Kentucky Foreclosure Laws

Written by Manuel Martinez, RealtyTrac contributorPublished Jun 6, 2013

Last updated Aug 10, 2023

Key Takeaways

Kentucky foreclosures are judicial and typically take about six months.
Borrowers have 20 days to respond after receiving notice of the pending action.
The property must be appraised before the sale.
A master commissioner conducts the sale, usually at the courthouse.

Foreclosure Process Overview

Kentucky foreclosures are handled through the courts. The typical timeline for a Kentucky foreclosure is approximately six months.

Judicial	Non Judicial	Comment	Process Period	Publish Sale	Redemption Period	Sale/NTS
•		Judicial only	147 days	N/A	365 days	Court

Pre-foreclosure Period

A complaint and notice of pending action (Lis Pendens) are filed to start the foreclosure process. The sheriff typically delivers a notice of the pending action to the borrower, who has 20 days to respond. If the borrower fails to respond, the lender asks the court to make a ruling. If the court rules against the borrower, a foreclosure sale date is set. The property must be appraised prior to the sale.

Notice of Sale / Auction

The sale usually occurs at least one month after the court rules against the borrower. The notice of sale must contain the date, location, and terms of the sale, and it should be published for three weeks in a newspaper. Any postponement of the sale must occur through a court order. The sale, conducted by a court official called a master commissioner, usually occurs at the courthouse, and the highest bidder purchases the property. The purchaser may pay in cash or post bond to pay in installments. After the sale, a motion to confirm is heard, and the deed is prepared and presented to the clerk.

If the sale price is less than two-thirds of the appraised value, the borrower has the right to redeem the property from the buyer by paying the sale price plus interest. This redemption period lasts for one year from the foreclosure sale date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does foreclosure take in Kentucky?

The typical Kentucky foreclosure takes approximately six months and goes through the courts.

Sources & References

Outside sources cited in this article.

KRS 426.520: Appraisal of real property before judicial sale, Kentucky General Assembly
Master Commissioners, Kentucky Court of Justice

About the author: Manuel Martinez

RealtyTrac contributor

Manuel Martinez is a contributor to RealtyTrac who writes about local housing markets, home buying and real estate investing. He has written for RealtyTrac since 2013, covering city and state market reports, home buying guides and tips, investment financing and strategies for buying and flipping homes.

More in Home Buying

Member Features

Find Real Estate Bargain!