Which Kentucky court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court: Small Claims Division | Up to $2,500 | KRS 24A.230 |
| Limited civil | District Court Exclusive civil jurisdiction to $5,000. | Up to $5,000 | KRS 24A.120 |
| General civil | Circuit Court Over $5,000. | No limit | KRS 23A.010 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Ky. CR 12.01).
15 Kentucky forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Kentucky practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Civil Summons (AOC-105)CR 4 / CR 12.01: 20-day answer; sheriff's return on the form
- Civil Case Cover Sheet (AOC-104)MANDATORY for every initial civil filing: S. Ct. Orders 2019-17, 2021-04
- Return of ServiceCR 4: standalone proof; AOC-105 carries its own return section
- Motion for Waiver of Costs and Fees (AOC-026)KRS 453.190: in forma pauperis (AOC-026, not AOC-025.1)
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalCR 41.01: voluntary dismissal
- Motion for Default JudgmentCR 55.01: attorney-drafted; SCRA affidavit required
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentCR 55.01: 6% compounded annually (KRS 360.040); contract-rate override
- Order of Wage Garnishment (AOC-150)KRS 425.501, 425.506: clerk issues, no judge; continuing lien until satisfied
- Execution (AOC-135)KRS 426.020: sheriff levies on nonexempt property
- Post-Judgment InterrogatoriesCR 69.03 · KRS 426.381: attorney-drafted asset discovery
- Non-Wage Garnishment (AOC-145 + AOC-150.1)KRS 425.501: bank/third-party; 20-day garnishee answer
- Supplemental Wage Garnishment (AOC-150.5)Affidavit and Supplemental Order: renewal; continues the KRS 425.506 lien
- Foreign Judgment Registration (AOC-160)KRS 426.950-426.975: domesticates out-of-state judgment; 20-day wait before execution
- Satisfaction of JudgmentAttorney-drafted: releases the judgment of record
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Kentucky matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Civil Summons (AOC-105) · Civil Case Cover Sheet (AOC-104) · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Summons (AOC-105) · Civil Case Cover Sheet (AOC-104) · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Order of Wage Garnishment (AOC-150) · Non-Wage Garnishment (AOC-145 + AOC-150.1) · Execution (AOC-135) · Post-Judgment Interrogatories
Fee Waiver
Motion for Waiver of Costs and Fees (AOC-026)
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Kentucky county are in the 1Court Directory: Kentucky.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.