Short answer

Usually: not automatically. Whether a co‑heir must reimburse you for a recent appraisal before you finalize an estate buyout in Kentucky depends on who ordered the appraisal, whether it was a proper estate administration expense, any written agreement between the heirs, and any court orders. If the appraisal was ordered as part of official estate administration (by the executor/administrator or under court direction), the cost may be paid from estate funds or allocated among heirs. If you commissioned the appraisal on your own to value your buyout, a co‑heir generally is not required to reimburse you unless they agreed to do so or a Kentucky court orders reimbursement as part of a settlement, partition action, or accounting.

Detailed answer — how this works in Kentucky

This section explains the typical legal principles and practical steps under Kentucky procedures. This is a general explanation and not legal advice.

1. Who hired the appraiser matters

If the personal representative (executor or administrator) of the estate ordered the appraisal because it was necessary for estate administration (to value property, prepare an inventory, or determine sale price), that appraisal is usually an estate administration expense. Proper administration expenses can be paid from estate assets and apportioned among heirs according to Kentucky probate procedures. For general information about Kentucky probate and estate administration resources, see the Kentucky Revised Statutes and Kentucky Court resources: Kentucky Revised Statutes (searchable) and Kentucky Court of Justice.

2. If an heir ordered the appraisal for their own benefit

If you, as one heir, independently hired an appraiser to set a buyout number and you did not get the other co‑heir(s) to agree in advance to split the fee, the other heirs usually are not automatically responsible for that fee. Courts typically treat that as a personal expense unless the other heirs agreed in writing or a court finds equitable grounds to reallocate costs.

3. Written agreements and buyout terms control

If the heirs signed a buyout agreement (or a letter, email, or court‑approved agreement) that allocates appraisal costs, the agreement governs. For example, an agreement might say the buyer pays for the appraisal or the cost will be split. Enforce that written term under Kentucky contract principles; absent an agreement, you must negotiate or seek a court ruling.

4. Probate court and partition actions

If heirs cannot agree, an heir can ask the probate court to settle valuation or request partition (sale or division of property). In partition or accounting proceedings, the court can appoint appraisers or commissioners and allocate costs among parties. If a court orders an appraisal or authorizes the executor to get one, the cost can be charged to the estate or split—for specifics, consult the probate rules and procedures at the Kentucky Court of Justice: https://courts.ky.gov/.

5. Practical steps to protect your position

• Document who requested and paid for the appraisal and why.
• Check the will, any signed buyout agreement, or administrator instructions for cost‑allocation language.
• If the executor ordered the appraisal, request a written explanation that the appraisal is an estate administration expense and ask that the estate pay or evenly split the cost.
• If you paid personally and want reimbursement, present the appraisal report, invoice, and a written demand to the co‑heir before filing anything with the court.
• If the co‑heir refuses, consider mediation, filing a petition in probate court for an accounting or contribution, or raising the issue in a partition action.

6. How courts typically decide disputes over appraisal costs

Court decisions often turn on fairness and the facts: whether the appraisal was necessary for administration, whether the expense benefited the estate as a whole, whether the appraisal was reasonable, and whether a co‑heir unreasonably refused to participate in the buyout. Kentucky courts can order equitable adjustments in distributions or award costs in an accounting or partition case.

7. Example (hypothetical)

Example fact pattern: Two siblings inherit a house as co‑owners. The executor hires an appraiser to value the house for inventory and sale; the estate pays the bill, and the value is used to offer one sibling a buyout. That appraisal is an administration expense. Contrast: One sibling privately hires an appraiser to support a separate buyout offer and pays the fee; the other sibling did not agree to split the fee. The paying sibling cannot force reimbursement unless the other sibling agrees or a court orders otherwise.

How to ask for reimbursement — a step‑by‑step practical checklist

1. Locate any relevant documents: the will, the inventory, executor directions, buyout agreement, emails, and the appraisal invoice/report.
2. Ask the executor or co‑heir for a written statement about why the appraisal was ordered and who should pay.
3. Send a formal written demand for reimbursement with copies of the invoice and appraisal, stating a deadline and citing any agreement or probate instruction.
4. If they refuse, consider mediation or negotiation with an attorney; small disputes may be resolved in informal settlement.
5. If negotiation fails, consult a Kentucky probate attorney about a petition to the probate court for an accounting, equitable adjustment, or inclusion of the appraisal cost as an estate expense.

Helpful hints

• Get agreements in writing. A short buyout term that allocates appraisal costs avoids many disputes.
• Ask the executor to order appraisals when possible so the appraisal becomes an estate expense rather than a personal one.
• Use a licensed, reputable appraiser and keep the invoice and report—courts look at reasonableness.
• Consider a joint appraisal or mutually agreed appraiser to reduce conflict and cost.
• If the amount is small, weigh the cost of litigation vs. the amount to recover.
• Consult a Kentucky probate attorney if you face resistance or complex estate facts; local counsel can cite specific KRS sections and court rules that apply to your case.