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Kentucky Bankruptcy

The resource below is for residents of the Bluegrass State. If you are looking for information regarding filing bankruptcy in the state of Kentucky, this page has tons of free information.

So, what exactly will you find here? The best thing to do is start by clicking on one of the links below, so that you can target in on the specific information you need. However, feel free to grab a cup of coffee and read through the entire page.

Kentucky Bankruptcy Courts - Location & Contact Information

Kentucky bankruptcy courts are divided into two districts. Generally, the debtor’s county of residence will determine which district the bankruptcy petition is filed.  It may also be determined by the location of the debtor’s principal place of business or principal assets.

WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

All document filings and questions for the clerk should be directed to the Louisville Divisional Office for Western District of Kentucky bankruptcy filings.

COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION:

Louisville Division - Breckinridge, Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Spencer and Washington Counties

Owensboro Location - Daviess, Grayson, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster Counties

Paducah Location - Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall and Trigg Counties

Bowling Green Location - Adair, Allen, Barren, Butler, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Green, Hart, Logan, Metcalf, Monroe, Russell, Simpson, Taylor, Todd and Warren Counties

DIVISION STREET ADDRESS MAILING ADDRESS TELEPHONE
Louisville
Division
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
601 West Broadway
Suite 450
Louisville, KY 40202
Same (502) 627-5700
Owensboro
U.S. Courthouse
423 Frederica Street
Owensboro, KY 42301

U.S. Bankruptcy Court
601 West Broadway,
Suite 450
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 627-5700
Paducah
U.S. Courthouse
501 Broadway
Paducah, KY 42001
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
601 West Broadway,
Suite 450
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 627-5700
Bowling Green

Federal Courthouse
241 East Main Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
601 West Broadway,
Suite 450
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 627-5700

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

All document filings and questions for the clerk should be directed to the Lexington Divisional Office for Eastern District of Kentucky bankruptcy filings.

COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION:

Lexington Division - Bath, Bourbon, Boyle, Breathitt, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, Wolfe and Woodford Counties

Ashland Location - Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Morgan and Rowan Counties

Covington Location - Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton and Robertson Counties

London Location - Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne and Whitley Counties

Frankfort Location - Anderson, Carroll, Franklin, Henry, Owen, Shelby and Trimble Counties

Pikeville Location - Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin and Pike Counties

DIVISION STREET ADDRESS MAILING ADDRESS TELEPHONE
Lexington
Division
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
100 East Vine Street
Suite 200
Lexington, KY 40507
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PO Box 1111
Lexington, KY 40588
(859) 233-2608
Ashland
Fed. Bldg. & U.S. Courthouse
Greenup Ave. & 15th St.
2nd Floor
Ashland, KY 41101
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PO Box 1111
Lexington, KY 40588
(859) 233-2608
Covington
U.S. Bankruptcy Courtroom
35 W 5th St Rm 306
Covington, KY 41011
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PO Box 1111
Lexington, KY 40588
(859) 233-2608
London
Old U.S. Courthouse
300 South Main Street
Second Floor Courtroom
London, KY 40741
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PO Box 1111
Lexington, KY 40588
(859) 233-2608
Frankfort John C. Watts Federal Bldg.
330 West Broadway
Frankfort, KY 40601
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PO Box 1111
Lexington, KY 40588
(859) 233-2608
Pikeville 608 BB & T Bank Bldg. 
334 Main St.,
Pikeville, KY 41501
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
PO Box 1111
Lexington, KY 40588
(859) 233-2608

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Kentucky Bankruptcy Laws and Exemptions

Kentucky Exemptions

The U.S. Bankruptcy Code allows individual debtors to exempt certain property from creditor claims based on exemptions under either federal law or state law. Exemptions vary from state to state. Some states have adopted their own set of bankruptcy exemptions that are used in place of the federal exemptions. However, other states give debtors an option to choose between either state or federal exemptions.

Kentucky bankruptcy law allows residents to use either the federal set of exemptions or state exemptions.

Click here to view federal bankruptcy exemptions under 11 U.S.C. 522(d).

Click here for some common bankruptcy exemptions pursuant to Kentucky law.

Contact a Kentucky bankruptcy lawyer for more information regarding Kentucky bankruptcy exemptions.

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Kentucky Means Test

The new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 also require that debtors pass a means test before filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are two ways to pass the means test:

1. the debtor's annual income (calculated using the average gross income for the six month period prior to filing) must be below the state median. Census Bureau statistics for state median income by family size can be found here.

2. If income exceeds the median income, individuals may still file Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on results ofForm 22A: Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test Calculation.

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Kentucky Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Agencies

Pursuant to the new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005, individuals who file personal bankruptcy (with limited exceptions) in Kentucky must:

1. take a credit counseling course from an approved Kentucky credit counseling provider within six months before filing bankruptcy; and

2. complete a debtor education course from an approved Kentucky debtor education agency prior to receiving a bankruptcy discharge.

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Kentucky Personal Bankruptcy Attorneys

To find Kentucky bankruptcy lawyers in your area, you may want to contact your local county bar association or the Kentucky Bar Association:

Kentucky Bar Association
514 W. Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601-1883
(502) 564-3795

Based on income, free bankruptcy advice and representation may also be obtained from the following organizations: See the website for the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky for more information regarding legal services available to low income and elderly clients in Kentucky.

If you are concerned about the representation provided to you by a Kentucky bankruptcy attorney, see the Kentucky Bar Association's web page regarding filing a lawyer complaint.

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Resources for Kentucky Bankruptcy Laws

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky - administrative and procedural information for Western District of Kentucky bankruptcy filings

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky - administrative and procedural information for Eastern District of Kentucky bankruptcy filings

Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 8 - oversees the administration of Kentucky personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees

Kentucky Bar Association - information about the Kentucky bar, membership, ethics, continuing legal education, and resources for the public.

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