Quick answer: the deadline that shapes the whole schedule is 6 months after the personal representative is appointed — not 6 months from death. See the full Kentucky probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.
The core deadlines, in order
| Deadline | Kentucky rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for probate filed | No fixed deadline — but starts every later clock | KRS § 394.140 |
| Inventory due | 90 days after appointment | District Court practice |
| Creditor claim deadline | 6 months after PR appointment | KRS 396.011 |
| If no PR is ever appointed | 2 years from date of death | KRS 396.011 |
| Actual-notice creditor | 60 days after mailed/delivered notice | KRS 396.012(2) |
| Disallowed claim — deadline to sue | 60 days after notice of disallowance | KRS 396.035 |
| Inheritance tax (5% discount if paid) | Within 9 months of death | KRS 140.210 |
A clock that rewards opening the estate promptly
Worth understanding clearly: KRS 396.011, as amended in 2021, bars creditor claims unless presented within 6 months after the personal representative's appointment. Because that clock is tied to appointment, not death, a family that delays filing for probate also delays when the creditor window starts — and, in turn, when the estate can safely make final distributions. If a personal representative is never appointed at all, creditors instead get 2 years from the date of death, a backstop that keeps an estate from dodging claims indefinitely by simply never opening probate.
A personal representative can shorten a known creditor's window
Under KRS 396.012(2), a personal representative may mail or otherwise deliver actual notice to a specific known creditor, giving that creditor only 60 days from the notice to present a claim or be forever barred — a tool that can resolve known debts faster than waiting out the full 6-month period.
Facing probate in Kentucky?
Talk to a Kentucky attorneyA local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.