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Kansas Estate Value Calculator

Kansas was one of the first states in the country to authorize a transfer-on-death deed — back in 1997. But a real Kansas case shows how a later, even unrecorded, lifetime conveyance can quietly wipe out a TOD beneficiary's interest anyway. Check each asset below to see what actually counts toward the probate estate.

K.S.A. § 58-501, § 59-3501, § 9-1205 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · Reviewed 2026 · How we calculate

What's in this estate?

For each asset the person owned, enter its value and how it's titled. We'll sort each one into the Kansas probate estate or outside it.

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Kansas probate estate (what a court oversees)
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Is this small enough to skip probate? →
Facing probate in Kansas?

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Tenancy in common by default, joint tenancy needs clear words

Under K.S.A. § 58-501, real or personal property granted to two or more people creates a tenancy in common unless the language makes clear a joint tenancy was intended. Kansas does not recognize tenancy by the entirety at all. See our full breakdown of Kansas joint tenancy rules.

A TOD deed since 1997 — with a real gap it doesn't close

Kansas enacted its own bespoke transfer-on-death deed statute in 1997 (K.S.A. §§ 59-3501 to 59-3507), one of the earliest such laws in the country. A real Kansas Court of Appeals case shows a genuine risk: a lifetime conveyance can extinguish a TOD beneficiary's interest even if that competing deed isn't recorded until after the owner's death. See our full guide to the Kansas TOD deed.

Bank accounts pass to the survivor without court action

Kansas's joint-account statute dates to 1947 and lets a bank pay any named party, whether the others are living or not. See our guide to Kansas beneficiary and P.O.D. accounts.

Where this feeds into other Kansas calculators

The probate-estate total from this tool is the starting point for Kansas's probate cost and executor fee calculators, and for checking Kansas's small estate procedures. Kansas has no state estate or inheritance tax, so this total doesn't feed into a separate state tax calculation.

Kansas estate value — frequently asked questions

Does jointly owned real estate skip probate in Kansas?

Only if the deed clearly creates a joint tenancy. Kansas presumes a tenancy in common by default, unless the language makes clear a joint tenancy with right of survivorship was intended.

Does Kansas have a transfer on death deed?

Yes, and it was one of the earliest in the country. Kansas enacted its own transfer-on-death deed statute in 1997, well before most other states adopted similar laws.

Can a later lifetime conveyance defeat a Kansas TOD deed beneficiary?

Yes. A Kansas Court of Appeals case held that an owner's lifetime conveyance creating a joint tenancy with someone else extinguished a previously recorded TOD deed beneficiary's interest, even though the competing deed wasn't recorded until after the owner's death.

Does Kansas recognize tenancy by the entirety?

No. Kansas does not recognize tenancy by the entirety. Married couples who want survivorship in real estate need to create a joint tenancy with clear survivorship language instead.

Does a joint bank account automatically pass to the survivor in Kansas?

Yes. Deposits made in the names of two or more people, payable to any of them or the survivors, may be paid to any of them regardless of who is still living, and the bank is protected once it pays.

Kansas estate value tools & guides

Kansas Joint Tenancy RulesNo tenancy by the entirety here Kansas TOD DeedOne of the country's earliest, since 1997 Kansas Beneficiary AccountsP.O.D., life insurance, retirement accounts Kansas Small Estate CheckerIs this estate small enough to skip probate? Kansas Probate Cost CalculatorWhat full probate would cost on this total Kansas Probate vs Living TrustWould a trust have avoided this?

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Kansas statute (K.S.A. § 58-501, § 59-3501 et seq., § 9-1205) verified per our methodology. How a specific asset is actually classified depends on its full paperwork, account agreement, or deed language. Confirm with the county Register of Deeds or a licensed Kansas attorney before acting.