Probate and Recording Deeds in Fayette County (Lexington), Kentucky
Where to file a will or open probate, and where to record a deed, in Fayette County (Lexington) — with the state rules that apply.
Recording deeds
Fayette County Clerk - Document Recording
E-recording: yes - CSC, ePN, Simplifile and Hopdox (https://fayettekyclerk.gov/document-recording/)
Recording fee: Deed $50.00; add $3.00 for every page over the first five pages (fee schedule July 2026) Fee schedule
Kentucky rules that apply
| Small estate affidavit | Kentucky has no small estate affidavit. Instead, the surviving spouse (or, if there is none, the surviving children) may ask the District Court to set apart up to $30,000 of personal property or money as exempt. If that exemption, together with preferred claims paid, equals or exceeds the estate's distributable assets, the court may dispense with administration and order the assets transferred. Before the exemption is set apart, the surviving spouse may petition for an order allowing withdrawal of up to $2,500 of the estate's money from a bank (KRS 391.030(2)). Source: KRS 391.030, 395.455 |
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| Probate steps | File a petition in District Court to probate the will and/or appoint an executor or administrator (form AOC-805). The personal representative qualifies by oath and, if the court orders it, a bond. An inventory must be filed within 90 days of qualifying; it is filed under seal and a copy goes to the Department of Revenue. Creditors present their claims, and the representative may distribute the estate six months after qualifying. The estate is closed by a periodic or final settlement (or an informal final settlement where allowed), after which the representative can be discharged. |
| Signing and recording a deed | A deed must be acknowledged before a county clerk or notary public (or proved by subscribing witnesses) to be recorded, and is recorded with the county clerk of the county where the property, or most of it, is located. The deed must state the full names and mailing addresses of the grantor and grantee, the full consideration, the in-care-of address for the tax bill, and the source of the grantor's title (prior deed book and page), and must include a sworn, notarized consideration certificate signed by grantor and grantee. A real estate transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 of value is collected at recording, with exemptions (for example, transfers between spouses, and parent-child or grandparent-grandchild transfers for nominal consideration). |
All Kentucky wills, probate and estate rules · Eviction court and tenant help in Fayette County (Lexington)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.