Kentucky estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Kentucky
Kentucky sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Kentucky will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Kentucky law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Kentucky estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | two witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | No (self-proving affidavit optional) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Recognized |
| Electronic wills | Not permitted |
| State estate tax | None |
| State inheritance tax | Yes |
| Community property | No (separate / common-law property) |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Kentucky courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Kentucky
A Kentucky will must be in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses. Notarization is not required for the will to be valid, but a self-proving affidavit — which is notarized — makes probate easier by removing the need for your witnesses to testify later. Kentucky recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, but a properly witnessed will is far stronger and easier to probate.
Spousal protection. Dower/curtesy via renunciation (KRS 392.080/392.020) — note 2026 SB50 amendments (eff. 7/15/2026). A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Kentucky
A will still has to pass through Kentucky probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Kentucky situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Kentucky
A financial power of attorney in Kentucky must be acknowledged before a notary to be effective. (KRS 457.050)
A Kentucky healthcare directive can be signed before either two witnesses or a notary. (KRS 311.625)
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Kentucky's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Kentucky estate & inheritance tax
Kentucky has no state estate tax, but it does levy an inheritance tax paid by certain beneficiaries depending on their relationship to the decedent. There is no Kentucky estate tax on top of the federal one.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Kentucky department of revenue.
Kentucky statutes referenced
- KRS 394.040
- KRS 457.050
- KRS 311.625
Kentucky estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Kentucky?
- Yes. Kentucky does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Kentucky's execution rules. A will is valid in Kentucky when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people (KRS 394.040). Estateur builds each Kentucky will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Kentucky?
- Kentucky requires two witnesses to sign your will. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Kentucky also recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, though a witnessed will is stronger.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Kentucky?
- No. Kentucky law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Kentucky documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Kentucky attorney is wise.
- Does Kentucky have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Kentucky has no state estate tax, but it does levy an inheritance tax paid by certain beneficiaries depending on their relationship to the decedent. There is no Kentucky estate tax on top of the federal one.
- How much does an online will cost in Kentucky?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Kentucky as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Kentucky estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Kentucky, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Kentucky law in general terms and may change.
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