Kentucky · 120 counties
When someone dies in Kentucky
Two things matter first: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick your county below for exact contacts.
The paperwork
Death certificates in Kentucky
Certified copies come from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Vital Statistics (official site).
The speed difference is large: mail orders can take up to 30 working days from when payment posts, while most VitalChek orders process in 3 to 5 business days plus shipping. You can order through vitalchek.com, by phone at 800-241-8322 option 1, by mail or drop box at 275 East Main Street 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621, or in person there weekdays 8:00am to 4:30pm Eastern. Checks go to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Kentucky does not issue photocopies, faxed copies, non-certified copies, or electronic copies, so make sure you order certified copies. Confirm the current fee before sending payment.
Planning ahead
Nobody has died yet? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Kentucky's exact rules and official forms.
Kentucky power of attorney rulesIf money is tight
Statewide burial assistance
Kentucky's Indigent Veterans' Burial Program is run by the state Department of Veterans Affairs and can help pay funeral and burial or cremation costs for veterans whose estate cannot cover them and who have no one legally obligated to pay. Funeral homes, cemeteries, veterans service organizations, or family members submit a KDVA Form 6 application, and burial in a state or federal veterans cemetery must be considered first. This is a state-level program only for eligible indigent veterans; it is not a general assistance program for all Kentucky residents.
Pick your county
Kentucky counties (120)
Adair CountyAllen CountyAnderson CountyBallard CountyBarren CountyBath CountyBell CountyBoone CountyBourbon CountyBoyd CountyBoyle CountyBracken CountyBreathitt CountyBreckinridge CountyBullitt CountyButler CountyCaldwell CountyCalloway CountyCampbell CountyCarlisle CountyCarroll CountyCarter CountyCasey CountyChristian CountyClark CountyClay CountyClinton CountyCrittenden CountyCumberland CountyDaviess CountyEdmonson CountyElliott CountyEstill CountyFayette CountyFleming CountyFloyd CountyFranklin CountyFulton CountyGallatin CountyGarrard CountyGrant CountyGraves CountyGrayson CountyGreen CountyGreenup CountyHancock CountyHardin CountyHarlan CountyHarrison CountyHart CountyHenderson CountyHenry CountyHickman CountyHopkins CountyJackson CountyJefferson CountyJessamine CountyJohnson CountyKenton CountyKnott CountyKnox CountyLarue CountyLaurel CountyLawrence CountyLee CountyLeslie CountyLetcher CountyLewis CountyLincoln CountyLivingston CountyLogan CountyLyon CountyMadison CountyMagoffin CountyMarion CountyMarshall CountyMartin CountyMason CountyMcCracken CountyMcCreary CountyMcLean CountyMeade CountyMenifee CountyMercer CountyMetcalfe CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMorgan CountyMuhlenberg CountyNelson CountyNicholas CountyOhio CountyOldham CountyOwen CountyOwsley CountyPendleton CountyPerry CountyPike CountyPowell CountyPulaski CountyRobertson CountyRockcastle CountyRowan CountyRussell CountyScott CountyShelby CountySimpson CountySpencer CountyTaylor CountyTodd CountyTrigg CountyTrimble CountyUnion CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWebster CountyWhitley CountyWolfe CountyWoodford County