Kansas Probate Cost Calculator, Free

Q: How long does probate take in Kansas?

Most Kansas probates close in 6 to 12 months, driven by the 4-month creditor claim period from first publication. No estate with assets beyond allowances or debts may close before 6 months after death.

How probate costs work in Kansas

Kansas runs probate through the District Court in the county where the person lived — Johnson (Kansas City metro), Sedgwick (Wichita), Shawnee (Topeka) and the rest. Kansas has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code, but it has its own distinctive feature: the Kansas Simplified Estates Act, which reduces court oversight for uncontested estates. Both the personal representative fee and the attorney fee are set as reasonable amounts with no fixed statutory percentage.

1. Personal representative fee — reasonable, no fixed percentage

K.S.A. § 59-1717: every fiduciary is allowed necessary expenses, plus "such compensation for services... as shall be just and reasonable." There is no schedule — the court weighs the size of the estate, the complexity of the work, and the results achieved.

In practice, reported Kansas personal representative fees often land in a rough 2%–3% range of estate value, but that's a market pattern, not a legal rate — any figure shown here is an illustrative estimate. Family representatives frequently waive the fee, since it's taxable income while an inheritance is not.

2. Attorney fee — same statute, also no schedule

K.S.A. § 59-1717 covers both fees in a single sentence: the fiduciary "shall have such compensation for services and those of his or her attorneys as shall be just and reasonable." Kansas attorneys most commonly bill hourly, though some estates are billed on a percentage basis by agreement — either way, the court reviews the amount at settlement.

3. Court & other costs

District court filing fee — commonly $200–$400, varying by county.
Publication to creditors — newspaper notice, three consecutive weeks (§ 59-2236) (~$100–$200).
Bond — required unless waived by the will or all heirs (§ 59-1101/59-1104).
Appraisal, certified copies — small additional costs.

4. No Kansas death tax

No estate or inheritance tax: Kansas repealed its inheritance tax in 1998, and its estate tax — tied to a federal credit — effectively zeroed out once Congress phased that credit out, so deaths after 2009 owe no Kansas estate tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, above the federal exemption — so nearly all Kansas estates owe no death tax.

5. When probate can be simplified in Kansas

Small estate affidavit (K.S.A. § 59-1507b) — probate estate of $75,000 or less, personal property only. No court filing — the affidavit is presented directly to the asset holder, and the statute sets no waiting period.
Kansas Simplified Estates Act (§§ 59-3201–59-3206) — the default track for uncontested estates, with reduced court oversight compared to supervised administration.
Kansas Informal Administration Act — a further streamlined option when all heirs agree.
Transfer-on-death deed, joint tenancy, living trust — bypass probate entirely.

Cost component	Kansas figure	Source
Personal representative fee	Reasonable; no set % (often waived)	§ 59-1717
Attorney fee	Reasonable; no set % (usually hourly)	§ 59-1717
District court filing fee	~$200–$400	District Court
Small estate affidavit	$75,000 (personal property)	§ 59-1507b
State estate / inheritance tax	None	Kansas Dept. of Revenue

Kansas probate cost — frequently asked questions

How much does probate cost in Wichita or Overland Park?

The reasonable-fee standard and the no-death-tax rule are statewide; only the county District Court differs. In Sedgwick (Wichita), Johnson (Overland Park) or Shawnee (Topeka), a $300,000 estate might see a personal representative fee and an attorney fee each in a rough 2%–3% market range (family representatives often waive theirs), plus a district court filing fee of roughly $200–$400. There's no state death tax on top.

Is there really no percentage schedule in Kansas?

Correct. K.S.A. 59-1717 sets both the personal representative fee and the attorney fee as "just and reasonable" amounts, with no percentage written into the statute. Ask your District Court or attorney what your specific court typically allows for a similar estate.

What's the difference between simplified and supervised administration?

Simplified administration, under the Kansas Simplified Estates Act, is the default track for uncontested estates — the personal representative acts with reduced court oversight at each step. Supervised administration requires the court's approval at more stages, and is used for contested or complex estates. Any interested party can ask the court to convert one to the other.

Does Kansas have an estate or inheritance tax?

No. Kansas repealed its inheritance tax in 1998, and its estate tax zeroed out once the related federal credit was phased out, so deaths after 2009 owe no Kansas estate tax. Only the federal estate tax applies, and only to estates above the federal exemption, so almost all Kansas estates owe no death tax.

How long does probate take in Kansas?

Most Kansas probates close in 6–12 months, driven by the 4-month creditor claim period from first publication. No estate with assets beyond allowances/debts may close before 6 months after death.

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Kansas sets no statutory percentage for the personal representative fee or the attorney fee — both are "just and reasonable" amounts under K.S.A. § 59-1717, approved by the District Court. Figures shown here are illustrative estimates, not statutory rates. The small estate affidavit limit is $75,000 of personal property (§ 59-1507b). Kansas has no estate or inheritance tax. Confirm current figures with the District Court or a licensed Kansas attorney before acting.