Short answer

If an estate qualifies as a small estate under Kentucky law, you can typically stop or wrap up formal administration and use the small‑estate affidavit or other simplified procedures to collect and distribute personal property. To do that you must (1) determine whether Kentucky’s small‑estate rules apply to the remaining assets, (2) consult the probate clerk or file a formal motion with the court to close or suspend formal administration, and (3) prepare and use the required affidavit or short‑form process to collect and distribute the property after giving notice to known creditors. Because statutes and local practice matter, talk with the county clerk or a probate attorney before you proceed.

How Kentucky’s simplified (small‑estate) procedures work — the basics

Kentucky provides streamlined ways to transfer certain types of a decedent’s property without full administration. Those procedures are designed for estates with limited assets or where only a few specific items must change hands. The typical elements are:

• Threshold — Kentucky limits which estates can use the simplified procedure. Check the applicable probate statutes and local clerks for the current dollar limits and rules (statutes and local practice can change).
• Who may use it — A surviving spouse, heir, or a person entitled to property under the will can usually use the small‑estate affidavit or similar form to claim personal property.
• What it covers — Small‑estate procedures usually cover personal property (bank accounts, household goods, vehicles in some cases). Real property transfers typically require a different procedure.
• Notice and creditor rights — Even with a small‑estate affidavit, Kentucky law requires adherence to certain notice rules so creditors have an opportunity to make claims.

Step‑by‑step: switching from formal administration to a small‑estate process

1. Inventory the estate.

   List all assets still in the decedent’s name, with realistic values. Include cash, bank accounts, personal property, vehicles, and any payable‑on‑death or transfer‑on‑death assets. If you are currently administering the estate, prepare a short report showing what remains.

2. Confirm eligibility for Kentucky’s small‑estate procedures.

   Compare the remaining assets against Kentucky’s thresholds and the kinds of property that may be collected with an affidavit or other simplified method. If the value or type of assets disqualifies the estate, you will need to continue formal administration. For statute text and guidance, consult the Kentucky Revised Statutes and the Kentucky Court of Justice:

   • Kentucky Revised Statutes, probate and administration chapter (search chapter 395)
   • Kentucky Court of Justice (probate information and local clerk contacts)
3. Talk to the county probate clerk or your attorney.

   Different counties may follow slightly different clerical practices. The clerk can tell you whether the estate can be handled by affidavit in that county, whether you must first move to close the formal administration, and what forms the court expects.

4. If an administrator or personal representative is appointed: decide how to proceed.

   If the court already appointed an administrator or executor, you generally cannot unilaterally use a small‑estate affidavit to reach estate property without addressing the open administration. Typical options include:

   • Filing a motion or agreed petition to close the administration or to settle the estate and discharge the administrator if the estate is settled and remaining property is within the small‑estate limit;
   • Asking the court to authorize distribution of specific items under a simplified process;
   • If the administrator agrees, having the administrator execute the small‑estate affidavit or otherwise transfer the remaining personal property directly to heirs.

   The clerk or an attorney can advise on the exact pleading or motion needed in your county.

5. Prepare the required affidavit or small‑estate paperwork.

   Complete the affidavit or short form the court/clerk requires. Typical information includes the decedent’s identity, a list of heirs, the property claimed, the value of the property, and statements about the absence of pending administration (or disclosure of the open administration and court approval). The affidavit must be notarized.

6. Give required notices and wait statutory timeframes for creditor claims.

   Even small‑estate procedures usually require that known creditors be notified and that a waiting period pass before distribution. Make sure you follow Kentucky’s notice rules so that the person collecting property does not later face personal liability for creditor claims.

7. Collect and distribute assets.

   After filing the affidavit and meeting notice/waiting requirements, present the affidavit to banks or other holders of property. Follow any bank requirements for releasing funds. Keep detailed records and receipts of distributions.

8. File any required closing paperwork.

   If the court requires a final report or discharge for the administrator, or a short form notification that the small‑estate process was used, file that paperwork with the clerk to close the file cleanly.

Hypothetical example

A decedent’s administrator in Jefferson County finds that, after paying debts, only a few bank accounts and some household items remain with a combined value under the county’s small‑estate threshold. The administrator talks to the county clerk, who confirms the remaining property can be transferred by affidavit if the court closes the formal administration. The administrator files a joint motion to close the estate and a small‑estate affidavit listing the assets and heirs, gives the required creditor notice, waits the statutory period, and then uses the affidavit to collect bank funds and distribute them to the heirs. The administrator then files the final closing statement and is discharged.

Helpful hints

• Don’t guess about eligibility. Confirm the current dollar thresholds and permitted property types with the probate clerk or an attorney.
• Document everything: inventory, valuations, bank statements, notices to creditors, and receipts for distributions.
• If an administrator is already appointed, get the court’s permission to change to a small‑estate method. Acting without the court’s approval risks personal liability.
• Watch deadlines for creditor claims. Simple procedures still require compliance with notice and waiting periods.
• Some assets (real estate, certain pensions, jointly held property) often fall outside small‑estate procedures and require separate handling.
• When in doubt, ask the county clerk for the required forms or consult a probate attorney for a short consult — small errors can be costly.