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Money disputes up to $2,500 are settled in the McCracken County small-claims court, which runs on simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
This page sets out the ceiling on claims, what the court charges, the courthouse that covers McCracken County, how notice reaches the other party, the time limits, and the filing steps. Squabble can prepare and lodge the paperwork when you decide to go ahead.
One courthouse takes small claims for McCracken County, shown below. The court checks the location against the defendant's address and the place of the dispute.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Locations change. The court publishes its current small-claims address on its own page; Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
McCracken County Courthouse, in Paducah, is the courthouse listed for McCracken County. McCracken County covers 5 ZIP codes, including the Kevil, Paducah and West Paducah areas.
Filings here are on paper, brought to the counter or posted. Squabble assembles the packet so it is complete when it arrives.
The small claims list is heard in person, at the courthouse itself.
Have copies of your evidence for the bench and for the other party. Some courts take documents electronically before the hearing as well.
Residents of McCracken County, Kentucky, who wish to file a small claims case do so through the Kentucky Small Claims Division, which handles claims of up to $2500. Cases are heard at the McCracken County Courthouse, located at 300 Clarence Gaines St in Paducah, 42003. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. It can be reached by phone at (270) 444-4769, and information is posted at https://mccrackencountyky.gov/. Electronic filing is not available in this county, so filings are handled at the courthouse. McCracken County has a population of 67,550 and includes the communities of Paducah, West Paducah, and Kevil, along with the ZIP codes 42001, 42002, 42003, 42053, and 42086. The county lies near Ballard County, Livingston County, and Carlisle County, each of which has its own courts. The division exists to resolve claims within the dollar limit set for small claims matters in Kentucky.
A case filed here usually comes from one of these 3 communities:
Kevil, Paducah, West Paducah.
ZIP codes:
Of Kentucky's 120 counties, McCracken County is 13th by population at roughly 67,550 people.
Small claims handles money owed between ordinary people and businesses. Procedure is kept light, and claims are capped.
Maximum claim
Two venues are usually open: where events took place, or where the other side is based.
A single argument stays a single case; it cannot be carved up to fit the limit.
The remedy here is money. Orders telling someone to do or stop something sit with higher courts.
Kentucky allows attorneys at the hearing, but none is required. The procedures are designed for self-representation.
Under-18s are represented by a guardian the court appoints.
Over the limit? A claim above the ceiling can be trimmed to fit, or filed in full in the ordinary civil court. Trimming generally means writing off the remainder.
These are the limits for McCracken County, population about 67,550. McCracken County Courthouse is the courthouse listed for McCracken County.
Debts up to $2,500 belong in this court. These are the arguments people bring most frequently.
McCracken County has about 67,550 residents. McCracken County Courthouse is the McCracken County courthouse listed below.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Set out the claim on the court's form, identify the correct courthouse, and pay the fee.
The defendant receives the papers through formal service and can reply or negotiate an end to it.
A brief, informal hearing, in person or, where the court offers it, by video. The judge rules at the hearing or sends the decision after.
Everything below applies to a case filed in McCracken County, at the Paducah courthouse. McCracken County Courthouse lists (270) 444-4769 as its number.
A filed case still has to reach the defendant. Formal notice, known as service of process, does that, and delivering it personally is generally not allowed.
Depending on the court: the sheriff or constable, a professional process server, the clerk by certified mail, or another adult who isn't part of the case. Methods and costs vary by county.
How long before the hearing notice must be given is set by the court. That deadline arrives with your hearing date.
Service is proved on paper. The server completes and signs a form, and it is filed before the matter is heard.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
A McCracken County address carries one of its 5 ZIP codes, 42001, 42002 and 42003 among them. Ballard County and Livingston County are the counties nearest to McCracken County.
Every claim carries a filing window that opens when the dispute happens. Once it closes, the court can turn the case away.
| What the claim is about | Time limit to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 10 years |
| Oral contract | 5 years |
| Property damage | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 1 year |
McCracken County, population about 67,550, is covered by the table above. The same periods apply in McCracken County as in nearby Ballard County and Livingston County, which are in the same state.
Money owed under a contract in Kentucky generally accrues interest at 8% per year before judgment (Ky. Rev. Stat. §360.010).
A running total including interest can be worked out with the Squabble interest calculator.
McCracken County is under the same state rate as nearby Ballard County and Livingston County. The rate above is the one for McCracken County, population about 67,550.
Make sure the claim is under the maximum and that the limitation period has not expired.
State the party's full legal name, explain the events, and set out the calculation.
File with the McCracken County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $25–$65 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
After the hearing date is issued, arrange delivery of the papers and file the proof with the court.
Put the evidence in order, with exhibits marked, so the account is easy to follow.
Attend, in the courtroom or by video where the court allows it, put your case, and hear the ruling.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares the documents, runs a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your case for you.
Start for FREE →You will meet a claim form, a proof of service, and possibly a fee waiver. What each is called depends on the court, and Squabble matches them to your courthouse.
McCracken County papers go to McCracken County Courthouse in Paducah. McCracken County takes in filings from 5 ZIP codes, 42001 first in the list.
Small claims hearings are short and informal, and the judge asks questions directly. Most people present their own case.
McCracken County has about 67,550 residents. McCracken County Courthouse sits at the 42003 address shown above.
The ruling establishes the debt. Recovery is a further step, supported by enforcement measures that are set by each state.
Part of the debtor's earnings may be redirected toward the judgment where state law provides for it.
Funds can be collected directly from the debtor's bank account through a court-ordered levy.
Lodging the judgment with the county can create a lien over property the debtor owns.
You can also ask the court to order the debtor to appear and disclose income and assets under oath. An unpaid judgment generally keeps accruing interest at the rate state law sets until it's satisfied.
Kevil, Paducah and West Paducah are among the McCracken County places a judgment debtor may live in. Ballard County and Livingston County are the counties nearest to McCracken County.
Reviewed August 2026. Fees, limits and procedures are revised from time to time, so confirm them with the court before you file.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your McCracken County case for you.
