The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Kansas with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Kansas reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Kansas probate pages.
Kansas probate fees
| Item | Kansas |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Approximately $200 to file the petition, depending on the county. |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Under K.S.A. §59-1717 the court allows fees that are 'just and reasonable' based on the time, effort, and complexity involved. There is no percentage schedule; attorneys generally bill a flat fee or hourly. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | K.S.A. §59-1717 also governs the executor or administrator: compensation is whatever is 'just and reasonable,' not a fixed percentage. Family fiduciaries often waive the fee. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Kansas does not appoint a state appraiser. The fiduciary files an inventory and valuation under K.S.A. §59-1201 and may retain appraisers where needed. |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Kansas estate, a just-and-reasonable executor fee commonly falls around $10,000–$20,000 depending on complexity. The probate court must approve the fee, and a straightforward estate may justify considerably less.
Kansas thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Kansas |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates with personal property of $75,000 or less (raised from $40,000 effective July 1, 2023) can transfer by small-estate affidavit under K.S.A. §59-1507b, with no court filing required. |
| Creditor claim period | Creditors must file claims within four months of the first published notice to creditors under K.S.A. §59-2239; known creditors who receive mailed notice have at least 30 days from mailing. |
| Typical duration | About 6 to 12 months for a routine estate; simplified 'informal' administration can move faster. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Kansas allows a transfer-on-death deed for real estate under K.S.A. §59-3501 et seq. — in fact Kansas was the first state to enact one. The owner records a TOD deed naming a beneficiary, keeps full control during life, and the property passes to the beneficiary at death without probate. |
What passes outside Kansas probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Kansas allows a transfer-on-death deed for real estate under K.S.A. §59-3501 et seq. — in fact Kansas was the first state to enact one. The owner records a TOD deed naming a beneficiary, keeps full control during life, and the property passes to the beneficiary at death without probate.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: K.S.A. §59-1717; K.S.A. §59-1507b; K.S.A. §59-2239; K.S.A. §59-3501
- State authority: Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes (Probate Code, Chapter 59)
- Small-estate threshold: https://www.kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms/small-estates-affidavit-k-s-a-59-1507b
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_035_0001.html
- Attorney fees: https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_017_0017.html
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Kansas court before relying on it.
The full Kansas guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Kansas? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Kansas? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Kansas? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Kansas — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Kansas — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Kansas? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
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This sheet sets out Kansas probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Kansas courts or a licensed Kansas attorney.