The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Kentucky with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Kentucky reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Kentucky probate pages.
Kentucky probate fees
| Item | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Roughly $40 to $60 in most counties to open the estate in district court; a few urban counties are higher (Jefferson County runs closer to $85–$135). |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Kentucky attorneys typically charge a flat fee ($3,000–$6,000 for a routine estate) or hourly; complex or contested cases run higher. The estate pays fees as a reasonable administrative expense. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | KRS 395.150 caps the personal representative's compensation at 5% of the value of the personal estate plus 5% of the income collected, with additional 'fair and reasonable' compensation allowed for extraordinary services. Family executors often waive it. |
| Fee basis | statutory |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Kentucky does not appoint a state appraiser. The personal representative must file an inventory of estate assets within 60 days of appointment under KRS 395.250. |
Worked example
On a $400,000 personal estate that also collected $10,000 of income, the maximum statutory commission is about $20,500 (5% of $400,000 = $20,000, plus 5% of $10,000 = $500). Real estate that passes outside administration is not counted in the 5% base.
Kentucky thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates of $30,000 or less in personal property can be settled with a small-estate affidavit / dispensing-with-administration procedure under KRS 395.455, and a surviving spouse is entitled to a $30,000 exempt-property set-aside under KRS 391.030. |
| Creditor claim period | Six months after the personal representative is appointed under KRS 396.011 (restored to the pre-2020 rule by 2021 legislation). If no personal representative is appointed, creditors have two years from the date of death. |
| Typical duration | About 9 to 18 months; Kentucky keeps the estate open at least six months so creditors can file claims. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Kentucky does NOT currently authorize a transfer-on-death deed for real estate. Bills to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act have been introduced repeatedly (most recently in 2024 and 2026) but none has become law, so solely owned real property generally must pass through probate, joint ownership, or a living trust. |
What passes outside Kentucky probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Kentucky does NOT currently authorize a transfer-on-death deed for real estate. Bills to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act have been introduced repeatedly (most recently in 2024 and 2026) but none has become law, so solely owned real property generally must pass through probate, joint ownership, or a living trust.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: KRS 395.150; KRS 395.455; KRS 396.011; KRS 391.030; KRS 395.250
- State authority: Kentucky Court of Justice (kycourts.gov)
- Executor fees: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=36328
- Small-estate procedure: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49987
- Creditor claim period: https://law.justia.com/codes/kentucky/chapter-396/section-396-011/
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Kentucky court before relying on it.
The full Kentucky guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Kentucky? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Kentucky? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Kentucky? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Kentucky — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Kentucky — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Kentucky? — execution requirements and pricing.
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This sheet sets out Kentucky probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Kentucky courts or a licensed Kentucky attorney.