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Kentucky · Death claim: who can ask for help?

Death claim: who can ask for help?

See If You Qualify

Free · No obligation · About 2 minutes

Filing deadline1 year from date of deathKRS §§ 411.130, 413.140(1)(a), 413.180

Deadlines vary with the facts of each case. A lawyer can confirm yours.

Updated

01 · Your filing deadline

What is the deadline in Kentucky?

Kentucky: 1 year from date of death A lawyer can confirm yours.

1 year from date of death

Source: KRS §§ 411.130, 413.140(1)(a), 413.180

Deadlines vary; a lawyer can confirm yours. An older diagnosis or a past filing window does not, by itself, establish whether you have a claim.

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A lawyer can check which filing rules apply to your circumstances.

02 · Where cases are heard

Where would my case be heard?

Kentucky has a 1-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims — one of the nation's shortest deadlines tied with Tennessee. Kentucky imposes no cap on wrongful death damages. Jefferson County (Louisville) handles the state's highest wrongful death case volume.

Kentucky wrongful death claims, brought by the personal representative (KRS 411.130), must be filed within 1 year after the representative is appointed, and no later than 2 years after death if no representative is appointed within the first year (KRS 413.140(1)(a), 413.180) — one of the nation's shortest alongside Tennessee. Kentucky imposes no cap on wrongful death damages — full economic and non-economic recovery is available. Jefferson County Circuit Court (Louisville) handles Kentucky's highest volume of wrongful death cases. The 1-year deadline makes attorney retention after a wrongful death important in Kentucky.

How this works nationally

For the overall process and updates, read the Death claim: who can ask for help? overview. This page covers the local information available for Kentucky.

What happens when I check?

You answer a few short questions about what happened. If you send them, your answers are kept on file. If a participating law firm takes these cases, it may contact you. People's Justice is not a law firm.

Live in Kentucky? Read what applies in your state.

Register your interest. If a participating law firm takes these cases, it may contact you.

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Sources

  1. KRS §§ 411.130, 413.140(1)(a), 413.180