The average cost of an eviction in Kentucky for all filing, court, and service fees is $170. However, the cost can vary by service and eviction execution fees. Eviction lawsuits are filed in District Court.
| Fee | District |
| Initial Court Filing | $40 |
| Summons Service | ~$70 |
| Warrant of Possession Execution | ~$60 |
| Notice of Appeal Filing (Optional) | $150 |
These filing, court, and service fees do not include outside costs such as legal fees or post-eviction fees (i.e., locksmith fees, storage costs for a tenant’s abandoned property, cleaning service fees, repair costs, or advertising costs for a vacant dwelling unit).
1. Initial Court Filing Fee
In Kentucky, if the eviction notice expires and the tenant remains on the property without correcting the issue, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (“Forcible Detainer”) with the court the following business day.
The filing fee for an initial Forcible Detainer is $40 [ttip number=’1′ icon=’popover-balance’] in District Court.
2. Summons Service Fee
Once a Complaint is filed in Kentucky, the court will issue a Summons. The Summons is the tenant’s official notice of an eviction lawsuit and contains important information (i.e., when and where to appear in court). The landlord must arrange for a sheriff or constable to deliver the Summons to the tenant.
The Summons service fee varies by county, for example, a sheriff in Lyon County shall charge $70 for delivering a Summons.
3. Warrant of Possession Execution Fee
In Kentucky, if the court rules in favor of the landlord, the court shall issue a Forcible Detainer Judgment immediately. The judgment is the tenant’s final notice to vacate the premises.
The tenant has 7 calendar days to vacate the premises after judgment is entered. If the tenant has not vacated the premises after 7 calendar days, the court can issue a Warrant of Possession.
A sheriff can enforce the warrant by forcibly removing the tenant from the premises. The execution fee varies by county, for example, in Kenton County the fee is $60.
4. Notice of Appeal Filing Fee
If either party chooses to file an Appeal in Kentucky, they may do so as long as the Notice of Appeal is filed within 7 calendar days of the judgment.
If the eviction was originally filed in the Justice Court, the Appeal will be transferred and heard in Superior Court. The filing fee for an Appeal is $150. [ttip number=’2′ icon=’popover-balance’]
Sources
- 1 Ky. R. Civ. P. 3.03 (2021)
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(i) Where the case involves filing forcible detainer actions, the fees shall be $40.00;
- 2 Ky. R. Civ. P. 76.42 (2021)
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(a) Filing fees for docketing the following in the Court of Appeals or in the Supreme Court shall be:
(i) Appeal, cross appeal or certification of law $150.00