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Kentucky · Louisville Metro · #766
Oldham County, Kentucky
Northeast of Louisville along the Ohio River, Oldham County is consistently Kentucky's wealthiest county by median household income - a Louisville bedroom community of horse farms, river estates, and well-funded schools where the combination of Ohio River bluff scenery, low Kentucky taxes, and Louisville metro access has attracted executives, professionals, and families seeking the best-resourced public schools in the state.
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Office: Oldham County Emergency Management – 1020 Dispatchers Way, La Grange, KY 40031 | (502) 222-0799 | Email: [email protected]. Oldham County Central Dispatch operates 24/7 as the county’s Primary Public Safety Answering Point.
Sheriff: Oldham County Sheriff’s Office – Fiscal Court Building, 100 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 2, La Grange, KY 40031 | (502) 222-9501 | Fax (502) 222-3206 | Email: [email protected]; Chief Deputy Jim Acquisto (Patrol Division). Hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 8 AM-4 PM, Thu 8 AM-6 PM.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Non-emergency dispatch: (502) 222-0111.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-71 and US-42 serve La Grange, the county seat, about 30 miles northeast of Louisville.
Notes: Oldham County was formed December 15, 1823 and named for Colonel William Oldham, a Revolutionary War officer killed in 1791. Oldham County is genuinely Kentucky’s wealthiest county by income and among the top 50 wealthiest counties nationally, reflecting its position within the Louisville metropolitan area’s affluent commuter belt.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Oldham County Courthouse – La Grange, KY.
Notes: Oldham County is home to two Kentucky Department of Corrections facilities near La Grange: the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex (medium/maximum security, opened 1981, capacity ~1,200) and the Roederer Correctional Complex (minimum/medium security, opened 1978, capacity ~1,000).
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Oldham County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via oldhamcountyky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Oldham County Public Library (La Grange) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Historic downtown La Grange (notable for Amtrak/CSX trains running directly through Main Street) is the county’s most distinctive attraction.
Notes: The genuine “wealthiest county in Kentucky” distinction is a notable demographic fact covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Oldham County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via oldhamcountyky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Oldham County Animal Services – 1345 N. Highway 393, La Grange, KY 40031 | (502) 222-7387 | Fax (502) 222-7385 | Email: [email protected]; Director Polly Helton (nationally certified in Animal Control Management and Cruelty Investigation). Runs an indigent care program providing free pet food/supplies to owners facing hardship, and a work-release volunteer program. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM, Sat by appointment.
Humane Society of Oldham County – 2601 Interior Way, La Grange, KY 40031 | (502) 222-7537; a separate all-volunteer nonprofit operating since 1986, Oldham County’s first no-kill organization.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Oldham County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via oldhamcountyky.gov.
NOTES: Oldham County is the fifth county in Kentucky’s thirteenth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “wealthiest county in Kentucky” distinction is a notable demographic 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 Oldham County
Oldham County’s wealth distinction is genuine and consistent – it ranks first or near-first in Kentucky for median household income in virtually every census and survey, a function of its role as the premium residential address for Louisville professionals who want Ohio River bluffs, acreage, horse farms, and school systems that rank among the state’s best. The communities of Prospect, Goshen, Crestwood, and Pewee Valley carry the character of prosperous Louisville suburbs with the additional appeal of genuine rural gaps between them.
LaGrange, the county seat, is also notable as the only incorporated city in the United States where a railroad runs down the main street – trains travel directly through the downtown on Broadway, requiring traffic to stop but giving LaGrange a distinctive small-city quirk. The Ohio River’s bluffs along the county’s northern edge provide scenery that has anchored the premium residential market for decades.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Kentucky assesses property at 100% of fair cash value annually. Property owners may appeal to the County Property Valuation Administrator within 15 days of notice. Kentucky offers a homestead exemption of $46,350 for residents 65 or older. Kentucky has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
Phone: (502) 222-9594
Address: 100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.ky.gov
CIRCUIT COURT
Phone: (502) 222-9594
Address: 100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.ky.gov | 12th Judicial Circuit
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 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-0047
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-9594
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-0047
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Oldham County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Oldham 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
Oldham County District Court Oldham County Judicial Center, 100 West Main Street, La Grange, KY 40031 (502) 222-9837
Oldham County was founded December 15, 1823, named for Colonel William Oldham, part of the Louisville metro area. Its seat, La Grange, is also its largest city – notably one of the few U.S. towns with an active railroad running down its Main Street.
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 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-0111
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-0111
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-0047
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
100 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY 40031
(502) 222-0047
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Oldham County Health Dept
(502) 222-3516
KY CHFS — Louisville Region
(502) 595-4200
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Norton Brownsboro Hospital
nortonhealthcare.com (Louisville — accessible)
Baptist Health La Grange
baptisthealthlagrange.com (quality community hospital)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Oldham County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: LaGrange
Population: 68,000
Area: 197 sq mi
Established: 1823
Tier: 4
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Oldham County facilities via Amazon.
