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Kentucky · South-Central Kentucky · #764
Pulaski County, Kentucky
On Lake Cumberland in south-central Kentucky, Somerset anchors the houseboat capital of the world - where the 101-mile reservoir behind Wolf Creek Dam hosts more houseboats per surface acre than any comparable body of water in the country, and where the lake economy has built one of Kentucky's more resilient small-city tourism and recreation sectors.
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Office: Pulaski County Emergency Management/OEM – 25 Jessie Lane, Somerset, KY 42501 | (606) 451-0810 or (606) 451-0256 | Cell (606) 305-5805; Director Chris Mason. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM. Pulaski County 911 Center – 180 Oak Leaf Lane, Somerset, KY 42503, non-emergency (606) 678-5008.
Sheriff: Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office – 100 N. Main Street (basement), Somerset, KY 42501 | Mailing: PO Box 752, Somerset, KY 42502 | (606) 678-5145 | Fax (606) 679-3119; Sheriff Bobby Jones.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-27 and the Cumberland Parkway serve Somerset, the county seat, headquarters of the Kentucky Department of Highways District 8 covering a 10-county region.
Notes: Pulaski County is Kentucky’s largest county by land area, named for Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Pulaski County Judge/Executive’s Office, Suite 202 – 100 N. Main Street, Somerset, KY 42501 | (606) 678-4853 | Fax (606) 679-8642. Note: Pulaski County has no zoning laws and does not require residential building permits (commercial construction does require one).
Notes: Somerset-Pulaski County is officially certified as “The Capital of Lake Cumberland,” home to one of the largest man-made lakes in the nation – 101 miles long with 1,255 miles of shoreline. Lake Cumberland is internationally known as the “Houseboat Capital of the World,” home to more than 1,500 houseboats and the largest fleet of rental houseboats in the United States; the lake draws roughly 4 million recreational visitors annually – more than Yellowstone National Park – generating over $119 million in visitor spending and supporting nearly 1,100 tourism jobs in Pulaski County alone. USA Today has ranked it among the nation’s best lakes.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Pulaski County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via pulaskigov.com.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Pulaski County Public Library (Somerset) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lake Cumberland, its marinas, and Pulaski County Park are the county’s premier – and among Kentucky’s most economically significant – tourism attractions.
Notes: The genuine “Houseboat Capital of the World” distinction and Lake Cumberland’s massive visitor draw are among the most significant Kentucky tourism facts covered anywhere in this project.
Pulaski County Animal Shelter – 235 Adopt Me Lane, Somerset, KY 42501 | (606) 679-6432 | Fax (606) 677-2973 | Email: [email protected]; Director Kim Sears, Animal Control Officer Adam Scales. Strays held 5 days before becoming available for adoption. Hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 1-5 PM (some listings show extended morning hours – confirm directly), closed Thu/Sat/Sun.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Pulaski County Recycle Center – confirm current contact via pulaskigov.com.
NOTES: Pulaski County is the fifth county in Kentucky’s fourteenth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “Houseboat Capital of the World” distinction and Lake Cumberland’s massive visitor draw are among the most significant Kentucky tourism 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 Pulaski County
Pulaski County’s Lake Cumberland is not promotional exaggeration – the 101-mile reservoir created by Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River genuinely does host an extraordinary concentration of houseboats, rental fleets, and marina infrastructure. The lake economy has given Somerset a hospitality and recreation sector that sustains employment beyond what a south-central Kentucky county of this size would otherwise generate. Lake Cumberland State Dock, Conley Bottom Resort, and numerous private marinas serve the seasonal influx.
Somerset’s economy beyond the lake is healthcare anchored – Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital provides regional medical services for the surrounding counties – and the commercial hub function that a county seat on US-27 provides for surrounding smaller counties. Kentucky’s homestead exemption for residents 65 or older meaningfully reduces property tax burdens for the county’s significant retiree population drawn by the lake.
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: (606) 677-4040
Address: 100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.ky.gov
CIRCUIT COURT
Phone: (606) 677-4040
Address: 100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.ky.gov | 28th 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 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-2042
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 677-4040
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-2042
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Pulaski 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 Pulaski 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
Pulaski County District Court 50 Public Square, Somerset, KY 42502 (606) 677-4029
Pulaski County is in south-central Kentucky near Lake Cumberland, seated in Somerset, 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
100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 678-5145
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 678-5145
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-2042
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
100 N. Main St., Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-2042
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Pulaski County Health Dept
(606) 679-4416
KY CHFS — Lake Cumberland Region
(606) 677-4000
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital
lakecumberlandhospital.com (Somerset — quality regional hospital; major South-Central KY anchor)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Lake Cumberland District Health Department – confirm current contact via pulaskigov.com.
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Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Somerset
Population: 65,000
Area: 664 sq mi
Established: 1798
Tier: 4
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Pulaski County facilities via Amazon.
