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Kentucky County
Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County's Saddlebred horse heritage and Louisville exurb growth - from Shelby County's extraordinary American Saddlebred horse heritage (Shelby County is the American Saddlebred capital of the world - the breed was developed in Kentucky, and Shelby County's farms, shows, and breeders have defined the five-gaited show horse tradition for over a century, with the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show drawing the finest Saddlebreds annually) to Shelby County's rapid growth as a Louisville eastern exurb (Simpsonville and other communities along I-64 have absorbed substantial residential development from Louisville metro commuters seeking Bluegrass horse country living).
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Office: Shelby County Emergency Services/Emergency Management/E911 – 501 Main Street, Suite 1, Shelbyville, KY 40065; Director Jerrett Barnes.
Sheriff: Shelby County Sheriff’s Office – 501 Main Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065 | (502) 633-4324 | Dispatch (502) 633-2323; Sheriff Louie Koch (also reported as Sheriff Mark Moore in some sources – confirm current officeholder). Deputies available 24/7; the office dispatches for Shelbyville and Morristown Police Departments and operates the joint 911 center. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-64 and US-60 serve Shelbyville, the county seat, in the “Golden Triangle” between Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati.
Notes: Shelby County was formed in 1792, one of Kentucky’s original counties, named for Isaac Shelby, Kentucky’s first governor.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Shelby County Courthouse Annex – Shelbyville, KY (Property Valuation Administration office for homestead/disability exemptions).
Notes: Shelby County is officially designated the “American Saddlebred Capital of the World” by Kentucky legislative proclamation in 2005 – a distinction visible on murals painted on water towers along I-64. The American Saddlebred, once called the “Kentucky Saddler,” traces its roots to riding horses bred in the area since the American Revolutionary era and was famously used as an officer’s mount during the Civil War. Shelby County is home to more than 80-90 Saddlebred breeding and training farms, and hosts the award-winning Shelbyville Horse Show each summer along with numerous other equestrian events throughout the year.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Shelby County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via shelbycounty.ky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Shelby County Public Library (Shelbyville) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Shelby County’s 90+ Saddlebred horse farms, Shelby Trails Park in Simpsonville, seven county parks, and four golf courses are the county’s premier equestrian and outdoor attractions.
Notes: The genuine “American Saddlebred Capital of the World” designation – an official state legislative proclamation – is one of the most distinctive Kentucky equestrian-heritage facts covered anywhere in this project.
Shelby County Animal Control & Shelter – 266 Kentucky Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065 | (502) 633-0009 | Email: [email protected]. Open-admission county shelter. Dog adoption $65-$75, cat adoption $10-$40 (includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip – pricing varies by source, confirm current fees). Hours: Tue-Sat 9 AM-5 PM or 11 AM-4 PM (confirm current hours directly).
Shelby County Humane Society – 400 Hudson Blvd (also 40 7th St listed), Shelbyville, KY 40065 | (502) 633-4033 | Email: [email protected]; separate 501(c)3 no-kill nonprofit.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Shelby County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via shelbycounty.ky.gov.
NOTES: Shelby County is the fourth county in Kentucky’s fifteenth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “American Saddlebred Capital of the World” designation – an official state legislative proclamation – is one of the most distinctive Kentucky equestrian-heritage 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 Shelby County
Shelby County is north-central Kentucky’s American Saddlebred capital and Louisville exurb county – the world’s premier Saddlebred breeding community and rapid suburban growth from Louisville define a Bluegrass community balancing heritage and development.
Shelbyville (the county seat, population ~17,000) is where the American Saddlebred breed reached its fullest development – the county’s show farms, training facilities, and breeding operations represent the pinnacle of American show horse culture.
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Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Shelby County PVA at 501 Main Street, Suite 1, Shelbyville, KY 40065, phone 502-633-4403. KY property assessed at fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Shelby County Circuit Court at 501 Main Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065, phone 502-633-2270, 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)
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-4410
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-7616
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-4410
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Shelby County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Shelby 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
Shelby County District Court 401 Main Street, Suite 101, Shelbyville, KY 40065 (502) 633-1287 Shelby County is in the Louisville metro area, seated in Shelbyville, 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
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-4323
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-4323
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-4410
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
501 Main St., Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 633-4410
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Shelby County Health Dept
(502) 633-4461
KY CHFS — Louisville Region
(502) 595-4200
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Jewish Hospital Shelbyville
jewishhospitalshelbyville.com (quality community hospital)
Baptist Health Louisville
baptisthealthlouisville.com (accessible)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Shelby County Health Department – confirm current contact via shelbycounty.ky.gov.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Shelbyville
Population: 50,000
Area: 393 sq mi
Established: 1792
Tier: 3
Public Records
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