Probate records within a county are typically stored in the county courthouse, often under the management of the county clerk. These records can encompass a variety of documents such as wills, estate details, executor and administrator information, inventories, settlements, accounts, guardianships, and records regarding orphans, insolvent estates, apprentices, illegitimate children, and mental health cases. The probate-related documents are usually cataloged in large volumes that consist of court minutes, proceedings, estate and executor data, guardianship information, inventories, probate details, sales, settlements, and wills.
There might be variation in how these records are titled and they are often loosely held together in folders or packets. Early estate records are commonly found mixed with regular county court proceedings. Circuit court records may also contain disputes related to inherited estates. Some counties have transcribed ancient wills. Collections of these are available at the Kentucky Historical Society and the Filson Library.
Copies of the original probate records, whether transcribed or in microfilm format, can be found at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, the Kentucky Historical Society, the University of Kentucky Library, the Filson Library, and the FHL. The Kentucky Court of Appeals maintains book J, which contains records of wills and inventories from 1780 to 1788. These have been summarised by Michael and Bettie Cook, as outlined in Kentucky Land Records.
It’s important to note that some of the 120 county courthouses in Kentucky have unfortunately lost records due to fire or other mishaps. Although some records may have been lost in the county you are researching, re-recorded documents and other resources like newspapers and church records can help fill in the gaps. It’s advisable to extend research several years past the time of record destruction to ensure comprehensive findings.
Kentucky Wills Index
Kentucky Wills by County
Adair County
- Adair County Probate Index: 1801-1817
- Adair County Probate Index: 1818-1836
- Adair County Wills , 1805-1820
- Bailey (Benjamin, Elisha, Nimrod, Thomas, & William) 1819-1865
- Fletcher (Elizabeth) 1860
- Fletcher (Robert) 1847
- Page (Robert, Sr.) 1803
- Page (Robert) 1854
- Skaggs (Archibald) 1832
- Spradling (Rachal L.) 1877
Anderson County
- Griffy, David , 1847
- Leathers, Nicholas , 1838
Barren County
Bath County
- Caldwell, William
- Choat, Augustine
- Davis, Amis
- Davis, Lamach
- Denton, Abraham
- Fleming, George W.
- Garrett, Fleming
- Green, Zachariah
- Hunt, Reuben Sr.
- Johnson, G.W. 1850
- Morgan, William
- Newman, William
- Perkins, Elijah
- Robbins, James
- Stancliff, James
- Stancliff, James
- Warner, Alice
- Warner, Andrew , Inventory of Estate 1862
- Warner, Fenton
- Warner, Jacob , Appraisal of the Estate 1860
- Warner, Jacob , Sale Bill of Estate 1860
- Warner, Jacob , Land and Slave Division 1861
- Warner, Jacob , Will 1904
- Warner, Jonas
- Warner, Rosella
- Warner, William P.
- Wills, Harrison
- Bath County, Kentucky Wills, 1811-24
Bell County
Boone County
- Burns, James 1834
- Chambers, A. E. 1857
- Acra, Crandall 1990
- Gaines, Abner 1839
- Gaines, Churchill 1833
- Grubbs, James 1841, Codicil, 1851
- Kirtley, Jeremiah 1806
- Kirtley, Jeremiah, Estate Inventory 1806
- Sanford, Benjamin 1867
- Sanford, Permilia 1832
- Sanford, Templeton 1838
- Terrill, John L. 1890
- Terrill, George W. 1894
- Webster, Daniel 1833
- Selected Wills & Estate Abstracts
Bourbon County
- Allen, John Mountjoy , 1855
- Bowles, David , 1807
- Bowles, Jesse , 1820
- Ferguson, Dr. J. W. , 1902
- Ferguson, Josiah , 1848
- Goodman, Nathan , 1840
- Hall surname
- Hill, Robert , 1844
- Hill, Warren , 1821
- Jones, William B. , 1813
- McIntire, Nicholas , 1810
- Moore, Malvina , 1910
- Parrish Estates , 1808 – 1821
- Tucker, Jonathan , 1804
- Selected Estate Abstracts
- Selected Guardianships
- Selected Will Abstracts
Boyle County
- Sebastian, Ruth , 1888
- Whelan, Jane , 1873
- Whelan, John , 1863
Bracken County
- John Baker Will , 1808
- John Mountjoy Garrard Will , pr. 1838
Breckinridge County
- Bandy, Byron 1910
- Bandy, Silas 1911
- Jordon, Sashwell 1874
- McCoy, John P. 1874
- Meadors, Ailey 1826
- Meador, Thomas Sr. 1823
Bullitt County
- Wills and Estates
Caldwell County
- William Derrington , 1832
- Abram Dunning , 1860
- Joseph Guess , 1834
- David Parent , 1835
- Sarah Robertson , 1859
- James Smith , 1835
- Mary Wyott , 1859
Calloway County
- Thomas McCuiston
- Misc. Wills
- William West Will 3-16-1849
Campbell County
- Will Book A , 1787-1821, Index
- Will Book A , 1787-1821
- Baker, John , 1815
- Baker, Thomas , 1842
- Baker, David , 1858
- Various Wills 1787-1827
Carroll County
- King, John C. , 1868
- Carroll County Wills , 1838-1864
Carter County
Casey County
- Damron, Robert “Sale Bill & Inventory” – 1862
- Fogle, William McDowell “Will” – 1845
- Fogle, Martha Jane (Murphy) “Will” – 1911
- Fogle, James C. “Will” – 1937
- Lawhorn, Benjamin B. “Will” – 1845
- Pennell, Pierce Butler “Will” – 1825
- Sandusky, Jacob “Sale Bill” – 1847
- Watson, “et Al” “Will” – March 21, 1855
Christian County
- Daniel Barry , 1816
- John Renshaw , 1822
- John Trover , 1832
Clark County
- Bush, Francis 1816
- Curtis, John 1832
- Clark County, Kentucky Wills 1792-1826, Vol. 1-2
- Clark County Probate Index
- Clark County Order Books Probate Index
Herein you will find indices of matters of probate in Clark County from 1793 -1911 from the Clark County Order Books. These records are useful for land transfers, determining familial relations and so much more. The records are organized alphabetically, so please click on the letter of the alphabet in the table below to conduct your searches. For copies of the original records, please contact the Clark County Public library or visit in person.
