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Kentucky Estate Value Calculator

Kentucky's transfer-on-death deed came remarkably close in 2026 — passing the state Senate 36 to 2 — only to die when the House ran out of time. Check each asset below to see what actually counts toward the probate estate.

KRS § 381.050, § 381.130, § 391.315 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · Reviewed 2026 · How we calculate

What's in this estate?

For each asset the person owned, enter its value and how it's titled. We'll sort each one into the Kentucky probate estate or outside it.

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Kentucky probate estate (what a court oversees)
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Is this small enough to skip probate? →
Facing probate in Kentucky?

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Entirety needs express words, and the marital home gets special protection

Under KRS § 381.050, real estate conveyed to a husband and wife creates a tenancy in common by default, unless survivorship is expressly provided for. Kentucky also has an unusual protection: a married couple's own residence, held jointly with survivorship, generally can't be unilaterally split apart by one spouse the way other joint tenancies can. See our full breakdown of Kentucky joint tenancy and entirety rules.

A TOD deed that got remarkably close in 2026

Kentucky has tried five times since 2017 to adopt a real-estate transfer-on-death deed. The closest attempt, Senate Bill 34, passed the Kentucky Senate by a lopsided 36 to 2 vote in March 2026 — then died when the House didn't take it up before the session ended. See our full guide to Kentucky's TOD-deed history and what owners use in the meantime.

Bank accounts favor the survivor, hard to override by will

A Kentucky joint account passes to the surviving party by default, unless there's clear and convincing written evidence of a different intention when the account was created — and that survivorship right generally can't be changed by a later will. See our guide to Kentucky beneficiary and P.O.D. accounts, including a real case where a prenuptial agreement wasn't enough to defeat it.

Where this feeds into other Kentucky calculators

The probate-estate total from this tool is the starting point for Kentucky's probate cost and executor fee calculators, and for checking Kentucky's small estate procedures. Kentucky has a state inheritance tax that can apply even to assets that skip probate — see our Kentucky Inheritance Tax Calculator for that separate calculation.

Kentucky estate value — frequently asked questions

Does Kentucky have a transfer on death deed?

No. Kentucky has not adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, despite five attempts since 2017. The most recent, Senate Bill 34, passed the Kentucky Senate 36 to 2 in March 2026 but died when the House did not take it up before the session ended.

Is tenancy by the entirety automatic for married couples in Kentucky?

No. If real estate is conveyed to a husband and wife and a right of survivorship is not expressly provided, there is no mutual right to the entirety by survivorship between them — they take as tenants in common instead.

Can a Kentucky joint tenant unilaterally sever their share of jointly owned real estate?

Generally yes, by recording a deed or instrument expressing that intent — except that a married couple's residential property, owned exclusively by them as joint tenants with survivorship and occupied as their principal residence, cannot be partitioned this way by either spouse acting alone.

Does a joint bank account automatically pass to the survivor in Kentucky?

Generally yes. Sums remaining on deposit at a party's death belong to the surviving party or parties, unless there is clear and convincing written evidence of a different intention at the time the account was created.

Can a Kentucky will change who inherits a joint account with survivorship?

No. A right of survivorship arising from an account's express terms, a trust account beneficiary designation, or a P.O.D. payee designation cannot be changed by will.

Kentucky estate value tools & guides

Kentucky Joint Tenancy & EntiretyThe marital-home protection explained Kentucky's Near-Miss TOD DeedPassed the Senate 36-2, died in the House Kentucky Beneficiary AccountsP.O.D., life insurance, retirement accounts Kentucky Inheritance Tax CalculatorApplies even to assets that skip probate Kentucky Small Estate CheckerIs this estate small enough to skip probate? Kentucky Probate Cost CalculatorWhat full probate would cost on this total

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Kentucky statute (KRS § 381.050, § 381.130, § 391.315) verified per our methodology. How a specific asset is actually classified depends on its full paperwork, account agreement, or deed language. Confirm with the county Clerk or a licensed Kentucky attorney before acting.