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Kentucky County
Garrard County, Kentucky
Dix Dam and the Bluegrass heartland - from Dix Dam (completed in 1925, Dix Dam on the Dix River was the largest rock-filled dam in the world at the time of its construction - the reservoir it created, Lake Herrington, is one of central Kentucky's finest recreation lakes, with crystal-clear water filling a narrow limestone gorge) to Garrard County's quintessential central Bluegrass landscape of rolling pastures, horse farms, and limestone fences connecting the Lexington and Danville communities.
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Office: Garrard County Emergency Management Agency – 278 Precision Court, Lancaster, KY 40444 | (859) 792-4786.
Sheriff: Garrard County Sheriff’s Office – 15 Public Square, Suite 4 (also listed 319 Stanford Street), Lancaster, KY 40444 | (859) 792-3591 | Fax (859) 792-2570; Sheriff Ronald Wardrip. Non-emergency dispatch (859) 792-3023.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-27 and KY-34 serve Lancaster, the county seat, in central Kentucky’s Bluegrass region.
Notes: Garrard County was formed in 1796 and named for James Garrard, Kentucky’s second governor.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Garrard County Courthouse – Lancaster, KY.
Notes: Garrard County played a genuinely pivotal role in keeping Kentucky in the Union during the Civil War. In August 1861, Camp Dick Robinson was established near Lancaster on the farm of Unionist Richard Robinson – the first federal military training camp south of the Ohio River, and Kentucky’s first. Established despite protests from Kentucky’s secessionist governor, Beriah Magoffin, the camp trained many of the state’s earliest Union regiments and became a staging ground for early campaigns, including forces that later fought at the Battle of Mill Springs. President Lincoln personally refused to shut it down, noting the camp “consists exclusively of Kentuckians.” Confederate forces briefly occupied the site in 1862 (renaming it “Camp Breckinridge”) before Union forces reclaimed the area following the Battle of Perryville. The camp was eventually relocated and expanded into the larger, better-known Camp Nelson in neighboring Jessamine County. A Kentucky Historical Society marker (#1750) commemorates the site today.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Garrard County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via garrardcountyky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Garrard County Public Library (Lancaster) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Camp Dick Robinson historical marker site and the Old Garrard County Jail Museum (a restored 1873 Italianate building, on the National Register of Historic Places) are the county’s notable heritage attractions.
Notes: The genuine “first Union camp south of the Ohio River” distinction is one of the most historically significant Civil War facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Garrard County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) – confirm current contact via garrardcountyky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Garrard County Animal Shelter – 210 Doty Heights (office on Hanging Forks Road), Lancaster, KY 40444 | (859) 792-1562 | Email: [email protected]; Animal Control Officer Earlene Harris. Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8:30 AM-2:30 PM, Wed & Sat 8:30 AM-12:30 PM. After-hours emergencies: Central Dispatch (859) 792-3023 or (859) 792-2244.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Garrard County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via garrardcountyky.gov.
NOTES: Garrard County is the fourth county in Kentucky’s sixth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “first Union camp south of the Ohio River” distinction is one of the most historically significant Civil War 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 Garrard County
Garrard County is central Kentucky’s Lake Herrington and Bluegrass heartland county – the world’s largest rock-filled dam (at its 1925 completion) and the crystal-clear Dix River gorge reservoir define a community in the scenic central Bluegrass between Lexington and Danville.
Lake Herrington – created by Dix Dam in 1925 – fills a limestone gorge in the Bluegrass with exceptionally clear water. The lake’s narrow, winding character and clear water make it one of Kentucky’s most beautiful reservoirs.
Lancaster (the county seat, population ~3,900) serves the county’s governmental needs in the central Bluegrass landscape.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Garrard County PVA at 15 Public Square, Suite 3, Lancaster, KY 40444, phone 859-792-2470. KY property assessed at fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Garrard County Circuit Court at 15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444, phone 859-792-2421, 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)
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-3531
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-6535
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-3531
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Garrard County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Garrard County Jail Museum, housed in the 1873 Old Garrard County Jail (National Register of Historic Places), holds local historic and military memorabilia.
Local societies
No dedicated Garrard 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
Garrard County District Court 54 Stanford Street, Lancaster, KY 40444 (859) 792-2961
Garrard County was founded December 17, 1796, named for Governor James Garrard. Its seat, Lancaster, is also its largest city.
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
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-2161
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-2161
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-3531
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
15 Public Square, Lancaster, KY 40444
(859) 792-3531
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Office: Garrard County Health Department – 89 Farra Drive, Lancaster, KY 40444 | (859) 792-2153.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Lancaster
Population: 17,500
Area: 232 sq mi
Established: 1796
Tier: 3
Public Records
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