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Kentucky follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesKy. Rev. Stat. § 386B.7-080Verified May 31, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Kentucky trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Kentucky is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 6 months in Kentucky — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Kentucky trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Kentucky average $273 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $819–$1,638 for a simple individual will and $3,440–$5,160 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Kentucky allows estates under $30,000 to use a simplified Petition to Dispense with Administration procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Kentucky probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Kentucky, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; leaving meaningful sums to non-spouse, non-child beneficiaries (Kentucky taxes those inheritances); substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
35 firms
Named after the year Williamsburg and Whitley County were established, 1818 Law Firm serves southeastern Kentucky with estate planning, probate, trust administration, and elder law services.
Location
217 Main StreetWilliamsburg, KY 40769
Phone
(833) 844-1818
Established
2024
Service Area
5 counties
Bluegrass Elderlaw provides personalized estate planning solutions in Lexington including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, guardianship, Medicaid and asset preservation, and long-term care planning.
Location
120 N Mill Street, Suite 201Lexington, KY 40507
Phone
(859) 281-0048
Service Area
7 counties
For decades, Bamberger & Brancato probate lawyers in Owensboro have assisted clients with estate planning, probate administration, and elder law needs throughout western Kentucky.
Location
111 W 2nd StreetOwensboro, KY 42303
Phone
(270) 926-5050
Established
1981
Service Area
4 counties
The Lexington probate lawyers at Bunch & Brock have been serving Kentuckians since 1976, providing estate planning, probate, trust administration, and business succession planning throughout Kentucky.
Location
126 W. Maxwell St., #200Lexington, KY 40508
Phone
(859) 254-5522
Established
1976
Service Area
Statewide
Multi-state estate planning firm focused exclusively on estate planning, probate administration, trust administration, and business planning. Founded by John W. Crow, the firm has 9+ attorneys serving Christian County and the Pennyrile region from its Hopkinsville office, with additional locations in Tennessee.
Location
203 E 9th StHopkinsville, KY 42240
Phone
(270) 569-0006
Service Area
4 counties
Caleb Bland Law serves Elizabethtown and the surrounding Lincoln Trail region. The firm drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, and handles trust administration, guardianship, and probate for Hardin County families, with free initial consultations.
Location
2825 Ring RoadElizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone
(270) 506-0712
Service Area
6 counties
A dedicated elder law practice in Munfordville serving 9 counties spanning the gap between Elizabethtown and Glasgow. Attorney Will Clauson specializes in Medicaid planning to protect family assets from long-term care costs.
Location
210 E. Union StreetMunfordville, KY 42765
Phone
(270) 524-4529
Service Area
9 counties
Veteran-owned firm with 29 years of experience in central and eastern Kentucky. The probate lawyers at Combs Law assist with estate administration, will contests, and trust disputes throughout Laurel County and the Cumberland Valley region.
Location
322 North Main StreetLondon, KY 40741
Phone
(606) 222-8785
Service Area
5 counties
A Northern Kentucky estate-planning practice led by Donald A. Powell, with offices in Florence and Covington serving Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. The firm drafts wills, powers of attorney, and revocable and asset-protection trusts, and handles probate and trust administration for families across the Cincinnati metro.
Location
73 Cavalier Boulevard, Suite 129Florence, KY 41042
Phone
(859) 279-4160
Service Area
3 counties
Founded in 1979, Denton Law Firm is a full-service Paducah firm with 9 attorneys. Holly Homra leads the estate planning and probate practice, and J. Ronald Jackson (MBA, CPA) handles wills, trusts, and tax planning. The firm serves McCracken County and western Kentucky.
Location
555 Jefferson Street, #301Paducah, KY 42001
Phone
(270) 450-8253
Established
1979
Service Area
4 counties