How Do I Claim a Small Estate in Kentucky?
Kentucky's small-estate shortcut is a court proceeding — collection is authorized by the court's own act, not by an affidavit presented to the holder of the property.
The Kentucky small-estate procedure
Filed in the District Court of the county with probate jurisdiction over the estate (petition form AOC-830, doc code PDA; option B combines the request with probate of a will). The court enters an order dispensing with administration and directing transfer of the listed personal property to the petitioner or designee — no letters of administration issue and no personal representative is appointed; the certified order is what banks and other holders honor. Under KRS 395.455(2) the court may also order that no letters issue when no probatable (from 7/15/2026: distributable) estate will pass through a personal representative's hands.
Frequently asked questions
Kentucky's small-estate shortcut is a court proceeding — collection is authorized by the court's own act, not by an affidavit presented to the holder of the property.
An estate of $30,000 or less, per KRS 395.455.
Filed in the District Court of the county with probate jurisdiction over the estate (petition form AOC-830, doc code PDA; option B combines the request with probate of a will). The court enters an order dispensing with administration and directing transfer of the listed personal property to the petitioner or designee — no letters of administration issue and no personal representative is appointed; the certified order is what banks and other holders honor. Under KRS 395.455(2) the court may also order that no letters issue when no probatable (from 7/15/2026: distributable) estate will pass through a personal representative's hands.
Personal property only: the KRS 391.030 exemption reaches personal property or money on hand or in a bank or other depository, and the AOC-830 transfer order covers the listed personal property. Real property is not transferred by this proceeding — it passes by descent or devise outside the order.
