Simpson County Probate Records
Probate in Simpson County is not handled by a stand-alone Surrogate's Court or Orphans' Court. Kentucky places routine probate administration in District Court. The Kentucky Court of Justice court overview also states that Circuit Court hears contested probate matters. That split means an estate may begin as a District Court probate matter while a dispute over a will, title, fiduciary action, or contested issue may require Circuit Court involvement.
For access, Simpson County residents should begin with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk at the Simpson County Justice Center. Kentucky circuit court clerks keep custody and safe storage of Circuit and District Court records in their counties. The clerk can confirm whether a probate file is available online, at the local counter, in older storage, or subject to a restriction. The County Clerk handles deeds and marriage licenses, but probate case records are court records.
The KRS Chapter 395 probate statutes are the state law source for Kentucky personal representative and estate administration rules.
KRS Chapter 395 supports the local probate record path because fiduciary appointments and estate administration are court processes in Kentucky.
Simpson County Probate Terms
Probate records use short legal terms that can be confusing when a user only needs a will, order, or certified copy. The definitions below use the Kentucky probate context from the research file and avoid assuming that every estate uses every document.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to carry out estate duties if appointed by the court.
- Intestate
- A death without a valid will, requiring administration under Kentucky law.
- Fiduciary
- A personal representative, executor, administrator, guardian, or similar person with legal duties.
- Guardianship
- A court process concerning decision-making authority for a minor or other protected person.
- Conservatorship
- A court process involving authority over property or financial affairs for a protected person.
Search Simpson County Probate Records
Probate search access has several official channels. KYeCourts guest access may show public case information if the probate case is available online. The KCOJ docket portal may show District Court probate dates when the user selects Simpson County and the proper date. Certified copies, document availability, and older files require the Circuit Court Clerk because the statewide request guidance says court record requests start with the clerk of the court that heard the case.
- Start with KYeCourts public case information for a free statewide case lookup where available.
- Use the KCOJ docket portal to check a Simpson County District Court probate date or hearing schedule.
- Call the Circuit Court Clerk at 270-586-4241 or 270-586-8910 for certified copies, document access, and older files.
- Ask which KCOJ legal forms apply before filing a new estate document.
- Verify whether any guardianship, conservatorship, minor, or mental-health material is restricted before requesting copies.
Note: The docket portal is useful for hearing dates, but it states that results are not an official docket and are subject to change.
Simpson County Probate Court Contact
The local probate court contact is the same court clerk contact used for Simpson County District Court and Circuit Court records. The Kentucky Court of Justice county page lists the Simpson County Justice Center as the local court location and names Beth Anne Fiss as Circuit Court Clerk. The research did not find a separate local probate courthouse, numbered probate court, or independent probate clerk.
Probate Division of District Court
Simpson County Justice Center
101 N. Court St.
Franklin, KY 42134
270-586-4241 / 270-586-8910
Fax: 270-586-0265
Simpson County Probate Process
The local probate workflow depends on whether the estate has a will, whether a fiduciary is needed, and whether any interested party contests the matter. The researched workflow gives a practical sequence without inventing local hearing dates or small-estate thresholds that were not published in the official sources reviewed.
- Determine whether the decedent left a will.
- File the will or estate application through the Simpson County Circuit Court Clerk.
- Ask the clerk which Kentucky Court of Justice probate forms fit the estate type.
- Attend any required probate hearing or clerk/judge review.
- Obtain an order appointing a fiduciary if one is needed.
- File inventory, notices, claims, accountings, and settlement documents as required.
- Request certified copies of orders when banks, title companies, or heirs need proof of authority.
Simpson County Probate Filing Fees
The official Simpson sources reviewed did not publish probate filing fees, small-estate thresholds, will-safekeeping options, or a local probate schedule. KCOJ public notices state that civil filing fees for Circuit and District Courts increased effective July 1, 2026. For that reason, the safest fee guidance is to confirm the current probate filing, copy, and certification amounts with the Circuit Court Clerk before filing or requesting copies.
| Probate Item | Fee Guidance |
|---|---|
| Estate application or original probate filing | Confirm current District Court fee with the Circuit Court Clerk. |
| Letters or order appointing fiduciary | Confirm copy and certification costs with the clerk. |
| Certified copy of probate order | Confirm amount and whether the file is public, sealed, or restricted. |
| Guardianship or conservatorship filing | Confirm with the clerk because sensitive materials may be restricted. |
| Payment methods at Justice Center | KCOJ lists cash, cashier's check, money order, credit card, debit card with fee, and ePay where eligible. |
What Simpson County Probate Records Show
A probate file can show the decedent's name and date of death, will filing or statement that no will exists, the petition or application for fiduciary appointment, heirs and beneficiaries, estate assets, creditor claims, bonds, waivers, fiduciary oath, orders appointing a personal representative, final settlement, accounting, and closing documents. Guardianship or conservatorship records may appear when the case involves a protected person or property authority.
| Record Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Decedent | Name and death information used to identify the estate. |
| Will status | Whether a will was filed or the estate appears to be intestate. |
| Fiduciary | Executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, or other appointee. |
| Inventory | Estate assets and property information when filed. |
| Claims and notices | Creditor claims, required notices, and related filings. |
| Orders | Judicial action appointing a fiduciary or resolving probate issues. |
Restricted Simpson County Probate Records
Not every probate-related document is open in the same way. Guardianship, conservatorship, minor, mental-health, medical, and sealed materials may be restricted. Court records may also redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, confidential addresses, and other protected details. When a file includes both public estate documents and restricted attachments, the clerk may be able to provide only the public portions.
The Kentucky Specialty Courts overview and Drug Court page are assigned probate-page images in the manifest because they document Kentucky Court of Justice programs, not because Drug Court is a probate court.
These statewide court program materials reinforce that Simpson County probate records sit inside the Kentucky Court of Justice structure.
The KCOJ Drug Court page confirms Drug Court serves all Kentucky counties, including Simpson County.
Drug Court is a separate court program, but its statewide coverage helps explain why local court records often connect to statewide KCOJ systems.