How probate works in Scott County: the District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Scott County · 14th Judicial District
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About the court
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Scott County, probate runs through the District Court at 119 North Hamilton Street, Georgetown. The court sits in the 14th Judicial District. Scott County shares the 14th Judicial District with Bourbon and Woodford.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Kentucky intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Kentucky estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. Creditors have 6 monthsKRS 396.011, 396.015, 396.055, 396.095, 424.340Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the opening of the estate.
What probate costs in Scott County, Kentucky comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the District Court at 119 North Hamilton Street, Georgetown. The court is part of the 14th Judicial District.
Kentucky's District Court probate filing fee is $50, with a $10 access-to-justice fee, a $20 court technology fee and, in most counties, a $10 court facilities fee, about $90 in total. The fee does not vary with estate size. Recording the admitted will with the county clerk is a separate $33KRS 24A.170(1); CR 3.03(1)(c) and (1)(m) as amended by Sup. Ct. Order 2026-15 (eff. 2026-07-01); KRS 27A.630(1); KRS 24A.185(2); AOC Circuit Court Clerks' Accounting ManualVerified Oct 17, 2026View source. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Kentucky are negotiated, typically 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Kentucky allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payKRS 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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Kentucky requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Probate in Kentucky typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate cases in Scott County, Kentucky are filed at the District Court. The court sits in the 14th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Jurors Line.
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Scott County Self-Filing Assessment.
Filed with the opening petition at the District Court: Certified copy of the death certificate — commonly requested by the Circuit Court Clerk at intake, but NOT required by KRS 395.015, KRS 394.145 or the AOC-805 form itself; confirm with the county Circuit Court Clerk; Original will and any codicils, presented to the District Court for probate and recorded by the county clerk (KRS 394.140; KRS 394.300); Written application/petition under oath listing the surviving spouse and heirs-at-law (AOC-805), filed in duplicate (KRS 395.015)KRS 395.015 (application for appointment; general financial disclosure statement, as amended by 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 134 eff. 7/15/2026); KRS 395.105 (letters of appointment; when appointment effective); KRS 395.110 (copy of order effectual as letters); KRS 395.120 (oaths/declaration); KRS 394.140-394.145 (probate of will; combined application)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
In Scott County certified copies of the death certificate come from Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services - Office of Vital Statistics; the Local Health Department files the certificate and issues no copies to the public.
Vital Records Office Record
Scott County · State vital records office
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| First certified copy | $6 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Scott County · Scott County Coroner's Office
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Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Scott County are recorded with the County Clerk at 101 East Main Street, Georgetown, KY 40324. Phone: 1-502-863-7875. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Clerk charges $46 for the first 5 pages plus $3 for each page beyond 5.
Scott County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Hopdox and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Scott County
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Recording fees
| Base fee (first 5 pages) | $46 |
| Each page beyond 5 | $3 |
| Legal Process TaxRequired with most deeds | $4 |
KRS 64.012(1)(a), KRS 64.012(3)(a), KRS 142.010(1)(d), KRS 142.050
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Kentucky uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Scott County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Kentucky are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Scott County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Solo PracticeFrankfort, KY
Downtown Frankfort law office serving Franklin, Anderson, Woodford, Scott, Bourbon, Owen, Shelby, and Fayette counties. Attorney Jason Apollo Hart represents executors during probate, attends the court hearings, and drafts wills, living wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Consultations are free.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
Solo PracticeLexington, KY
Lexington office opened by Peter Brackney in 2015, taking probate cases in Fayette, Franklin, Scott, Bourbon, Woodford, Jessamine, Mercer, Garrard, Boyle and Lincoln counties. He gets the will admitted, has a personal representative appointed and advises on duties to the court and tax authorities. Each matter starts with a free evaluation by phone or video.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmLexington, KY
Lexington firm established in 1976, serving Lexington, Frankfort, Georgetown, Nicholasville, Richmond and Versailles. Its attorneys open estates, handle inventories, creditor claims, tax filings and court settlements, and represent parties in will contests and contested trust matters. Most small-estate petitions to dispense with administration are a flat fee.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
Solo PracticeVersailles, KY
A Versailles practice serving Woodford, Fayette and Madison counties and courts across Central Kentucky. Whitney Dunlap III guides executors and beneficiaries from the petition to probate the will through claims against the estate, tax returns, deeding real estate and closing the estate, and represents clients in will contests. He brings over thirty years of litigation experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationCivil LitigationWills Trusts
FirmGeorgetown, KY
A Georgetown elder-law firm on East Main Street in Scott County, founded in 2017 by managing partner Mike McKinley. It drafts wills, trusts and powers of attorney, sets up special needs trusts, and handles Medicaid eligibility and applications, long-term care and nursing home placement, veterans benefits and guardianship proceedings.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more
An elder-law firm with offices in Richmond (Madison County) and London (Laurel County), serving Central and Southeastern Kentucky. Its attorneys administer estates in District Court, including small-estate affidavits, intestate estates and farmland or mineral-rights transfers, and handle will contests and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Owner Scott Collins is a U.S. Army veteran.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 5 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Kentucky statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Free tools for settling an estate in Kentucky: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Kentucky.
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.
Settling a trust in Kentucky happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeKRS 386B.1-010 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysKRS 386B.8-130Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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.
Browse vetted Kentucky attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Kentucky attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Kentucky lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
