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When a family member dies in Scott County, the estate is opened in the Scott District Court in Georgetown — and the personal representative has real deadlines and real personal responsibility from the day of appointment. The probate attorneys at Bunch & Brock have handled Kentucky estates for fifty years and regularly represent Georgetown and Scott County families. Call (859) 254-5522.
Georgetown has grown quickly, and many of the families settling estates here today are doing it for the first time. Whether the estate involves a farm that has been in the family for generations, a home in one of Georgetown’s newer subdivisions, retirement accounts from a career at the Toyota plant, or a small estate that may not need full probate at all, our attorneys can tell you what the law requires and handle it for you.
Our office is in Lexington, a short drive down US-25 or I-75 from Georgetown. Most of our probate work is done by phone, email, and filings with the court, and we meet with Scott County clients in person whenever that is what the family needs.
Probate in Scott County: What to Expect
Kentucky probate is handled by the District Court of the county where the decedent lived. For Scott County residents that is the Scott District Court, and the estate stays there from the first petition to the final settlement, even if the personal representative or the heirs live elsewhere.
The main stages of a Kentucky estate are:
- Appointment. The person named as executor in the will, or a qualifying family member if there is no will, petitions the court and is appointed personal representative. Under Kentucky’s 2026 probate reforms, a surety bond is no longer required by default, although individual courts may still require one.
- Inventory. Within 90 days of appointment, the personal representative files an inventory of the estate’s assets valued as of the date of death. Since July 15, 2026, the inventory is filed under seal and is not part of the public record.
- Creditor period. Creditors have six months from the appointment to present claims under KRS 396.011. The estate cannot be closed before that period ends.
- Taxes and debts. Valid claims are paid in the order Kentucky law requires, and any inheritance tax return is filed. Spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings are exempt from Kentucky inheritance tax; other beneficiaries may owe tax.
- Settlement and distribution. The personal representative accounts to the court for everything received and paid out, distributes the remaining assets under the will or Kentucky’s intestate succession statutes, and the estate is closed.
An uncomplicated Scott County estate is typically settled in six to twelve months. Real estate sales, business interests, farm assets, or a disagreement among heirs can extend that.
Kentucky’s 2026 Probate Reforms Apply to Scott County Estates
Senate Bill 50, effective July 15, 2026, rewrote large parts of Kentucky’s probate and intestacy law. The most important changes for Scott County families are the amended surviving-spouse shares when there is no will, a spouse’s new rights that reach certain non-probate assets such as payable-on-death accounts and jointly held property, the addition of stepchildren to the order of inheritance, the longer and now-confidential inventory deadline, the elimination of the default bond, and the recognition of electronic wills. Which set of rules applies depends on the date of death.
We have summarized the reforms in detail on our Lexington probate page and in our Kentucky probate blog. If you are opening an estate now, the safest course is to have an attorney who has already worked through the new statutes apply them to yours.
How We Help Georgetown Families
- Estate administration from petition through final settlement, including inventory, creditor claims, tax filings, and court accountings
- Small-estate petitions under KRS 395.455 for estates that qualify, usually handled for a flat fee and without a client court appearance
- Intestate estates where there is no will, including advising the family on who inherits under the amended KRS 391.010
- Wills, trusts, and estate planning — wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and health care surrogate designations, drafted to the current statutes
- Farm and land succession planning for Scott County families who want to keep property intact across generations
- Guardianship nominations and proceedings for minor children and incapacitated adults
- Will contests and estate disputes, whether you are defending a will or challenging one
Frequently Asked Questions from Scott County Clients
Does a Scott County estate have to be opened in Georgetown if I live in Lexington? Yes. Probate is filed where the decedent lived, not where the executor lives. We handle Scott District Court estates for out-of-county and out-of-state personal representatives routinely.
What counts as a small estate in Kentucky? An estate qualifies for the simplified Petition to Dispense with Administration when its probate assets fall within the surviving spouse’s or children’s statutory exemption — currently $30,000 under KRS 391.030 — alone or after preferred claims are paid. Since July 2026 the procedure applies whether or not there was a will, and it can also be used by the person who paid the funeral expenses. It is a single petition and order, not a months-long process.
Do I need to name a guardian for my children in my will? You should. Kentucky allows a parent to nominate a guardian for minor children by will, and the court gives substantial weight to that nomination. Without one, the District Court decides who raises your children and manages their inheritance. This is one of the most important reasons young parents in Georgetown should have a will.
Does the farm have to go through probate? Land titled in the decedent’s sole name does, along with equipment, livestock, and accounts in that name. Land held jointly with a right of survivorship, or in a trust, does not. Farm estates often involve both, plus USDA program and tax considerations, and they benefit from planning done well before death.
What is the personal representative responsible for? Locating and safeguarding assets, filing the inventory on time, giving creditors proper notice and paying valid claims in the correct order, filing tax returns, keeping accurate records, and accounting to the court. A personal representative who distributes assets before creditors are paid, or fails to file required reports, can be personally liable and can be fined by the court.
Is Bunch & Brock a Georgetown law firm? Our office is at Lexington, about fifteen miles from Georgetown. We have represented Scott County clients for decades and appear in the Scott District Court regularly.
Call Our Georgetown Probate Attorneys
Bunch & Brock was founded in Lexington in 1976 by Kentucky attorneys W. Thomas Bunch and Dan D. Brock, Jr., and is now in its fiftieth year of serving Central Kentucky families. Mr. Bunch’s sons, Tom Bunch II and Matthew Bunch, carry the practice forward today. We keep the firm small on purpose: when you call, you speak with an attorney, and the attorney you meet is the one who handles your estate.
If you are settling an estate in Scott County or want to put your own plan in place, call (859) 254-5522 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
This page is provided for general information and is not legal advice. Kentucky probate law changed substantially on July 15, 2026, and the rules that apply depend on the date of death. Please consult an attorney about your specific situation.
Our Probate Attorneys
Attorney Tom Bunch II — Tom’s practice centers on Kentucky probate and estate administration, estate planning, and debtor-creditor matters, with extensive experience in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 bankruptcy cases. He handles estates of every size, from small-estate petitions to complex administrations. Attorney bio
Attorney Matthew Bunch — Matt is the firm’s lead litigator and handles contested probate, will contests, trust and estate litigation, and complex bankruptcies. Attorney bio
Attorney Tom Bunch II
Tom is a well-rounded attorney who can bring his experience to bear upon circumstances as presented by a client. Tom practices in Debtor and Creditor Legal Issues arising in Bankruptcy (with extensive experience in Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 cases, aka Personal Bankruptcy and Corporate Bankruptcy) and non-bankruptcy matters (loan workouts and foreclosure defense, debt relief and debt settlement). [ attorney bio ]
