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Kentucky County
Johnson County, Kentucky
Loretta Lynn's Van Lear birthplace and the Country Music Highway - from Van Lear's Loretta Lynn connection (the Coal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynn was born and raised in Van Lear, Johnson County, in a coal camp holler that she immortalized in her autobiography and film - her story of rising from Appalachian poverty to country music superstardom is one of American music's most celebrated narratives) to the Country Music Highway's Johnson County segment (US-23 through Johnson County is part of the birthplace corridor of Loretta Lynn, Tom T. Hall, and other country music legends) and Paintsville Lake State Park.
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Office: Paintsville/Johnson County Emergency Management – non-emergency dispatch (606) 789-4221 or (606) 789-2200.
Sheriff: Johnson County Sheriff’s Office – 339 Main Street (also listed 300 Main St / 342-2nd St), Paintsville, KY 41240 | (606) 789-3411 or (606) 789-4000; Sheriff Scott Hazelette. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-23 and KY-321 serve Paintsville, the county seat, in eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian coalfields.
Notes: Johnson County, formed February 24, 1843, is named for Richard Mentor Johnson, a U.S. Vice President. Paintsville, nicknamed the “City Between the Lakes,” takes its name from Paint Creek.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Johnson County Judicial Center – Paintsville, KY.
Notes: During the Civil War, Union Colonel (and future U.S. President) James Garfield led his brigade through Paintsville on the march to defeat Confederate cavalry at the nearby Battle of Middle Creek in neighboring Floyd County, with the United States flag reportedly raised over the Paintsville courthouse. Johnson County’s development in the following decades was also shaped by John C.C. Mayo, an influential (and locally still-debated) figure in eastern Kentucky’s coal-land acquisition and development.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Johnson County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via johnsoncoky.com.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Johnson County Public Library (Paintsville) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Paintsville Lake State Park (marina, Kiwanis Trail – a National Recreation Trail, Rocky Knob Recreational Area) and the adjoining Mountain Homeplace – a recreated 1850s-1900s eastern Kentucky farming community – are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine James Garfield Civil War connection is a notable historical fact covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Johnson County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via johnsoncoky.com.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Johnson County Animal Services (Animal Shelter) – 100 Shelter Way, Staffordsville, KY 41256 | Mailing: PO Box 1313, Paintsville, KY 41240 | (606) 297-7387 or (606) 792-6619. To report a stray or animal control issue, call Johnson County Animal Control at (606) 789-2576 before 4 PM, or after-hours via Paintsville/Johnson County Emergency Dispatch at (606) 789-4221 or (606) 789-2200. ⚠️ The shelter underwent a significant management transition in 2023 after community concerns led to the previous managing organization stepping down; the Johnson County Fiscal Court has since taken a more active management role and reports ongoing facility improvements. Hours: Mon-Fri to 4 PM, other times by appointment.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Johnson County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via johnsoncoky.com.
NOTES: Johnson County is the first county in Kentucky’s ninth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine James Garfield Civil War connection is a notable historical fact covered 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 Johnson County
Johnson County is northeastern Kentucky’s Loretta Lynn birthplace county – the Coal Miner’s Daughter was born and raised in Van Lear, and her story of rising from poverty in a Big Sandy River valley coal camp to country music immortality is one of the most celebrated in American music.
Van Lear (population ~1,400) is where Loretta Lynn grew up in a coal camp holler – her autobiography, the Sissy Spacek film, and dozens of songs about Johnson County have made the community a pilgrimage destination for country music fans.
Paintsville (the county seat, population ~3,800) is the hub for the broader Big Sandy Valley region.
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Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Johnson County PVA at 230 Court Street, Suite 101, Paintsville, KY 41240, phone 606-789-3232. KY property assessed at fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Johnson County Circuit Court at 230 Court Street, Paintsville, KY 41240, phone 606-789-5141, 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)
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-2557
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-5531
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-2557
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Johnson County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Johnson 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
Johnson County District Court Johnson County Judicial Center, 908 Third Street, Suite 109, Paintsville, KY 41240 (606) 297-9567 Johnson County is in eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian region, seated in Paintsville.
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
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-4000
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-4000
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-2557
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
230 Court St., Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-2557
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Office: Johnson County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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Editorial Trust
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Paintsville
Population: 22,000
Area: 263 sq mi
Established: 1843
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
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