The Kentucky Inventory and Appraisement of Estate, Form AOC-841, is the sworn list of every probate asset a deceased person owned, along with each asset’s value on the date of death, that the court-appointed executor or administrator must file with the District Court Clerk under KRS 395.250. It tells the court, the heirs, and the Kentucky Department of Revenue exactly what the estate holds before any property is paid out or distributed.
Filing it late or wrong is not a small slip. A fiduciary who fails to file the inventory on time can be removed from the role by the court, and a sloppy or incomplete list can stall the whole estate for months while the clerk sends it back. The current version is AOC-841, Rev. 12-25, so check the bottom corner of your copy to confirm you have the right one before you write anything down.
Kentucky probate, handled without guidance, can take more than a year and cost upward of $14,000, and a clean inventory is one of the biggest levers you control to keep that number down. Here is what you will walk away knowing:
- 📋 How to fill out every line of Form AOC-841, from real property to the Total Estimated Value
- 🏷️ How to value assets “at date of death” and when you need a professional appraiser
- 🔒 How to redact account numbers correctly under CR 7.03 so the clerk does not reject your filing
- 📬 Where and how to file with your county District Court Clerk, plus what it costs
- ⚠️ The exact field-level mistakes that get inventories bounced and how to dodge them
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form AOC-841 is the official Kentucky probate inventory. It is a two-page state court form published by the Kentucky Court of Justice, and you can download the current copy directly from the official AOC-841 PDF. The form does one job: it gives the court a full, honest snapshot of the probate estate, valued as of the day the person died.
The person who must file it is the fiduciary, meaning the executor named in the will or the administrator appointed by the court when there is no will. Once the District Court signs the order appointing you and issues your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, the clock starts. You, not the heirs and not the lawyer, sign this form and swear it is true.
The statute behind the form is KRS 395.250, which requires the personal representative to file an inventory and appraisement of the estate within two months (60 days) of being appointed. In plain English, the law forces you to count and value the estate early so creditors, heirs, and the Commonwealth all know what is on the table. If you ignore it, the court can treat you as failing your duty and replace you, which means a new fiduciary, new delays, and possible personal liability for losses. Imagine Donna is appointed administrator of her late father’s estate on March 1, 2026; her inventory is due by May 1, 2026, and a judge can summon her or remove her if it never shows up.
A common misconception is that AOC-841 lists everything the person owned. It does not. It lists only probate assets, the property that passes through the court because it was titled in the decedent’s name alone with no automatic transfer built in.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gathering your paperwork first is the single best way to fill out AOC-841 once and be done. Before you open the form, pull together the items below, because each one feeds a specific line, and a missing piece either leaves a blank the clerk questions or forces a guess you may have to amend later.
- Your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. This proves you are the fiduciary and shows your appointment date, which sets your 60-day deadline. Without it, you may not even have authority to file.
- The case number, court, county, and division from your probate paperwork. These go in the top boxes; a wrong case number can route your filing into the wrong file.
- The death certificate. It confirms the date of death, the exact day you must use to value every asset.
- Real estate deeds and the most recent PVA assessment. You need legal descriptions, addresses, and a value starting point for any house or land.
- Vehicle titles and registrations. Each car, truck, boat, or trailer needs a description and VIN.
- Bank, brokerage, and retirement statements dated on or near the date of death. These set the cash and account values, and you will redact the account numbers.
- Appraisals for high-value or hard-to-value items. Jewelry, art, antiques, firearms collections, and business interests often need a written appraisal.
- A list of debts owed to the decedent. Money others owed the person (a personal loan, a final paycheck) is an estate asset and belongs on the form.
If any item is missing, do not stall the whole filing. Use a good-faith estimate, note that an appraisal is pending, and file an amended inventory later if the number changes. A blank where a value belongs invites a rejection; a reasonable estimate keeps you moving.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Get the form from the source so you know it is current. The Kentucky Court of Justice hosts the fillable AOC-841 form on kycourts.gov, and you can also browse the full Kentucky legal forms library to confirm you have Rev. 12-25. The PDF is fillable on screen, so you can type your entries, then print, or you can print it blank and write in black ink.
Confirm the revision date in the lower-left corner reads Rev. 12-25. Older copies (Rev. 2-17) float around third-party sites, and the older version asked the inventory be notarized (“subscribed and sworn before me”), while the current version does not carry the notary block in the same way. Using the wrong version can mean a wasted trip to the clerk.
