentucky Court of Justice legal forms | Statewide AOC probate forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455, AOC-807, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250, AOC-846 under KRS 395.610, AOC-850 under KRS 395.605, and AOC-860. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx |
| Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal | Free guided 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 |
| AppalReD Legal Aid | Civil legal aid program listed for Whitley County. Ask the program what help may be available for your situation. | 866-277-5733; https://ardfky.org/ |
| Kentucky Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question service for income-eligible Kentuckians. | https://ky.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Kentucky Bar Association lawyer referral services | Statewide resource for finding a Kentucky probate attorney. | https://www.kybar.org/page/lawreferserv |
| Guide to Basic Kentucky Probate Procedures | General AOC introduction to Kentucky probate. For current inventory timing, use KRS 395.250, and for current bond rules, use KRS 395.130. | https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Kentucky probate attorney if the estate includes real estate that must be sold, disputed heirs or beneficiaries, creditor claims under KRS 396.011, a contested matter that would become an original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, tax questions, or a personal representative who lives far from Williamsburg. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help makes sense.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and property so the Whitley County estate settlement starts with a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a court-ready packet using Kentucky's statewide AOC forms, including AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 or AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 when those fit the situation.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a contested court filing under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240, or help selling a home, Sunset can connect you with a Kentucky probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, prepare documents, and decide what to do next without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Whitley County?
File with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Whitley County Judicial Center, 100 Main St., Williamsburg, KY 40769. Mail goes to P.O. Box 329, Williamsburg, KY 40769-0329. Kentucky probate is in District Court under KRS 24A.120.
Which phone number should I call for a Whitley County probate matter?
Call the District line, (606) 549-5162, for probate under KRS 24A.120. The Circuit line is relevant only if the estate becomes a contested original adversary proceeding under KRS 24A.120 and KRS 394.240.
Does Whitley County have a probate filing office in Corbin?
The court page publishes one filing office for Whitley County estates: the Whitley County Judicial Center in Williamsburg. It does not publish a Corbin probate filing address, so use Williamsburg unless the Office of Circuit Court Clerk tells you otherwise.
How much does it cost to open probate in Whitley 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. Whitley 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.
Can I e-file a Whitley County probate case?
Attorneys must e-file Kentucky probate matters since January 1, 2024. Self-represented filers may register for electronic filing, but they can still file paper at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamsburg.
Can I appear remotely for a Whitley County probate hearing?
Maybe, but do not assume it. Kentucky courts have used Zoom since March 2020, but Whitley County does not publish probate login details. Contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at (606) 549-5162 before you assume a Whitley County District Court matter under KRS 24A.120 will be remote.
Can I look up a Whitley County probate case online?
The public docket generator at kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ is a court-date lookup and carries a not-official-docket caveat. For estate status or case-file details, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in Williamsburg at (606) 549-5162.
Does Whitley County use its own probate forms?
No separate Whitley County probate form set is published. Use the Kentucky AOC forms: AOC-805 under KRS 394.145 to open an estate, AOC-830 under KRS 395.455 to dispense with administration, AOC-841 under KRS 395.250 for the inventory, and AOC-846 or AOC-850 under KRS 395.610 or KRS 395.605 to close.
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.