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Kentucky County
Franklin County, Kentucky
Frankfort - Kentucky's state capital and bourbon country - from Frankfort's distinction as one of the smallest state capitals in the United States (with a population of about 28,000, Frankfort is among America's most intimate state capitals - the Kentucky State Capitol's beaux arts dome dominates the skyline above the Kentucky River, and the Old State Capitol's Greek Revival architecture is one of the finest antebellum government buildings in the South) to the Buffalo Trace Distillery (one of America's oldest continuously operating distilleries, producing Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, and Eagle Rare bourbons in a National Historic Landmark complex along the Kentucky River).
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.
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Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Frankfort/Franklin County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security – 300 West Second Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 | (502) 352-2065 | 24-hour dispatch (502) 875-8582 | Fax (502) 352-2251 | Email: [email protected]; Director Tommy Russell. Storm damage line (502) 352-2118.
Sheriff: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office – 974 Riverbend Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 | (502) 875-8740 | Fax (502) 875-8738; Sheriff Dwayne F. Depp.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Frankfort/Franklin County E911 Dispatch: non-emergency (502) 875-8550.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-64, US-60, and US-127 serve Frankfort, the county seat and Kentucky’s state capital, on the Kentucky River.
Notes: Franklin County was formed in 1794 and named for Benjamin Franklin.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Franklin County Courthouse / Kentucky State Capitol – Frankfort, KY.
Notes: Frankfort is genuinely one of the smallest state capitals in the United States by population (ranking around 4th-5th smallest), a distinction it has held since Kentucky statehood in 1792, when the small river town won the honor by offering land, cash, and building materials for the new capitol over larger rivals Louisville and Lexington. During the Civil War, Frankfort was the only Union state capital ever occupied by Confederate troops. The town’s name derives from “Frank’s Ford,” honoring pioneer Stephen Frank, killed at a Kentucky River crossing in 1780. Frankfort Cemetery holds the graves of Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca. Kentucky State University, founded in 1886 as a historically Black institution, sits within city limits.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Franklin County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via franklincounty.ky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Frankfort/Franklin County Public Library – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Kentucky State Capitol (1910, with its 212-foot dome), the Old State Capitol (1827-30), Liberty Hall, and the Kentucky History Center are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine “smallest state capital” distinction and the Confederate occupation of a Union capital are among the most nationally distinctive facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Franklin County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) – confirm current contact via franklincountypva.com.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Franklin County Humane Society – 100 Companion Place (formerly listed at 1041 Kentucky Ave), Frankfort, KY 40601 | (502) 875-7297 | Email: [email protected]; accepts owner surrenders at no charge, offers low-cost spay/neuter, microchipping, and city licensing; recently moved into a newer shelter facility near Capital View Park. Hours: Tue-Sat 12-5 PM, Sun 12-4 PM, closed Monday.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Franklin County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via franklincounty.ky.gov.
NOTES: Franklin County is the first county in Kentucky’s sixth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “smallest state capital” distinction and the Confederate occupation of a Union capital are among the most nationally distinctive 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 Franklin County
Franklin County is Kentucky’s capital county – Frankfort’s Beaux-Arts capitol on the Kentucky River and Buffalo Trace Distillery’s world-famous Pappy Van Winkle production define a small capital city whose governmental heritage and bourbon prestige give it a cultural weight far exceeding its size, while Daniel Boone’s grave in the Frankfort Cemetery draws visitors who come to pay respects to Kentucky’s most legendary figure.
Frankfort (the county seat and state capital, population ~28,000) is Franklin County’s governmental hub on the Kentucky River, a small capital city whose state government employment, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and historic cemetery anchor its distinctive identity as Kentucky’s least populous state capital.
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Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Franklin County Property Valuation Administrator at 313 W. Second Street, Frankfort, KY 40601, phone 502-875-8780. KY assessed at 100% fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Franklin County Circuit Court at 222 St. Clair Street, Frankfort, KY 40601, phone 502-564-8376, 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)
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 875-8751
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-4162
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 875-8751
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Franklin County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
As the state capital, Frankfort hosts the KDLA and KHS in-person, giving Franklin County residents the most direct access of any county to the statewide backstop resources.
Local societies
No dedicated Franklin County genealogical society was confirmed separately from the statewide Kentucky Genealogical Society, which is headquartered here.
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
Franklin County District Court Franklin County Courthouse, 222 Saint Clair Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-7013
Franklin County is home to Frankfort, the state capital of Kentucky. Both the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (the state’s primary genealogy repositories) are located here.
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
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 875-8740
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 875-8740
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 875-8751
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
321 W. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 875-8751
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Franklin County Health Dept
(502) 564-4478
KY CHFS — Bluegrass Region
(502) 564-7610
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Frankfort Regional Medical Center
frankfortregional.com (quality regional hospital)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Franklin County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Frankfort
Population: 51,000
Area: 210 sq mi
Established: 1794
Tier: 3
Public Records
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