You can also pick up a paper copy at your county District Court Clerk’s office. If you are unsure which county, file where the decedent was domiciled, meaning their permanent home, at death. For example, a Louisville resident’s estate is handled by the Jefferson County District Court, while a Lexington resident’s goes to Fayette County. When in doubt, call the clerk and ask which division handles probate.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form AOC-841 Line by Line
Work top to bottom. The top of page 1 holds the case caption, the middle holds five numbered asset categories, and page 2 holds your signature and the clerk’s certificate. Use the exact field names printed on the form, list only probate assets, and value everything as of the date of death.
Case No.
What it asks in plain English. This box wants the probate case number the court already assigned to this estate.
How to answer it. Copy the case number exactly as it appears on your Letters or your appointment order, including the year prefix and any dashes. Match the format on your court paperwork character for character.
Example entry. James Carter, executor of his mother’s estate, writes 26-P-00214 in the Case No. box because that is the number printed on his Letters Testamentary.
Nuance or edge case. If you are filing before a case number is assigned, you are filing too early; the number is created when the estate is opened, so wait for your appointment paperwork.
Common mistake and consequence. Writing a guessed or transposed case number sends your inventory into the wrong file, where it sits unmatched and the clerk treats your estate as if no inventory was ever filed.
Misconception. Some people think the case number is the same as the decedent’s Social Security number or a county tracking code; it is neither, it is the court-assigned probate docket number.
Court
What it asks in plain English. This line identifies which level of court holds the estate.
How to answer it. Write District Court, because Kentucky probate is handled in District Court, not Circuit Court, for ordinary estates. Keep it short and exact.
Example entry. Maria Lopez writes District in the Court box for her late husband’s estate.
Nuance or edge case. A small number of contested or transferred matters move to Circuit Court, but the AOC-841 inventory itself is a District Court filing in nearly every estate.
Common mistake and consequence. Writing Circuit sends paperwork to the wrong clerk window and can bounce your filing back to you, burning days off your 60-day deadline.
Misconception. People assume “Court” means the courthouse building or the judge’s name; it means the type of court, which is District.
County
What it asks in plain English. This box asks which Kentucky county is handling the estate.
How to answer it. Enter the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, the same county that issued your Letters. Spell the full county name.
Example entry. For a Louisville decedent, James writes Jefferson; for a Covington decedent, he would write Kenton.
Nuance or edge case. If the person owned a home in one county but truly lived in another, use the county of legal residence, not where the vacation house sits; out-of-county real estate is still listed on this form.
Common mistake and consequence. Naming the wrong county means you may have opened probate in the wrong place, which can void the appointment and force you to start over.
Misconception. Filers think they pick the most convenient county; venue is set by the decedent’s domicile, not your preference.
Division
What it asks in plain English. This box names the specific division or docket within the county court.
How to answer it. Copy the division from your appointment order; in many counties this is left blank or shows a Roman numeral or letter. If your paperwork shows none, leave it blank.
Example entry. Maria copies II into the Division box because her Letters show Division II.
Nuance or edge case. Small counties often have a single division, so a blank is normal and will not get your form rejected.
Common mistake and consequence. Inventing a division number that does not exist can misroute your form inside a large county like Jefferson, delaying the clerk’s matching of your filing.
Misconception. People believe Division must always be filled; it is fine to leave blank when your order does not assign one.
IN RE: Estate of (Decedent’s Name)
What it asks in plain English. This is the caption naming the deceased person whose estate you are inventorying.
How to answer it. Write the decedent’s full legal name as it appears on the death certificate and your Letters, including middle name or initial. Match the court file exactly.
Example entry. James writes Estate of Helen Marie Carter because that is the name on the order appointing him.
Nuance or edge case. If the person used a nickname or maiden name on some accounts, still use the full legal name here; you can note other names when you describe specific assets.
Common mistake and consequence. Using a nickname (Estate of Lennie Carter instead of Helen Marie Carter) creates a name mismatch with the court file and can hold up acceptance.
Misconception. Filers think they should add their own name as executor in this line; this caption names only the decedent, not the fiduciary.
Date the Inventory Was Made
What it asks in plain English. Just under the heading, the form states the inventory is “made this date,” asking the day you completed the inventory.
How to answer it. Enter the date you finalized the list, written clearly, for example 04/18/2026. This is the day you signed off on your values, not the date of death.
Example entry. Maria writes 04/18/2026 because that is the day she finished counting and valuing the estate.
Nuance or edge case. This date should fall within your 60-day window; if it is past the deadline, file anyway and be ready to explain the delay to the court.
