(1) Each master commissioner shall account to the circuit judge under whose direction he or she is acting, for all amounts received and distributed, for all proceeds of sales disbursed, and for all fees collected. These accounts shall be in the manner directed by the circuit judge who shall approve the accounts by his or her signature. The master commissioner shall file the approved accounts with the circuit clerk who shall include them with the applicable case file. Each master commissioner shall maintain a current record, kept in the office of the circuit clerk, or in the office of the master commissioner if the Chief Circuit Judge so directs, of each case in which a fee has been received.
Rule 53.08.Accounting.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 53.08 requires master commissioners to account to their circuit judge for all money and fees they handle, with the judge's signed approval and clerk filing, and to file an annual accounting with the Administrative Office of the Courts (and the finance and administration cabinet) that remits any excess fees under Rule 53.07.
Full Text of Rule 53.08
(2) Each master commissioner shall annually provide to the Administrative Office of the Courts a complete accounting for all amounts received and distributed and for all fees collected in accordance with the Rules of Administrative Procedure of the Court of Justice, Part IV. Excess fees referred to in Rule 53.07 shall be remitted with the report and may be added to the existing surplus. A copy of this report shall at the same time be provided to the finance and administration cabinet.
Amendment History
(Adopted October 24, 1977, effective January 1, 1978; amended December 16, 1988, effective January 1, 1989; amended November 27, 2000, effective February 1, 2001; amended November 3, 2010, effective January 1, 2011.)
Plain-English Summary
Every master commissioner answers to the circuit judge who directs their work, accounting for all amounts received and distributed, all proceeds of sales disbursed, and all fees collected. The accounts are prepared however the circuit judge directs, and the judge approves them with a signature. The commissioner then files the approved accounts with the circuit clerk, who adds them to the applicable case file. Each commissioner also keeps a current record of every case where a fee was received, held in the circuit clerk's office -- or in the commissioner's own office if the Chief Circuit Judge directs it that way.
On top of the case-by-case accounting, each commissioner sends the Administrative Office of the Courts a full annual accounting of everything received, distributed, and collected in fees, following the Rules of Administrative Procedure of the Court of Justice, Part IV. Any excess fees identified under Rule 53.07 get remitted along with this report and can be added to an existing surplus. A copy of the same report also goes to the finance and administration cabinet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records does a Kentucky master commissioner have to keep?
A current record of every case in which the commissioner received a fee, kept in the circuit clerk's office (or the commissioner's own office if the Chief Circuit Judge directs), plus accounts of all amounts received, distributed, and collected, approved by the circuit judge's signature and filed with the clerk.
How often does a master commissioner report to the state?
Annually. The commissioner sends the Administrative Office of the Courts a full accounting of amounts received, distributed, and collected in fees, and sends a copy to the finance and administration cabinet.
What happens to excess fees in the annual accounting?
Excess fees identified under Rule 53.07 are remitted along with the annual report and can be added to any existing surplus.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 53.08). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: CR 53.08 accountingmaster commissioner annual report Kentuckycommissioner fees accountingAOC master commissioner reportcircuit judge approve commissioner accounts