Kentucky Land Warrants Legislation Overview

In 1815 the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation that established the patenting process for the "large quantities of waste and unappropriated lands in this commonwealth". Under this patent series, potential landowners paid the Kentucky State Treasurer $20.00 for every hundred acres they wished to patent. The Treasurer issued a receipt declaring the fee had been paid; the receipt was then delivered to the Auditor of Public Accounts. The Auditor issued a Certificate stating the quantity of land the applicant could patent. The Certificate was then lodged with the Register of the Land Office who issued a printed warrant  authorizing the county surveyor to survey the acreage.

Under the Kentucky Land Warrant Patent Series, warrants could be used in any county of the Commonwealth--even across county lines.

This website includes complete text of the Act of the Kentucky General Assembly establishing the patenting process for the Kentucky Land Warrants Patent Series.  Additional Acts amending the patenting process will be included as they are identified.