Common mistake and consequence. Confusing this with the date of death scrambles your records and can make values look like they were pulled from the wrong day.
Misconception. People think this date must match the filing date at the clerk; it is the date you prepared the inventory, which can be a few days before you file.
Section 1 — Real Property (Include description and address)
What it asks in plain English. This section asks for every piece of land or real estate the decedent owned in their name alone, with a description, address, and value at date of death.
How to answer it. On each line, write the property type, the street address, and enough legal description to identify it, then put the date-of-death value in the dollar box to the right. Use the PVA assessment or, better, an appraisal as your value source.
Example entry. James lists Single-family home, 1420 Maple Ave., Louisville, KY 40204 and writes $245,000 in the Value (at date of death) box.
Nuance or edge case. Real estate that the decedent owned with a spouse as survivorship property or in joint tenancy with right of survivorship is non-probate and does not go here; only property titled to the decedent alone (or as tenants in common) belongs in Section 1.
Common mistake and consequence. Listing a jointly owned survivorship home inflates the probate estate and can wrongly expose it to creditor claims, causing disputes that delay distribution.
Misconception. Filers think out-of-state property goes here; only Kentucky real property is inventoried on AOC-841, and land in another state is handled by ancillary probate there.
Section 2 — Motor Vehicles (Include description and VIN number)
What it asks in plain English. This section asks for cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, trailers, and similar titled vehicles, with a description, the VIN, and value.
How to answer it. For each vehicle, write the year, make, model, and full 17-character VIN, then enter the date-of-death value. Use NADA, Kelley Blue Book, or a dealer quote for the value.
Example entry. Marcus, administrator of his uncle’s estate, lists 2019 Toyota Camry, VIN 4T1B11HK5KU000000 and writes $18,500.
Nuance or edge case. A vehicle titled with a Transfer-on-Death (TOD) beneficiary or co-owned with survivorship rights is non-probate and stays off the form.
Common mistake and consequence. Leaving off the VIN forces the clerk to question the entry and can stall the inventory, since the VIN is how the asset is identified for title transfer.
Misconception. People think only running, drivable cars count; an inoperable vehicle still has value (even salvage value) and must be listed.
Section 3 — Personal Property (furniture, artwork, jewelry, etc.)
What it asks in plain English. This section covers tangible belongings: furniture, household goods, artwork, jewelry, collectibles, tools, and firearms.
How to answer it. Group like items into reasonable lines (Household furnishings, Jewelry, Firearms collection) and assign each a fair date-of-death value. You do not need to list every fork; group sensibly and value honestly.
Example entry. Maria writes Household furniture and appliances valued at $3,200 and a separate line Diamond engagement ring valued at $4,500.
Nuance or edge case. High-value single items such as a painting, a coin collection, or a Rolex should be valued by a written appraisal, not a guess, because the court and heirs may scrutinize them.
Common mistake and consequence. Lumping a $20,000 art piece into “household goods” undervalues the estate and can later be seen as concealing assets, exposing you to fiduciary liability.
Misconception. Filers think used furniture has near-zero value worth skipping; you still must list it at fair market (resale) value, which is real, even if modest.
Section 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents (Include account type)
What it asks in plain English. This section asks for bank accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and actual cash, by account type, with value.
How to answer it. List each account by type and institution, redact the account number, and enter the balance as of the date of death. Write something like Checking account, First National Bank, acct. ending xxxx.
Example entry. Marcus enters Savings account, Chase Bank with a value of $12,740 and Cash on hand of $300.
Nuance or edge case. Accounts with a Payable-on-Death (POD) beneficiary or a joint owner with survivorship are non-probate and do not belong here; only accounts in the decedent’s sole name with no beneficiary go in Section 4.
Common mistake and consequence. Writing the full account number violates CR 7.03, the redaction rule, and the clerk can reject the filing or, worse, expose sensitive data in a public file.
Misconception. People think a POD or “in trust for” account is probate cash; it passes outside probate and stays off the inventory.
Section 5 — Other
What it asks in plain English. This catch-all section captures assets that do not fit the first four categories, such as stocks, bonds, business interests, intellectual property, and debts owed to the decedent.
How to answer it. Describe each item clearly and give a date-of-death value. List brokerage holdings, LLC membership interests, promissory notes payable to the decedent, royalties, and similar property here.
