Kentucky Foreclosure Guide
Kentucky uses judicial foreclosure with a Master Commissioner (court-appointed official) conducting the sale rather than the county sheriff. There is a six-month statutory right of redemption after sale in most circumstances. Commissioner's sales are typically held on courthouse steps and require competitive bidding. Surviving liens include IRS liens, state tax liens, and certain municipal assessments.
Process Type
Judicial
Typical Timeline
6–12 months (+ 6-mo redemption)
Sale Method
Commissioner's sale
Kentucky Title Risk Articles
State-specific articles coming soon — check back as our foreclosure title guide library grows.
County-Level Exceptions Investors Should Know
Statewide rules only tell part of the story. These county-level quirks catch out-of-state investors off guard.
Jefferson County (Louisville)
Jefferson County's Master Commissioner's sales are held at the Hall of Justice. The Commissioner's deed is not guaranteed to convey a merchantable title — it conveys only what the mortgagor had. Buyers are strongly advised to obtain a title commitment before the sale rather than after.
Fayette County (Lexington)
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has an Urban County Code that creates local liens for code enforcement violations and abatement costs. These municipal liens are super-priority in Fayette County and survive a mortgage foreclosure.
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