Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Kentucky County
Clinton County, Kentucky
Dale Hollow Lake - world-record smallmouth bass and crystal-clear water - from Dale Hollow Lake's Clinton County border (the crystal-clear Corps of Engineers reservoir straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee border near Albany - consistently ranked among the clearest lakes in the eastern United States - produced the world-record smallmouth bass in 1955 and continues to attract anglers and water recreation enthusiasts to one of the most scenically beautiful lakes in the mid-South) and Albany's traditional south-central Kentucky courthouse community heritage.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Clinton County Emergency Management – 100 Emergency Drive, Albany, KY 42602 | (606) 387-9163 or (606) 387-8636. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM.
Sheriff: Clinton County Sheriff’s Office – 100 South Cross Street, Suite 112, Albany, KY 42602 | (606) 387-5111 | Fax (606) 387-5463; Sheriff Ricky Marcum, in office since January 2023, a 21-year law enforcement veteran (Albany and Monticello police departments) and lifelong Clinton County resident.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-127 serves Albany, the county seat, in south-central Kentucky along the Tennessee border in the Pennyrile region.
Notes: Clinton County, formed February 20, 1835 from parts of Cumberland and Wayne counties, is named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York and driving force behind the Erie Canal. The county remains legally “dry.” Albany’s name may derive from a local legend that a shout of “All for Benny!” (honoring tavern owner Benjamin Dowell) during the county-seat vote was misheard as “Albany.”
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Clinton County Courthouse – Albany, KY.
Notes: Clinton County’s portion of Dale Hollow Lake (which straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border, shared with neighboring Cumberland County) is genuinely the site of the all-tackle world record smallmouth bass – an 11-pound, 15-ounce fish caught by David L. Hayes on July 9, 1955, while trolling in the Kentucky section of the lake. The catch has withstood decades of scrutiny and controversy (including a later tampering allegation that was ultimately not upheld) and still stands as the largest smallmouth bass ever recorded; remarkably, the second- and third-largest smallmouth bass on record were also caught at Dale Hollow.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Clinton County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via clintoncounty.ky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Clinton County Public Library (Albany) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Dale Hollow Lake (27,700 acres, 620 miles of shoreline, world-renowned smallmouth bass fishery) is the county’s premier natural attraction.
Notes: The genuine world-record smallmouth bass catch is one of the most nationally significant sport-fishing facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Clinton County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) – confirm current contact via clintoncounty.ky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Tri-County Animal Shelter – 1990 KY-90, Albany, KY 42602 | (606) 387-0943; serves Clinton, Cumberland, and Wayne counties jointly. Adoption fees: dogs $65 (spay/neuter, DHPP, dewormer), cats $50 (spay/neuter, rabies).
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Clinton County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via clintoncounty.ky.gov.
NOTES: Clinton County is the fifth county in Kentucky’s fourth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine world-record smallmouth bass catch at Dale Hollow Lake is one of the most nationally significant sport-fishing facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Clinton County
Clinton County borders Dale Hollow Lake – the crystal-clear Corps reservoir that produced the world-record smallmouth bass in 1955 is consistently ranked among the clearest lakes in the eastern US, and the lake’s scenic beauty draws anglers and water recreation visitors to the Kentucky-Tennessee border community.
Albany (the county seat, population ~2,000) serves Clinton County’s agricultural and lake tourism communities near the Tennessee border.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Clinton County PVA at 100 S. Cross Street, Suite 4, Albany, KY 42602, phone 606-387-5938. KY residential assessed at 100% of fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Clinton County Circuit Court at 100 S. Cross Street, Albany, KY 42602, phone 606-387-6424, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-5943
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-6480
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-5943
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Clinton County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Lake Cumberland is a significant local natural and recreational landmark.
Local societies
No dedicated Clinton County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Clinton County District Court 100 South Cross Street, Albany, KY 42602 (606) 387-6424
Clinton County is on the Tennessee border in south-central Kentucky, seated in Albany, near Lake Cumberland.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Kentucky has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code; probate is governed by KRS Chapter 395 (Administration of Estates), handled by the District Court in the county where the decedent resided (KRS 24A.120).
Dispensing with Administration – Kentucky’s simplified small-estate procedure, governed by KRS 395.450, 395.455, and 395.470. Available when the value of the personal estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $30,000, and the petitioner is a surviving spouse, adult child, or other qualifying heir/preferred creditor. The petitioner files a Petition to Dispense with Administration (Form AOC-830) with an affidavit listing assets, debts, and proposed distribution – no personal representative or full administration is required. Real estate is generally not covered by this procedure.
Regular (Full) Administration – for larger or more complex estates, the District Court appoints a personal representative (executor if named in a will, administrator if intestate), who gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains under court oversight.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Executor/Administrator (Form AOC-805) with the District Court in the county of residence.
If there’s a will, the court admits it to probate; it is then recorded with the county clerk (KRS 394.140).
The personal representative files an Inventory and Appraisement (Form AOC-841) of estate assets.
Notice to creditors is published; creditors generally have 6 months from appointment to file claims.
The personal representative pays valid debts, taxes, and expenses.
A Settlement of Estate (Form AOC-846) is filed, and the court closes the estate upon approval.
What it costs
Filing fees and publication costs are collected by the clerk and vary somewhat by county.
Kentucky does not require an attorney for probate, though it is commonly recommended, especially for formal administration.
Typical timelines: full probate generally takes 6-12 months; the creditor claims period is 6 months. Dispensing with Administration can move significantly faster once the estate qualifies.
Before distribution, a surviving spouse may petition for release of up to $2,500 from the estate as an exempt charge against estate property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-6177
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-6177
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-5943
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
100 S. Cross St., Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-5943
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Office: Clinton County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Albany
Population: 10,000
Area: 198 sq mi
Established: 1835
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Clinton County residents.