Example entry. Janet, executor of a 22-year marriage estate, lists 50% membership interest in Carter Landscaping LLC valued at $60,000 and Brokerage account (stocks), Fidelity at $85,000.
Nuance or edge case. A business interest almost always needs a professional valuation, because its worth is rarely the same as the bank balance; an appraiser or CPA should set the figure.
Common mistake and consequence. Guessing a business value can drastically over- or under-state the estate, triggering heir objections and forcing an amended inventory.
Misconception. Filers think life insurance proceeds go here; insurance paid to a named beneficiary is non-probate and is not listed at all.
Total Estimated Value
What it asks in plain English. This single dollar box at the bottom asks for the sum of every value you entered in Sections 1 through 5.
How to answer it. Add up all the date-of-death values from all five sections and write the total. Double-check the math with a calculator before you sign.
Example entry. Janet adds her real property, vehicle, accounts, business, and brokerage lines and writes $535,000 in the Total Estimated Value box.
Nuance or edge case. If you later discover an asset, you file an amended inventory and the total changes; the total is a snapshot, not a permanent figure.
Common mistake and consequence. A total that does not match the sum of the lines is the most common arithmetic error and makes the clerk and heirs distrust the entire inventory.
Misconception. People think the total should reflect what the estate is worth today; it must reflect value on the date of death, even if markets moved since.
Signature of Executor/Administrator
What it asks in plain English. This line is where you, the fiduciary, sign to swear the inventory is full and complete.
How to answer it. Sign your legal name in ink exactly as you are appointed, after you have reviewed every line. Your signature certifies the inventory is true to the best of your knowledge.
Example entry. James signs James R. Carter as Executor.
Nuance or edge case. If there are co-fiduciaries, each one signs; one signature is not enough when two people were appointed together.
Common mistake and consequence. Signing before the form is complete, then making changes, can make the sworn statement inaccurate and undermine your credibility with the court.
Misconception. The current Rev. 12-25 form does not carry the old notary “subscribed and sworn” block, so people from older guides wrongly hunt for a notary; confirm your local clerk’s preference, but the current form relies on your signature.
Attorney Information (To be completed if represented by counsel)
What it asks in plain English. This block asks for your lawyer’s name, address, phone, and email, but only if an attorney represents you.
How to answer it. If you have a lawyer, print their name, mailing address, phone number, and email. If you are filing pro se (on your own), leave this block blank.
Example entry. Janet’s attorney enters Sarah Lin, 200 Main St., Lexington, KY 40507, with phone and email filled in.
Nuance or edge case. Self-represented filers may leave every attorney line empty; that is fully allowed and does not weaken the filing.
Common mistake and consequence. A pro se filer writing their own name in the attorney block confuses the court about representation and can misroute notices.
Misconception. People think they must hire a lawyer to file; you may file AOC-841 yourself, and this block simply stays blank.
Clerk’s Certificate
What it asks in plain English. This bottom block is not filled out by you; the clerk completes it to certify the inventory was returned in duplicate, filed, and mailed to the Commissioner of Revenue.
How to answer it. Leave it blank. The District Court Clerk dates and signs it, files the original, and mails the duplicate to the Kentucky Department of Revenue.
Example entry. The clerk writes the filing date and signs as Clerk, with a deputy clerk signing on the “By: ___ D.C.” line.
Nuance or edge case. Because the clerk mails a copy to the Revenue Cabinet, your inventory feeds the state’s records; this is why accurate values matter beyond the heirs.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers who fill in the clerk’s certificate themselves create an invalid certification, and the clerk must cross it out and redo it.
Misconception. People think they file only one copy; the form is returned in duplicate, so bring or send two copies so the clerk can file one and mail one.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common estates walked through AOC-841 from top to bottom. Each follows one named fiduciary and shows what they enter in the key sections.
Scenario 1 — Small estate, no real property (Robert files for his late brother). Robert’s brother died with just a car and a checking account in his sole name.
