Probate in Johnson County, Kentucky
When someone who lived in Johnson County dies, probate is handled by the county probate court. This page points you to that court and summarizes the Kentucky rules that apply — the small-estate threshold, the key deadlines, and the instruments Kentucky uses. For your own dates and numbers, use the free calculators linked below.
Where to file
Probate is filed in Johnson County, where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with the county probate court.
Find your court — Kentucky Court of Justice — Find a Court by CountyDoes this estate need full probate?
Kentucky lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Dispensing with administration / surviving-spouse exemption (KRS 391.030, 395.455) for estates up to $30,000.
Check your estate Source — KRS 391.030 ($30k exempt personalty); KRS 395.455 (dispense with administration)Key probate deadlines in Kentucky
- Lodge the will with the court
- No fixed statutory deadline — varies, confirm with the probate court.
- File the estate inventory
- 60 days after appointment as personal representative
- Creditor-claim period closes
- 6 months after appointment as personal representative (outer bar: 24 months from death)
Good to know in Kentucky
- The court empowers the personal representative with Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration.
- The estate closes with the Final Settlement.
- Kentucky inheritance tax: Class A (close family) exempt. Return due 18 months after death; 5% discount if paid within 9 months.
Talk it through, or find a local pro
Ask the guide a question about probate in Johnson County, or browse vetted probate attorneys and real-estate advisors who work in Kentucky.
Selling an inherited home? Estimate the tax with the capital-gains calculator. Just getting started? Print the Kentucky after-a-death checklist.