Clay County
Clinton County
- Catharine Beaty , 1866
- Mark Marlow , 1868
- Berry Thurman , Estate Sale, 1872
- Willie Ann Thurman , Deeded Property, 1874
- Willie Ann Thurman , Estate Sale, 1882
Crittenden County
- John Wilson , 1849
- Richard Miles , 1803
Cumberland County
- Garmon, Catharine 1841
- Garmon, Eleanor 1848
- Garman, George 1836
- Garman, Harmon 1836
- Garman, John Sr. 1845
- Garman, Milly 1837
- Gee Estate Settlement 1824
- Jewell, Joseph 1840
- Staton, Rane 1842
Daviess County
- Allin, Robert Jr. , First Will 1812
- Allin, Robert Jr. , Second Will 1818
- Bassett, Abner 1822
- Bishop, Lorenzo , 1891
- Crow, Warner , 1866
- Gabbart, George Washington , 1893
- Griffith, Joshua , 1845
- Head, Joseph David , 1888-89
- Henton, George , 1862
- Morgan, George W , 1848
- Myers, Abraham , 1825
- Patrick, Elizabeth Palmer , 1912
- Patrick, Robert E. , 1895
- Patrick, William T. , 1944
- Vanrysselburghe, James 1837
- Wedding, Thomas , 1835
- Wells, Jacob , 1840
Edmonson County
- Elvira Duke , 1876
- J. M. Hunt , 1925
- William Johnson , 1829
Fayette County
- Bryant, Jesse , 1843
- Ellis, Capt. William , 1802
- Epperson, Richard , 1806
- Ferguson, Josiah , 1803
- Graves, Thomas , 1801
- Gray, George, Sr. , 1824
- Happy, James , Probate on Appeal, 1817
- Kemper, Tillman , 1832
- Lyle, Robert & Marshall, John
- McKee, Philip , 1871
- McNeil, James , 1864
- Ninion Riley, Jr. , Missouri Will
- Robinson, Ann , 1825
- Robinson, Benjamin , 1825
- Robinson, John , 1859
- Robinson, John , 1850
- Robinson, Joseph , 1823
- Robinson, Joseph , 1828
- Robinson, Samuel , 1840
- Thomson, Asa , 1842
- Fayette County, Kentucky Wills 1794-1818
Fleming County
- Callahan, Edward , 1871
- Doyle, John , Settlement of estate, 1875
- Doyle, Ann E [nee Callahan], 1907
- Doyle, Ann E Settlement of estate, 1909
- Harper, William , 1814
- Harper, Robert , 1870
- Renunciation of Ann Hurst Callahan , widow of Mile Hurst
- Hurst, Henry , 1822
- Hurst, Miles Jr , 1866
- Estate of John Jackson , 1834
- Estate of Rachel Jackson , 1839
- Sapp, Isaac , 1881
Floyd County
- William Remy , 1816
Franklin County
Gallatin County
- Foley , 1826, Administrator Bond
- Foley, Mildred , 1829
- Gardner, Zechariah , 1845
Garrard County
- Charles Brown
- John Brown
- James Cecil
- Zachariah Compton
- James Fletcher
- Robert Henry
- Frederick Huffman Sr
- Henry Huffman
- William Mays
- Christian Perkins
- Benjamin Sutton
- Joseph Hicks Totten
- Thadius Warmoth
- Thomas Wilson
Grant County
Graves County
Grayson County
Green County
Greenup County
Hancock County
Hardin County
Harlan County
Harrison County
Hart County
Henderson County
Henry County
Hickman County
Hopkins County
Jackson County
Jefferson County
Jessamine County
Johnson County
Kenton County
Knott County
Knox County
Larue County
Laurel County
Lawrence County
Lee County
Leslie County
Letcher County
Lewis County
Lincoln County
Livingston County
Logan County
Lyon County
Madison County
Magoffin County
Marion County
Marshall County
Martin County
Mason County
McCracken County
McCreary County
McLean County
Meade County
Menifee County
Mercer County
- Mercer County, Kentucky: Marriages (1786-1800) & Wills (1786-1801)
- Mercer County, Kentucky Wills 1818-1826