| Form Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Case No. | 26-P-00098 |
| Court / County / Division | District / Jefferson / (blank) |
| IN RE: Estate of | Estate of Daniel P. Hayes |
| Date inventory made | 03/22/2026 |
| Section 1 — Real Property | (none) |
| Section 2 — Motor Vehicles | 2016 Honda Civic, VIN 19XFC2F50GE000000 — $11,200 |
| Section 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents | Checking account, PNC Bank, acct. ending xxxx — $4,830 |
| Total Estimated Value | $16,030 |
| Signature | Robert M. Hayes, Administrator |
Scenario 2 — Mid-size estate with a house, vehicle, and accounts (Maria files for her husband). Maria’s husband owned a home in his name alone, one car, furniture, and bank accounts.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Case No. | 26-P-00451 |
| Court / County | District / Fayette |
| IN RE: Estate of | Estate of Antonio R. Lopez |
| Section 1 — Real Property | Single-family home, 78 Oak Hill Rd., Lexington, KY 40502 — $268,000 |
| Section 2 — Motor Vehicles | 2020 Ford F-150, VIN 1FTEW1EP0LF000000 — $27,400 |
| Section 3 — Personal Property | Household furnishings — $5,000; Diamond ring — $4,500 |
| Section 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents | Savings account, Central Bank — $22,150 |
| Total Estimated Value | $327,050 |
| Signature | Maria E. Lopez, Executrix |
Scenario 3 — Estate with business and investments (Janet files after a 22-year marriage). Janet’s late spouse owned a home, a brokerage account, and a stake in a small business.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Case No. | 26-P-00677 |
| Court / County | District / Kenton |
| IN RE: Estate of | Estate of Gregory T. Carter |
| Section 1 — Real Property | Home, 305 River St., Covington, KY 41011 — $310,000 |
| Section 2 — Motor Vehicles | 2018 Subaru Outback, VIN 4S4BSANC0J3000000 — $16,000 |
| Section 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents | Checking account, Fifth Third Bank — $9,000 |
| Section 5 — Other | 50% interest in Carter Landscaping LLC — $60,000; Brokerage account, Fidelity — $85,000 |
| Total Estimated Value | $480,000 |
| Signature | Janet L. Carter, Executrix |
How to File the Completed Form
You file AOC-841 with the District Court Clerk in the county where the estate is open, and you file it in duplicate so the clerk keeps the original and mails the copy to the Department of Revenue. Kentucky probate inventories are generally filed in person or by mail; most counties do not offer online e-filing for this form, so plan on paper.
- In person. Bring two signed copies to the District Court Clerk’s probate window, for example the Jefferson County Clerk of Courts in Louisville. There is typically no separate filing fee for the inventory itself, though you should confirm with your county, since some clerks charge small copy or certification fees. Ask the clerk to stamp your personal extra copy as proof of filing.
- By mail. Send two signed copies to the District Court Clerk’s office address for your county, with a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return a file-stamped copy. Use certified mail with return receipt as your proof of filing, and allow several days for processing.
Whichever channel you use, keep a file-stamped copy for your records. That stamp is your evidence that you met the 60-day deadline under KRS 395.250 if anyone ever questions whether you filed on time.
What Happens After You File
Once the clerk accepts your inventory, the original goes into the court file and a duplicate is mailed to the Kentucky Department of Revenue, which uses it for state tax and records purposes. The inventory becomes part of the public estate record, which is why redacting account numbers under CR 7.03 matters so much.
Filing the inventory does not close the estate; it is an early milestone. After it, you continue paying valid creditor claims, handling taxes, and eventually filing a settlement (an informal settlement on Form AOC-850 or a periodic/final settlement on Form AOC-846) before the estate can be closed.
If you discover an asset you missed or learn a value was wrong, you file an amended inventory with the corrected figures. Courts expect occasional corrections, and filing an honest amendment protects you far better than leaving a known error in place, which can look like concealment and expose you to personal liability.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Listing non-probate assets. Putting POD accounts or survivorship property on the form inflates the estate and can wrongly expose it to creditors.
- Failing to redact account numbers. Showing full numbers violates CR 7.03 and can get the filing rejected or leak private data.
- Valuing assets as of today instead of date of death. The wrong valuation date throws off the entire inventory and any tax figures tied to it.
- Forgetting the VIN on vehicles. A missing VIN stalls the entry and complicates later title transfer.
- Math errors in the Total Estimated Value. A total that does not match the lines makes the whole inventory look unreliable.
- Guessing business or art values. Unsupported figures invite heir objections and forced amendments.
- Using the wrong form revision. An outdated Rev. 2-17 copy can mean a rejected, re-done filing.
- Naming the wrong court or county. Wrong venue can void the appointment and restart probate.
- Leaving valuable personal property off the list. Omitting a coin collection or firearms can be seen as concealing assets.
- Filing only one copy. The form must be returned in duplicate, so a single copy gets bounced.
- Missing the 60-day deadline. Late filing can lead the court to remove you as fiduciary.
