Madisonville law office in Hopkins County with a second office in Hopkinsville, serving western Kentucky counties from Hopkins and Christian to Daviess, Warren, and McCracken. Attorney Chip Adams, licensed since 2006, handles probate and estates and prepares wills and trusts. The firm has practiced in Hopkins County for more than five decades.
Probate in McCracken County
Probate Court Record
McCracken County District Court
McCracken County · 2nd Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
300 Clarence Gaines Street, Paducah, KY 42003
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in McCracken County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in McCracken County? →Settling an estate in McCracken County →
Probate Firms Serving McCracken County
A Benton solo practice on Poplar Street serving Marshall County and Paducah in McCracken County. Don Thomas guides personal representatives through probate, from notifying heirs and creditors to paying final taxes and distributing property, and handles will contests. He was an elected county attorney and later a district judge.
From Murray, the firm serves Calloway County and western Kentucky communities including Benton, Mayfield, Paducah, Cadiz and Eddyville. It guides personal representatives through probate, from the inventory to creditor claims and distribution of assets, and handles disputes that arise. Attorney Dominik Mikulcik, a former 42nd Judicial Circuit staff attorney, practices estate planning and probate.
Mayfield firm on North 7th Street, founded in 1907, serving Graves, McCracken, Calloway, Ballard, Fulton, Hickman, Trigg, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, Christian and Lyon counties. It handles probate administration and the settlement of estates, and prepares wills with trusts and guardian designations for minor children. Consultations are free.
Owensboro firm founded in 1994 that handles probate statewide from offices in Owensboro, Lexington and Louisville. Its attorneys guide executors and administrators through probate, carry out trust administration tasks, and resolve will contests over undue influence, capacity or unclear language. The firm reports handling well over 500 probate cases.
Louisville elder law firm founded in 2002, with offices in Louisville, Bowling Green and Shepherdsville and clients in Kentucky and Indiana. Its attorneys guide families through probate and estate administration, Medicaid estate recovery and guardianship, alongside Medicaid, VA benefits and long-term care planning.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Kentucky
Free Kentucky forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Kentucky.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Last Will and Testament
In Kentucky, a will is signed before 2KRS 394.040Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyKRS 394.040Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Kentucky
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Kentucky: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Kentucky.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Kentucky costs an estimated $23,308Reasonable compensation; no probate-specific attorney fee statute (SCR 3.130-1.5(a) general rule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.5%Modeled estimate under Reasonable compensation; no probate-specific attorney fee statute (SCR 3.130-1.5(a) general rule): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.4%Modeled estimate under Reasonable compensation; no probate-specific attorney fee statute (SCR 3.130-1.5(a) general rule): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Kentucky: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysKRS 395.250Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsKRS 396.011, 396.015, 396.055, 396.095, 424.340Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Kentucky pays executors reasonable compensationKRS 395.150(1) (not more than 5% of the personal estate plus 5% of income; real property excluded); KRS 395.150(2) (additional compensation for extraordinary services)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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Do I Need Probate?
In Kentucky, estates with personal property of $30,000KRS 391.030Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less qualify for the Petition to Dispense with AdministrationKRS 391.030Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, a court procedure short of full probate.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Kentucky, creditors have 6 monthsKRS 396.011Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the personal representative's appointment to present claims; late claims are barred.
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Can I Self-File Probate?
In Kentucky, informal probate is not availableKRS 395.015; KRS 395.016 (District Court appointment on sworn application; no non-judicial registrar track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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