- Filling in the clerk’s certificate yourself. That block is the clerk’s job and self-completing it invalidates the certification.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do file within 60 days of your appointment, because the deadline under KRS 395.250 protects your role.
- Do value everything as of the date of death, since that is the legal standard the form requires.
- Do redact account numbers to comply with CR 7.03 and keep private data out of the public file.
- Do get appraisals for real estate, business interests, and high-value items so your numbers hold up.
- Do keep a file-stamped copy as proof you met the deadline.
- Do file an amended inventory the moment you find an error, to protect yourself from liability.
Don’t:
- Don’t list non-probate assets, because they pass outside court and do not belong here.
- Don’t guess at business or collectible values, since unsupported numbers draw objections.
- Don’t use an old form revision, as the clerk may reject it.
- Don’t skip the VIN or address details, because the clerk needs them to identify assets.
- Don’t fill in the clerk’s certificate, since only the clerk may certify the filing.
- Don’t forget the second copy, because the form is filed in duplicate.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing Pro Se (On Your Own) | Filing With an Attorney |
|---|---|
| Pro: Saves legal fees, which can run into thousands on a Kentucky estate | Pro: A lawyer catches probate-vs-non-probate errors before they cost you |
| Pro: You control the pace and deal with the clerk directly | Pro: Professional valuations and language reduce the chance of rejection |
| Pro: Simple estates (a car and one account) are very manageable alone | Pro: Helpful when heirs dispute values or assets are complex |
| Con: Easy to mis-handle redaction, venue, or valuation as a first-timer | Con: Attorney fees reduce what heirs ultimately receive |
| Con: Mistakes can mean rejections, delays, and even removal | Con: You give up some direct control of the timeline |
| Con: No professional to spot fiduciary-liability traps | Con: Overkill for a tiny, clean estate where a lawyer is not needed |
FAQs
Do I list the house if it was jointly owned with my spouse?
No. A home held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship passes outside probate to the surviving owner, so it does not go on AOC-841. Only solely owned or tenant-in-common property is listed.
Do I include life insurance proceeds on the inventory?
No. Life insurance paid to a named beneficiary is a non-probate asset and is not listed at all. It bypasses the estate and goes straight to the beneficiary.
Do I write the full bank account number in Section 4?
No. You must redact account numbers under CR 7.03 and show only the account type and last digits, like acct. ending xxxx, to protect private data in the public file.
Do I value assets as of the date of death or the date I file?
Yes, value them as of the date of death. The form specifically asks for “Value (at date of death),” even if the market or condition changed by your filing date.
Do I have to file the inventory within a deadline?
Yes. Under KRS 395.250 you must file within two months (60 days) of your appointment, and missing it can lead the court to remove you as fiduciary.
Do POD or “in trust for” bank accounts go in Section 4?
No. Payable-on-Death and survivorship accounts pass outside probate to the named person, so they stay off the form entirely.
Do I need a professional appraiser for the house?
Yes, in most cases a formal appraisal or at least the PVA assessed value is wise, because real estate is high-value and heirs or the court may question a casual estimate.
Do I list a vehicle that does not run?
Yes. An inoperable car still has value, even salvage value, and must be listed in Section 2 with its description and VIN.
Do I leave the attorney block blank if I file myself?
Yes. The attorney block is only for filers represented by counsel, so pro se filers leave every attorney line empty.
Do I complete the Clerk’s Certificate at the bottom?
No. The District Court Clerk fills that block in, dates it, signs it, and mails a duplicate to the Department of Revenue; you must not complete it.
Do I need to get AOC-841 notarized?
No, the current Rev. 12-25 form relies on your fiduciary signature rather than the old notary block, though you should confirm any local clerk preference before filing.
Do I file just one copy of the inventory?
No. The form is returned to the clerk in duplicate, so you file two signed copies, one for the court file and one mailed to the Revenue Cabinet.
Do I include money other people owed the decedent?
Yes. Debts payable to the decedent, like a personal loan or a final unpaid wage, are estate assets and belong in Section 5 (Other) at their date-of-death value.
Do I have to amend the inventory if I find a new asset?
Yes. File an amended inventory with corrected figures as soon as you discover a missed asset or wrong value, because honest correction protects you from concealment claims.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out the Indiana Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Kansas Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Kentucky Final Account and Petition for Distribution (Form AOC-846)
- How to Fill Out Kentucky Notice to Creditors (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Kentucky Small Estate Affidavit (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Oklahoma Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate (+ FAQs)
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Petition for Probate of Will (w/Examples) + FAQs